The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-07-10
Read EXODUS 2: l-22; 3: | IL
Study Exodus 3: LIP

While a Prince in the Court of
Egypt. Moses never forgot his
mothers lesson of loyalty TO Je-
hovah and to the people of lsreal.
Whether enjoying palace luXuries
or winning the hOnors of culture
or aiding in legislation or BATH
ing for the Egyptian standards
among hostile tribes, he nurSed
the hope that he might deliver his
people from oppression.
At forty years of age, he felt
the hour of deliverance had come.
So when he found 4 tasllmaster
maltreating a Hebrew, he slew
the Egyptian, revealing his SYM
pathies and his readiness to lead
Israel out of bondage. What must
have been his chagrin the next
day to be tainted by a Hebrew
with the murder of the Egyptian!
At once Moses saw that his stroke
was inoppOrtune, and also that
his own life would be in peril the
moment this news came to Phar-
aoh. SO he realized that his safety
Law alone in his fight. He, there
fore, sought and found refuge
in the wilderness stretching north
ward from the prongs Of the Red
Sea. BY happy circumstance he
became an inmate of the home OF
Jethro, q Midianite officer. Here
he found safety, cOngeniality, en-
ployment, and opportunity for de-
velopment.
Here the second period of forty
year in Moses life was spent
probably in the capacity of a
shepherd. 1t was a long trying
period of obscurity 70 one so cul-
twed and capable, yet it served
nobly in the preparation of Moses
for his great life-work. 1t brought
him nearer to God and the eternal
verities, thus enabling him to sep
arate the good from the bad in
his Egyptian learning. 1t separat-
ed him more completely from the
oppreSsors and identified him
more intimately with the Cypress
ed. 1t developed in him a physical
hardihood equal to the eXactions
of his future leadership and gave
him a complete knowledge of the
territory to which Israel was to
wander for forty year. Moreover,
it cultivated those sterling quail
ties of character which so emil
nently fitted him for his exalted
duties.
The close of this ear of whole
some obscurity is pictured in our
lesson. When eighty years of age,
Moses received at Horeb his call
to deliver Isreal out of Egypt.
THE FLAMING BUSH
The Flaming Bush revealed the
presence of God. Moses was in the
stern, hard path of his duties in
Midan; he was experimenting the
care of Jethro'S flock, and, in the
search for the best pasture, was
now far from home. Beyond the
desert in that vicinity he had
gone till he "came to the Noun
may have been that he was reflect
ing about the fate which had made
him a tender of sheep when once
he had desired to be a leader of
men. At any rate. as he moved
about among the grazing herd in
that vicinity of the sacred mount
which lifted it's granite form al
most abrutly from the plain, he
witnessed the first of the miracles
of his day. A bush in plain view
before him burst into flame. 1t
was real fire; yet was unconsum-
ing; and it proved the miraculous
medium for a Divine manifesto
ton. That dry thorn-bush of the
desert was not instantly burnt up
by such flame very naturally at
tracted the curiosity of Moses. So
he determined to investigate.
THE HOLY GROUND
The Holy Ground emphasized
the authority of God AS Moses
started toward the flaming acacia
shrub, what was his surprise to
hear from the fire his own name
twice repeated. Perhaps with bat
ed breath he answered: "Here am
l." Then came the challenge to
his reverence. He must not draw
nigh for cold investigation or i'm
reckless familiarity. Hence the
command to remove his sandals
for he was indeed standing on
Holy Ground. At once, no doubt.
Moses obeyed the voice. He knew
himself in the presence of the
Supernatural, and stood barefoot
by the desert bush afire with God.
THE HEAVENLY VOICE
The Heavenly Voice declared
the purpose of God. The miracle
was more than a magnet to at
tract; it was a message to be
heard and needed. And it was
threefold: % There was a proc
lamation of divinity. 81 am the
God of thy father, the God of
Abraham, the God Of Isaac. and
the God Of Jacob" Perhaps Moses