Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-04-17
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
For April .22nd-Moses-Ex. 2-19; 81, 80. Deut. "a.
BY DIR. MARION MICH. HULL

the people believe? I can't talk. tGod}
met each one quietly. 1t looked
Liked Moses had lost his grip; no,
he had just lost his cocksureness in
the presence of God. In passing, let
US notice that God met every need
Of Moses. He. revealed himself to
him, and gave him a hearing in
the ears of the people and of Pha
raoh; and although Moses had OBJ
jected on account of his stammering,
God made of that stammerer the
greatest orator that the world has
ever known The book of Deuteron
omy made up of his last five speech
es, shows that.
God called Moses for a definite
thing-to lead His people out of
bondage. 1t could not have been
harder thing for Moses. He had 20
go back to Egypt where q price
had been set upon his head; he had
to face the Pharaoh who, know
ing his training might easily think
that he had designs on the throne
he had to demand from him some
thing about which he would have
grave suspicious; and he knew be-
fOrehand that the Pharaoh would
harden his heart with every new
demand.
The very difficulty Of the thing
was enough an appeal to a man of
fine mettle. 1t is no honor to be
asked to do an easy thing! It's diff
ficulty was it's blessing for it threW
Moses continually on God, and made
him appreciate His presence and
Him more and more.
The Last Third
1t took God eighty years to make
Moses ready for the work that lie
had for him to do; wo-thirds of his
life was spent in preparation before
the call came for the real work of
his life which was to be done in the
last third
The very wealth of the material in
this last for the study is embarrass-
ing. Only the high spots can be
even touched. Recall, if you will,
his journey back to Egypt, his win
ming the confidence of the elders of
the people; his request of Pharaoh
for taking the people three days
journey in the wilderness for the
purpose of worship; the refusal and
the additional burden placed upon
them to make bricks without straw
being provided; his repeated de-
mands; the nine refusals; the ten
judgments: the instructions to the
people about the blood on the door
posts, the roasted lamb, the bitter
herbs, and the unleaVened bread;
the mourning in every house in
Egypt; the payment to the Israel
ties by the Egyptians of their long
delayed wages in the shape of Dor
rowed articles to thrust them out
and get rid of them; the celebra-
ton feast and their deliverance.
You will also recall the regret of
the Pharaoh, and his near attack
on the column of the 100000 slaves
by the picked men of his highly dis
ciplined army-the plight of Israel,
with mountains on either side, the
Egyptians behind and the arm of
the Red sea in front; of Moses di-
lemma and Gods reply to him.
Wherefore criest thou to Me; speak
unto the children of Israel that they
go forward :" You remember how
the sea fell back the moment their
feet touched it's edge, and not be-
fore; how they crossed over on dry
land how the whole army was
drowned; and how complete the
deliverance was that they never saw
ctII E<Sy plleilI again. Hat is what
God is waiting to do with our enc.
mics when we step out on faith. He
is waiting to give you just as COM
plete a deliverance; if you will trust
Him you shall see the Egyptians no
more forever.
The experience of Moses had
taught him the road; and he led the
column from oasis to oasis We
must pass many of the fascinating
events without comment. At Sinai
God called him unto the mount and
there spoke to him face to face. 1t
was really the great moment of his
life Then and there, through
Moses, God spoke to all the world
ever since.
AS a lawgiver Moses was greater
than as a leader or as a liberator.
The law came by Moses, but it came
from God. That is why the book
of the Law which he had written
has been the model for all that is
best in every law in every land
since. It was great step forward,
for it was the greater purpose
which we shall presently see.
The experiences during the forty
years must be passed over here
Moses has finished his work; God
needs another man in his place. The
old man marches through a double
line of the tribes, turns back to look
upon them, delivers them his fare
well message and goes up to Mount
Nebo, where God gives him a vision
of the promised land into which he
might not enter-then. He dies,
but not of weakness. His eye is not
dim, nor his strength abated. But
God has need of him up yonder
and the old body sleeps. With an
gels for pallbearers, his body awaits
the coming of the Great Prophet of
whom he was the type.
Great as a leader, greater as a
liberatOr, greatest as a lawgiVer,
but Moses greatest of greatness lies
in the fact that he made it possible !
for us to know our sin in order that |
we might come as suppliants to the |
feet of Jesus. For the law came by |
Moses. but grace and truth came |
by Jesus the Christ.