The Tupelo journal., 1907-05-31
MOSES CALLED TO
DELIVER ISRAEL
Sunday School Lesson for June 2,1907
Specially Prepared for This Paper.
Specially Prepared for This Paper.


tainly / will be with thee."-Exodus S-12.
TIME. According to the common
chronology Moses left Egypt at the age
of 40, b. c.. 1882. His call was 40 years
later, B.. c.. 1892 or 1893. Others place it
nearer 1900 or even 1900.
PLACE.-The portion of the land of
indian where Moses spent the 40 years
was probably the southeastern part of
the Sinaitic peninsula. The burning bush
was on Mount Sinai, between the two
arms of the Red sea. Sinia and Horeb
are interchangeable terms, though some
think Sinai to be one Of the mountains
IN the mountain district called Horeb.
RULERS.-The Pharaoh when Moses
left Egypt was probably Rameses II.
His son, Menephtah, was probably the
Pharaoh when Moses was called to de-
liver Egypt.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
The bush burning, yet not con-
sumed, has always been regarded as
an emblem of Israel in Egypt. Moses,
in his farewell blessing of the tribes,
could find no richer ~benediction Of
the SOM of Joseph than to wish for
them the good will of Him tha> dwelt
in the bush The Church of Scotland,
therefore, has not made a. .nappro-
pirate or u~nwarIanted use of this
emblem, when, looking at her
history, how she was Graded in per
secution, she has put upon her banner
a representation of the burning bush,
with the legend: Nee tamen consume
batur,' Yet it was not consumed" -
w. M. Taylor.
Moses Objections and Their An
sWers.-Vs. lila; also to Elk. 5:17.
Moses may have known that Rameses
II. had been succeeded by his son
Menephtah, a much weaker ruler; but
he understood thoroughly the mighty
power of Egypt, and, conscious of his
own insignificance, it is small wonder
that he began to bring forward objec-
tions to Gods amazing proposal.
First Objection, Moses I~nsignif-
canoe. V. 2. who am 1, that l shall
go unto Pharaoh" An exile under
sentence of death, a shepherd SO
years old going to a magnificent court
from which he had been absent 40
years, an old man attempting the stu
%pendous task of freeing 100000
slaves and organizing them into a
nation. No wonder Moses faltered.
First Answer, Gods Presence. V.
y. Certainly | will be with thee"
That same power before which Moses
was hiding his face would go with
him to confront his enemies.
Second Answer, Gods purpose.
Eye shall serve God upon this noun
tain" THE fixing of that future meet.
ing place would serve to give conf
dence to Moses by showing a reso-
lutte, clear purpose on the part of
God."-Macgregor.
Second Objection, the Peoples Idol.
airy. 10. Moses remembered how ig.
norant the Hebrews were concerning
the God of their fathers. When he
brought them a message from God,
they would be sur to ask: What is
his manner" The Egyptians had vari.
Gus gods, and Israel, long used to their
the name of the God whose messen-
ger Moses was. How vas he to be
named to ?"-Alford.
Answer, the Name of the One God.
IA. What a craven image or some
outward symbol was to all other ma.
lions, that a name, and a name only,
was to the Israelite."-Hanna. The
name God revealed to Moses was not
unknown before Gen. 22:14), but it
was filled with a new meaning. 81
AM THAT l AM"
Third Objection, the Peoples In
credulity. Moses foresaw lex. AID
that the people would not believe his
story, and, as 40 years before, would
refuse to follow his lead.
Answer, the Gift of Miraculous
Power. What is hat in thine hand?"
Jehovah asked; and bestowed upon
the common shepherds staff the pow
er to become a serpent at the bid.
ding of Moses, while the hand itself,
thrust into his bosom, became white
with leprosy, and thrust in again, be-
came sound once more. One other
miracle, the turning of water into
blood, was definitely promised.
Fourth Objection, Moses Slowness
of Speech. Moses foresaw that the
great task would require much talk.
ing, and he was not an orator. An.
swer: Who hath made mans MOUTH"
was Jehovah's grand reply. Doubtless
If Moses had accepted the assurance,
God would have developed the era.
torical power that he certainly pos.
sessed. and he would not have beer
obliged to share with another the
glory that God meant for him alone.
The Great Task Is Begun.-Ex. 4:
1881; chapters 5 and 6. Obtaining
Jethro's consent to his return, and
leaving his wife and children in their
safe home, Moses set out upon his
perilous undertaking. He was met by
Aaron, and the two old men, after an
affectionate greeting, formed their
plans for the campaign that was to
mean so much to the world.
Practical Points.
Every one has a work for which
God sets him apart, as truly as Moses.
No n else can do YOU work.
God does not always disclose a
mans work early in life.
Nothing is gained by moving ahead
of Gods time, as Moses did in his
first attempt. Too fast in music is
as bad as too slow.
God knows best how to prepare rs
fo- our life work.
If we are in the course of duty,
Gods call to great things may come
at any time, while we are about our
commonest tasks.