The Coolidge examiner., 1937-07-15

JUNIOR TOPIC-Moses Made Ambas.
sador.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP.
IC-God Stands by His Workers.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-Strong in the Strength of God.
Never in a hurry! Who? God.
He needed 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" Some one has said,
1T took God 80 years to prepare the
man of the hour" but when that
hour struck he was ready.
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
e6 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.
!. Justifiable Caution (Exod. 3:l3-
l6).
Neither God nor man dare entrust
a high and difficult commission to
a foolish man who brusquely
''rushes in where angels fear to
tread" The fact that one feels
fully and unhesitatingly qualified TO
take over such a responsibility is
almost a certain indication that he
is not the man to assume it.
The ambassador must have ere
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 whom he seeks to
serve.
What shall l say?" asks Moses.
and God answers that he may say
that Il 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" IAN over-phzs Of
power" real equipment for Chris
tian life and service.
But Moses seems to be unable to
see beyond his own human infirmity
even in the light of such a glorious
revelation. supplemented as it was
by miraculous powers. and we find
him showing an
III. Unjustified Humility tExod. 4:
10-1O.
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
upon thousands have lamely thus
excused themselves and missed a
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
riods. or the flights of mans imag
ination. 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:l3-16).
Loving and patient is our God,
but, mark it well, there is a bound
ary line to that patience. Moses
went too far in his needless humility
and really reflected on the ability
of God, and he 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. To decline the
labor and the responsibility of serv-
ice for God means loss far greater
than we may ever know.
Nv. "And Afterward" (Exod. SID.
Commissioned, bearing creden-
tials from the infinite and eternal
"I 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
ell, 20 e,o ,,p,rapa rod If ic double