Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-08-06
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDNSCHOOL
Z LESSON =
LESSON FOR JULY 27.
MOSES REQUEST REFUSED.
By y. o. SELLERS. Director OF Even
Ing Department The Moody Bible In
stitute Of Chleago)
LESSON TExT-En. 5i-it

reference to that long journey Moses
had to take in returning from indian
10 Egypt. THE Lord met him and
sought to kill him" (4:24). Moses is
about 10 pronounce a fearful penalty,
see 4:23, and II was necessary that he
comprehended the terrible meaning OF
his threat Also he had neglected to
observe the sign OF covenant peace
(oircumcision) with his youngest son,
and that was serious delinquency
for the future leader Of Israel 1T
was necessary at this stage OF bis ex-
perlence that he should learn that God
is In earnest when he speaks, and will
Rssuredly perform all that he has
threatened" (Murphy)
Showing himself with Aaron, the
elders Of Israel are soon convinced
that God had sent them and was about
to work out through Moses and Aaron
the long promised deliverance.
Issue Plainly Stated.
!. Moses Message, w. IS. Moses
and Aaron plainly stated the issue at
the very outset, Thus saith the Lord
God OF Israeli ". u. This was at
once a challenge as to the boasted su.
perior greatness OF the Egyptian gods
1t also touched Pharaoh's pride for he
was an absolute monarch and can he
allow these representatives Of an op.
pressed people any liberties? Lastly
It was question of economic impor-
lance. Dare he allow these people
thus to congregate? And there was
not only civil danger, but also-a prob
able financial loss It was an auda-
cious request yet It Is presented fear
lessly, for Moses no longer was lean
ing upon the strength of his own right
arm. Moses was fully aware Of Egyp-
tian court procedure and OF Pha,
raoh's arrogance, cruelty, and power,
yet there is no suggestion Of him bow
ing as a suppliant
Pharaoh looked upon these Israel
ties as his own property, now they
are claimed for another. Let my peo-
pie 60" In contempt, Pharaoh ex-
claims who is Jehovah?" It was in
answer to that very question Moses
had been sent and right we'll was Pha.
raoh to learn the answer ere the &C
count is settled. Men are fippantly
asking that same question today, both
by word and conduct, who will find
out to their final sorrow who Jehovah
is and why they should obey his
voice. Pharaoh spoke the truth when
he said Il know not the Lord" but
though he seems to boast of that he
little knew what 1t means for a man
to set up his will against that Of God.
Il will not" was the proud boast of a
weak, wilful, ignorant worm of the
dust, for all his exalted position among
men. Read 2 Thess. 1:8 and Rom.
1928.
In reply, ". 81 Moses and Aaron
did not seek to argue the case. Very
little is ever gained by such a meth
cd, much better for us to deliver Gods
message verbatim and trust to the
holy spirit to bring conviction Moses
and Aaron were far more afraid OF
the pestilence and sword of Jehovah
than the boosted power of Pharaoh.
God does punish disobedience whether
we like it or not, see Deut 1921.
zech. 14:16-19, etc. This fearlessness
angered Pharaoh ". - and he COM
mands them and their brethren at
once to resume their burdens. The
world is constantly accusing the SER
wants of God of uniting people for
their work, see Amos 7:10, Luke %: 2
and Acts 1876.
Truth Confirmed.
The truth of this narrative is con-
flrmed by the bricks found in the
ruins OF cities built during this period
Of Egyptian history. The bricks were
made Of clay mixed with stubble, rath-
er than the ordinary straw and baked
in the sun rather than in fire kiln.
Pharaoh accuses Moses and Aaron
of speaking lies ". R. W. Men to-
day, sometimes by direct accusation
and more often by Implication, accuse
G@d's word of being lie, but these
will one day find those words to be
the truth Matt. 5:18. Their attitude
will not affect the truthfulness Of the
word, nor the validity and business of
Gods demands.
II. Pharaoh's Method, w. 10-15. 1t
must have been a severe test of faith
for the Israelites to have had their
hopes thus dashed and more grievous
burdens thrust upon them. Before,
the government furnished the neces.
sary straw, now they must get it
themselves and at the same time keep
UP the usual toll of bricks. But this
is only the beginning of the struggle
From their joy the Israelites are
turned to murmuring and despair
which even Moses seems to have
shared, w. %, %. Is this not sugges.
tive Of the gospel awakened soul that
begins to realize the power of sin with
In and its own inability to meet and
to master it? Such an experience
means that we have not as yet appre
hended all the content and power OF
the gospel and does not imply that
the gospel has failed.
lnOse VINO were Deaten w. l4} were
of their own number who we're held
accountable under the Egyptian task
masters for the conduct of the whole
Is this not suggestive of one other
than ourselves who bore our sins II
his own body on the tree" and "by
whose stripes we are healed?"
How little we comprehend, ever
with centuries of Christian history al
our guide and the inspired word az