The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1937-07-15
Lesson for July 10

Lesson tor July 10
LESSON TEXT-Exodus 3:13.16; 4:10-16;
ST..
GOLDEN TEXT-The Lord will give
strength unto his people.-Psalm 29:11.
PRIMARY TOPIC-When Moses Was
Afraid
JUNIOR ToPIC-Moses Made Ambassa.
dor.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
God Stands by His Workers.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Strong in the Strength of God.
Never in a hurry! Who? God.
He needed a human leader to bring
his chosen people up out of the
bondage of Egypt and he spent 80
years getting him ready-40 years
learning all the wisdom of Egypt,
and 40 years learning the lessons of
God, patience and humility, on the
back side of the desert.
Infinite and omnipotent is God,
and he may move with faster-than-
lightning speed. But usually we find
him working out his blessed pur-
poses, normally, quietly, but always
ION time"
Our lesson brings before us the
meeting with God which preceded
the appearance of Moses as the
head of the nation of Israel in its
mighty conflict with Pharaoh. We
find him first proceeding with COM
mendable care but then going on in
unfortunate humility which amount
ed almost to unbelief and which re-
suited in the substitution of his
brother Aaron as his spokesman,
but eventually we do see him going
about his difficult task with resolu-
ton and courage.
1. JustifiabIe Caution (Exod. S:13-
16).
Neither God nor man dare entrust
a high and difficult commission to
foolish man who brusquely
brushes in where angels fear to
tread" The fact that one feels
fully and unhesitatingly qualified to
take over such responsibility is
almost a certain indication that he
is not the man to assume it.
The ambassador must have Gre
dentials. Gods representative has
them. When ''they shall say"-what
an important and difficult situation
that creates. The one who speaks
for God must expect not only the
scornful bitterness of Gods en-
emies, but also the unbelieving
questions of those he seeks to serve.
''What shall I say?" asks Moses,
and God answers that he may say
that 81 AM" had sent him. This
name of God reveals him as the
eternal, independent, self-sufficient,
self-existent, immutable, personal
being. Consider, Christian brethren,
whose we are and whom we serve.
Here indeed is inspiration in ex-
cess of duty" real equipment for
Christian life and service.
But Moses seems to be unable to
see beyond his own human infrmity
even in the light of such a glorious
revelation, supplemented as it was
by miraculous powers, and we find
him showing an
ii. Unjustifed Humility (Exod. 4:
10-12).
When God calls a man he knows
his limitations-why then should one
plead them as an excuse for not
serving? The excuse of Moses
that he was not fluent speaker has
been the standby of unwilling work
ers all through the ages. When asked
to lead a prayer meeting, teach a
Sunday School class, conduct a
young peoples meeting, thousands
have lamely thus excused them
selves and missed blessing.
The perfect answer of God in VII
merits attention. God made your
mouth and mine. He gives us the
power of speech. He asks not the
eloquence of polished rhetorical pc
RODS, or the flights of mans imag-
nation. He wants but the incom-
parable eloquence of his own words
on our lips. DR.. Richard Ellsworth
Day in "Bush Aglow'' rightly points
out that this was the secret of the
power of D. L. Moody.
iii. Unnecessary Substitution
(Exod. 4:13-16).
Loving and patient is our God,
but there is boundary line to that
patience. Moses went too far in his
humility and reflected on the ability
of God, who promptly substituted
Aaron as the spokesman.
Gracious was He in thus provid-
ing a helper for Moses. But one
wonders what Moses missed of
blessing and power because of his
sloWness of heart.
w. "And Afterward" (Exod. 5:1).
Commissioned, bearing creden-
tials from the infinite and eternal
81 AM" and with strong and elo-
quent brother by his side, Moses
stands before Pharaoh to say in
Gods name, "Let my people CO."
Preparation and the holy privilege
of fellowship with God are to make
us ready for service. While it is
folly to go unprepared, it is double
folly to prepare and then fail to go
when God commands.