The Red Cloud chief., 1913-08-28


GOLDEN TExT-"Let us have grace
whereby we may offer service well-pleas-
Ing to God with reverence and awe
Heb. 1928 II. v.
The securing OF water at Mount Ho-
reb. the battle with the Amalekites
and the visit Of Jethro. Moses father.
tn.law. are the intervening events be-
tween this and last weeks lesson. A
suggestion as to the historicity Of the
Exodus story ie indicated in verse
OF the lesson. I'm the third month";"
these are not the words Of an impos.
tor but OF the careful historian. The
place. Mount Sinai, was a familiar one
TO Moses. II was at the base Of this
range OF mountains. "at the back OF
the desert" that he had met and
received his commission from God.
lex. 3:1.12; Acts 1880. 3S.) Let us
consider the entire chapter.
The Highest Source.
!. "A peculiar treasure" w. 10.
Thus far there has been no law to
guide the lsraelites except the word
OF God by the mouth Of the prophet.
As q nation they must have laws and
the proper time has now arrived to
promulgate those laws. But 1t Is nee
essary to impress the nation with the
source. the sacredness and the
strength Of law Its source is the
highest-God; its sacredness is in the
nature of its source-God; its strength
Is in the matter Of their obedience.
Moses went up" and the Lord
called" When we seek the place Of
separation from man and the place
Of seclusion with God we may expect
to hear him calling us. (Jas. 4:8.)
Once before God had called to Moses
in this place (3:4 and Moses was
taken by surprise. Now 1t is the man
Of experience who joyfully seeks the
Lord that he may receive a message
for his waiting people. God begins
| by reminding him OF his acts in Egypt
and at the Red Sea ". ~ and by his
figure. eagles WINGS" he empha.
sizes the fact that none else but Je-
hovah wrought this deliverance. Even
as the eagle bears its young upon its
wings so has he borne out of Egypt
this nation which is as yet but a babe.
1t is yet to be, however, his peculiar
treasure and upon one condition only
obedience. They are to be king.
dom Of priests. persons with right
access to God, spiritual sovereigns
and a holy nation set apart to pre-
serve the knowledge and worship OF
God IL they obey his voice.
"A peculiar treasure" on the con.
dition Of obedience Israel was his
peculiar people, how sad that they
ever departed from that lofty privi.
lege. In this present age 1t ia the
church which ia called out to be q
chosen generation, a royal priesthood,
an holy nation and the people for
Gods own possession. Il Peter 2:9.
10 r. w.; Tit. 2:14; Eph. Ill r. w.:
Rev. 1:6; $40: 20:6 r. W
u. A sanetIfied people, w. 7.15.
That the Israelites might believe
Moses forever. God was to come and
converse with him from q thick cloud.
Before this took place. however. they
must cleanse themselves. set guards
about the mountain lest any draw too
near and be put to death ". 12). Gods
revelations to men are never made to
those who with lust In their hearts
cling to their sins.
Trumpet Not Material.
III. A wonderful revelation, w. 10.
Is. Gods descent was signalized by
every object Of grandeur and awe
that imagination can conceive. The
burning mountain suggests the con.
suming fire to the transgressors OF
the law about to be revealed. The
booming thunder and flashing light.
ming amid the stiffness of the wilder.
ness would arouse universal attention,
and has not the law thus attracted the
attention of ages? The enveloping
cloud reminds US Of another noun.
tain experience. see Matt. 17:5. The
trumpet emphasizes the supernatural.
that 1t was other than a material
trumpet blown by human breath. Read
in connection with this lesson lisa. 6.
Our God is not alone a God of love
but he IL Q being of infinite majesty
and holiness. "a consuming fire." Heb.
1929. Too often we have presented
an emasculated God; we need to EN-.
phasize. In this day. both sides of his
character. At least two locations are
pointed out, each Of sufficient area
to accommodate those gathered un.
der Moses leadership ". ~. Though
he trembled (Heb. 12:21) yet he ap
preached with confidence. I John
32l, this interview. with God. NJ
sooner had he gone q little way up
the mountain than he 10 ordered to re-
turn In order to keep the people from
breaking through the bounds to gaze
w. 81. %.
Summary. The murmurings at Re
phidim (ch. ~ seem incredible 90
soon after the song of Noses (ch. 16)
and the supply Of mama (ch. l6)
yet how soon darkness makes US for
get the brightness of bygone light. i'm
minent danger to forget previous de-
1iverance. Man alone cannot cope
with these emergencies; God alone
|