_A flame of fire out of the midst of a bush._ MOSES AT THE BURNING BUSH I. The story of Moses is the story, at first, of failure. Two great streams of influences moulded his life--the one drawn from the Egyptian surroundings of his early days, and the other drunk in with his mother’s milk and his m... [ Continue Reading ]
_I am the God of thy father._ THE ANCESTRAL GOD OUR GOD This declaration was made in order to assure Moses that even in the present oppressed state of his nation in Egypt, the Most High had not forgotten them, or His relation to them as a God in covenant. This would be an unspeakable consolation t... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have surely seen the affliction of My people._ GOD’S PEOPLE-THE JEWS: THEIR HISTORY, AND THEIR AFFLICTION Quite apart from its religious significance, there is no other historical phenomenon that is to be compared for a moment in interest with this ever-growing wonder of the Jewish race. The li... [ Continue Reading ]
_I am come down to deliver them._ THE WORLD’S SORROW AND CHRIST’S REDEMPTION 1. Christ came down from heaven. 2. Christ came at the call of the world’s sorrow. 3. Christ came to achieve the world’s moral freedom. 4. Christ came to destroy the kingship of sin.. 5. Christ came to lead men into h... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will send thee unto Pharaoh._ THE CALLING OF A GREAT DELIVERER I. His call was rendered necessary by intense national suffering (Exodus 3:7). 1. The sufferings to which the Israelites were exposed. (1) Politically they were prisoners. (2) Socially they were bondmen. (3) Commercially they we... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who am I?_ MINISTERIAL TIMIDITY I. It is sometimes occasioned by undue and depreciating thoughts of self. 1. By undue thought of our social position. 2. By undue thought of our intellectual weakness. 3. By undue thought of our moral inability. II. It is sometimes occasioned by an undue estima... [ Continue Reading ]
_Certainly I will be with thee._ THE GUARANTEE OF SUCCESS Take this assurance as applying to the whole service of sanctified life, and it entitles us to draw four practical inferences. I. “Certainly I will be with thee.”--then man is servant not master He should know his place, or he can never ke... [ Continue Reading ]
_What shall I say unto them?_ MINISTERIAL DIFFICULTIES TO BE ANTICIPATED, AND HOW TO OVERCOME THEM I. Ministers must anticipate difficulties in the performance of their life-mission. 1. Arising from prejudice in reference to the man. 2. Arising from scepticism in reference to the truth. 3. Aris... [ Continue Reading ]
_I AM hath sent me unto you._ IMMUTABLE AUTHORITY I. Moses on entering upon a great mission naturally inquires the conditions upon which he proceeds. II. In the revelation made to Moses, “I AM hath sent me unto you,” we have being distinguished from manifestation. “I AM” is the summary of Being.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac._ THE GOD OF THE GENERATIONS Men are always influenced more or less by the power of great names. This appears in every sphere of life, social, scientific, political, literary, religious. The name of a wise, heroic, or philanthropi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Gather the elders._ THE WISDOM OF GATHERING THE FEW; OR THE CONSIDERATENESS OF THE DIVINE BEING IN REFERENCE TO THE MISSION OF HIS SERVANTS I. This would be the most effective method of enlightening the mind of the nation in reference to the Divine intention. 1. This afforded Moses a good opport... [ Continue Reading ]
_A land flowing with milk and honey._ AN INFERIOR MOTIVE FOR A RELIGIOUS LIFE I. Some people are religious because they hope thereby to be saved from affliction. “I will bring you out of the affliction of Egypt.” 1. They hope to escape the affliction of a bad name. 2. They hope to escape the aff... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let us go, we beseech thee, three days’ journey._ A MODERATE REQUEST This request seems at first to be put in a politic form, as if to secure a favourable answer. This, however, was quite unnecessary, since the Almighty was about to bring His people out of Egypt by a strong hand. It is merely expr... [ Continue Reading ]
_I am sure the king of Egypt will not let you go._ THE DIVINE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SUCCESS OR OTHERWISE OF MINISTERIAL WORK I. That God is thoroughly acquainted with the moral obstinacy of men. 1. There are many people who act like Pharaoh in relation to the commands of God. God knows such people. Th... [ Continue Reading ]