The Yale expositor., 1919-01-09
LESSON FOR JANUARY IL
MOSES THE DELIVERER OF IS
RAEL.

LESSON TEXT-Exodus 3:1-12.
GOLDEN TEXT-And Moses verify was
faithful in all his house. Hebrews 80.
ADDITIONAL Observation-Disclosures 3:
BAIT; Acts 7:l7-36
While the oppression Of Gods people
was heading up, in the providence of
God a deliverer was being prepared
TO take up the task at the opportune
hour. Moses was first trained at his
mothers knee, then in Pharaohs
court and finally under Gods immedi-
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.
!. The Lord Speaks to Moses In the
Burning Bush wv. 1-6).
1t was while keeping the flock of his
fatherin-law i'm the desert that the
Lord appeared to Moses. Had he re-
NAMED in Pharaoh's palace he never
could have had the vision of the burn
ing bush. This bush enveloped 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 consuming fire.
No evil can be permitted in his pres
ence (Joshua z; Acts 81. The Lord
did not leave him long in suspense. He
told him he was the God of his IA
Tiers, the covenant God. AS soon as
he knew II was God who was speaking
TO him he hid his face. The sight Of
God always causes sinful men TO hide
Isaiah $50.
u. Moses Commissioned as the De-
liverer of His People (3:7-10).
In the preamble uf this commission
God said TO Moses: II have seen the
affiictlon of my people" This is al
ways true psalms % "a; "a a, 6; Isa-
iah GO :9). II have heard their cry"
Not n cry ever goes up from child of
God unheard by him. II 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: ID To deliver them out of
the hands of the Egyptians. Egypt
may be considered type of the world;
the oppression, a type of sins bond
age; and Pharaoh, type of the devil
God delivers his own from the hands
of the devil (Colossians / :13). (2)
To bring them up out Of the land. God
does not deliver and leave his own Id
the enemy's land. but brings them out
into a 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 better land.
III. Moses' Objections Patiently
Heard and Removed (3:11; 10Y.
1. Personal Unworthiness ". III. He
realized his insufiiciency for this task.
His forty years in the school of God
have wrought a great change in him.
His hesltancy is good sign. Men
who are really qualified to do great
work are not forward to begin 1t; e. g.,
Jeremiah, Martin Luther, George
Washington. Moses did not refuse TO
go, but pied his difficulty before the
Lord. God answered this difficulty by
assuring him that he would be with
him. When God is with q man the
impossible becomes the possible.
2. The Difficulty of the People to
Understand Moses Relationship to
God g :13, 14). Moses knew how I'M
willing they were to acknowledge him
as their deliverer forty years before
Since God changes his name as he as
sumes new relationship to his people.
Moses inquired as to what that new re-
lationship would be, and his CORE
spending name. The Lord promptly
met this difficulty by showing him
name differing In many respects from
all others previously given. This new
name Is II Am" This name is from
the Hebrew verb ito be-" 1t indicates
"a Gods self-existence; (2) his self
sufficiency; (3) his unchangeableness-
8. Unbelief on the Part of the Peo-
pie (4:D. This difficulty the Lord met
by supplying him with credentials
which could not be gainsaid. He was
given the power to perform superna-.
tural wonders (4:2).
4. Lack of Eloquence (4:10). This
difficulty the Lord met by providing
an assistant In his brother Aaron.