The bee., 1912-12-13

the leadership OF Israel he was
occupied with Che ordinary tasks of
life-he was simply doing his duty in
a prosaic way. He was tending the
aocls, and doubtless meanwhile
Illuminating on big questions idealiz-
ing his common tasks, and so prepar-
ing himself for greater service later
on. BY faithfully serving In a lowly
capacity Moses was led into just that
humble frame of mind which fitted
him for advancement to larger respon-
sibilities. His promotion came
through a personal touch OF the pow
ers of heaven upon his life. 1t is
often so-the common round" brings
man suddenly face to face with God.
There is no telling around which turn
of the road the angels may next meet
us. As Moses was leading his flock
he came to the mountain of Cod
and an angel of God appeared to him
In flame of fire.
With sacred inquisitiveness Moses
turned aside to learn the meaning of
the strange sight that met his eyes.
What interested and surprised him
was not just a bush-Moses came
across plenty of brambles In the land
OF INDIAN, and had often torn his
flesh on their thorns; nor was 1t the
sight OF a burning bush, for Moses had
seen many bonfires along the ridges ot
the hills that cut into the deserts. The
wonder was that the bush. while burn
Ing, did not burn-that 1t was not con-
sumed. We do not know Just what
the nature OF this miracle was, for we
do not know the nature OF any mira
Gle, nor of life itself. which is one
great wonder. It IL sufficient for the
moral purpose OF this epistle to rec
ognize that the burning bush was the
scene and seat OF some extraordinary
land yet not necessarily irrational or
unnaturaD phenomenal manifestation
Of the power and presence of Jehovah.
In q sense, God was In that bush, as
he might be said to be In a still,
small voice"-not that the Deity is
enthusiastically merged In the phenom-
ena OF the world which he has created.
but that he Is dynamically 1T work
In all the processes OF nature. wheth-
er In those which we having plotted
down q few data here and there. as
to discovered laws" called natural"
or those In which, not having been
plotted as yet. men regard 90 extraor~
dinary. or miraculous"
The most important point In this In
cident 10 the sign that II gave Moses
Of the dynamic presence Of Jehovah
In all his life, and inferentialfy In our
lives, too. So very much was God In
that place that the wondering shep-
herd was told TO slip on his sandals.
for the very earth upon which he
stood was holy ground" BY this rev.
elation Of God to him Moses life
was at once lifted to higher plane.
Yet II was not promotion In n world
ly sense that did this-not Just a
change Of tasks, though Moses was In
deed thereafter called TO more con-
spicuous duties--but q heightening OF
moral ideal, the increase OF consecra-
tion. and the broader scope OF social
sympathy that came when Moses met
God face to face in INDIAN. was chal-
lenged by his holy purpose, and ac-
with some misgiving. |
due at first to weak faith-the cali |
TO larger task, and more arduous
service.
Solitude often assists the culture of |
the higher life In man. and discovers !
for him the sacred meaning Of the |
when ordinary happen
ings are consecrated to a lofty and |
eternal aim. 1t IL not necessary to |
go into the desert to find God-that |
was the mistake of the old-time ascot |
los. What is needed is a certain |
of solitude In ones own heart |
leaves space for God to enter |
and which Is shared by the continual |
presence of him who spake to Moses |
out of the bush burning in the desert,
and who said to his Mission-sent disci- |
pies: "Lo, am with you always, even |
unto the end of the world"
To the man who carries the sense !
of Gods presence with him no spot is
absolutely lonely and every place is
holy ground Wherever such a man
goes he sees-what happens many
around him fail to recognize-the
bushes of the commonplace glowing
with the theophanies OF revealing
God. In saying this am not teach
ing any pantheistic nothing or mere
sentimental dream-I am simply en-
the fact, taught and illustrated
throughout the length and breadth of
Scripture-that the Lord Jehovah is
everywhere present by his spirit, at all
places and az all times ready to re-
veal himself spiritually to the humble,
upbuilding all things by the word of
his power, and frequently taking de-
light in making his glory to burst
through the veil of the ordinary, until
the rudest hut by which some way
faring man kneels becomes mantled
with dazzling Shekinah. He that
hath eyes to see let him see, and he
that hath ears to hear let him hear
this thing. Occupy yourself with Gods
task, and, though like Simon Peter,
you have to toll all night taking
yet in the golden morning
you shall see the Lord. Set your af-
factions on things above and fhou0h