The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-07-16
GOD ENCOURAGES MOSES

LESSON TEXT-Exodus 3:13-16; 4:10-17.
GOLDEN TEXT-Certainly will be with
thee.-Exodus 3:12.
Encouragement is something much
needed, and not too often given. The
word means to put some new thing
into the heart of another, that is, to
hearten and assure him, especially
in the bearing Of a heavy response
bility.
Moses, in all probability the
worlds greatest military and nation
al leader, was about to lead his peo-
pie out from under the mighty hand
of Pharaoh. His final preparation
for that epochal deed and all the
years to follow was personal meet
ing with God.
Possibly it was the mistake Moses
had made and which caused him to
be sent into the back Of the desert,
that now caused him to move with
I. Understandable Caution (Exod.
3:13).
There is something remarkably
fine about real humility. It COM
mends itself to our thinking as the
proper attitude of a mortal being,
particularly in the face of spiritual
responsibility.
Neither God nor man dares en-
trust high and difficult commits
sion to foolish man who brusquely
"rushes 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.
Moses request for Gods backing
must have been acceptable to Him,
for He gave Moses
II. Unlimited Authority (3:14-16).
Moses went as Gods messenger.
He was authorized to put all the
majesty and power of the Infinite
One behind his words and acts.
The ambassador must have Gre
dentials. Gods representative has
them. When 'sthey 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 enemies,
but also the unbelieving questions of
those whom he seeks to serve.
what shall I say?" asks Moses,
and God answers that he may say
that 81 AMI had sent him. This
name of God reveals Him as the
eternal, independent, self-sufficient,
sef-existent, immutable, personal
Being. Consider, Christian breth-
rem, whose we are and whom we
serve.
But Moses seems to have been I'M
able to see beyond his own human
infirmity even in the light Of such
glorious revelation, supplemented as
it was by miraculous powers, and
we find him showing an
iii. Unjustiiied Humility (4:10-13).
Perhaps we should not call this
humility at all, for in one so divinely
called and encouraged it was an act
OF unbelief and almost impertinence.
When God calls 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 workers all
through the ages. When asked to
lead prayer meeting, teach Sum
day school class, conduct young
peoples meeting, thousands upon
thousands have lamely thus excused
themselves and missed a blessing.
The perfect answer of God ". 11)
merits attention. God made your
mouth and mine. He gives us the
power of speech. He asks not the
eloquence Of polished rhetorical
phrases, or the flights of mans
imagination. He wants but the in
comparable eloquence of His own
words on our lips.
No man should think too highly Of
himself, but let him beware lest he
think too lowly about God. We are
not sufficient for the opportunity.
But God is more than sufficient.
Having called Moses, God saw to
it that Moses went on with His
work, even though now He had to
call in Moses older brother to help
him. It was, in fact, an
w. Unnecessary Substitution a:
14-17).
Loving and patient is our God,
but, mark it well, there is a boun-
dairy line to that patience. Moses
went too far in his needless humility,
and really reflected on the ability of
God. God promptly substituted Aar-
on as the spokesman.
Gracious was He in thus providing
a helper for Moses. But one won
ders what Moses missed of bless
ing and power because of his slow
ness Of heart. To decline the labor
and the responsibility of service for
God means loss far greater than we
may ever know.
Gods dealings with Moses speak
eloquently to us of His willingness
to enable and use man who lacked
some of the gifts for leadership. Let