The Brinkley argus., 1919-01-10

LESSON Tf&T-EX oduS 3:1-12
 GOLDEN TEXT-And Moses verify was faithful in all his house Hebrews S:5
 ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Exodus B. 13-4:11; Acts 7:17-36
 While the oppression of Gods people was heading up. in the providence of God q deliyerer was being prepared to take up the task at the opportune hour. Moses was first trained at his mothers knee, then in Pharaoh's court and finally under Gods immed- ate hand in the desert The latter was an indispensable part of his training. His learning in the wisdom of the Egyptians was helpful, but without the immediate tutorship of God he would have been a failure. All who are used of God must spend some time in the retirement of his presence. Two notable examples are Paul in Arabia and John on Patmos.
 l. The Lord Speaks to Moses in the Burning Bush (vv. 1-6).
 It was while keeping the flock of his father-in-law in the desert that the Lord appeared to Moses. Had he re- mained in Pharaohs palace he never could have had the vision of the burn ing bush. This bush enveoped in flames. yet unconsumed, symbolized the people of God enswathed in the very fire of God, or God dwelling in the midst of an elect people. Moses steps aside to behold this strange sight, but must be taught the essential lesson of the proper approach to God. We now can approach God with bold ness through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:19). Our God is a consuming fire. No evil can be permitted in his pres ence (Joshua [; Acts ). The Lord did not leave him long in suspense. He told him he was the God of his fa- thers, the covenant God. AS soon as he knew it was God who was speaking to him he hid his face. The sight of God always causes sinful men to hide Usaiah 6:5).
 II. Moses Commissioned as the De- Iiverer of His People (3:7-10).
 In the preamble of this commission God said to Moses: q have seen the affiiction of my people" This is al- ways true (Psalms % PA 34 4, 6; Isa- iah 63: :9). II have heard their cry" Not cry ever goes up from child of God unheard by him. q have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians" This shows that God is actively interested in the cause of his people. He graciously obligates himself: CD To deliver them out of the hands of the Egyptians. Egypt may be considered type of the world {; the oppression, type of sins bond age; and Pharaoh, a type of the devil. God delivers his own from the hands of the devil (Colossians :13). CD To bring them up out of the land God does not deliver and leave his own in the enemys land, but brings them out into land flowing with milk and honey" (3) To bring them into a good land and large" There is no loss in obeying God. When he brings us out of the enemy's land he brings us into a better land.
 II. Moses Objections Patiently Heard and Removed 3:11; :10).
 l. Personal Unworthiness (v. ID. He realized his insutficiency for this task. His forty years in the school of God have wrought great change in him. His hesitancy is good sign. Men who are really qualified to do great work are not forward to begin it; Q. g., Jeremiah, Martin Luther George Washington. Moses did not refuse to 20. but pied his difficulty before the Lord. God answered this difficulty by assuring him that he would be with him. When God Is with a man the impossibe becomes the possible.
 2. The Difficulty of the People to Understand Moses Relationship to God 6 :13, 14). Moses knew how un- willing they were to acknowledge him as their deliverer forty years before Since God changes his name as he as sumes a new relationship to his people, Moses inauired as to what that new re- lationship would be, and his core sponding name. The Lord promptly met this difficulty by showing him name differing in many respects rom all others previously given. This new name is s'I Am" This name is from the Hebrew verb ito be-" It indicates (1) Gods self-existence; CD his self sufficiency; (3) his undergraduates.
 .of hn Dart nf the Pp0- pie (4:1). This difficulty the Lord met by supplying him with credentials which could not be gainsaid. lie was given the power to perform superna- tural wonders (4:2).
 4. Lack of Eloquence (4:l0). This difficulty the Lord met by providing an assistant in his brother Aaron.
 Our Sadness.