_A.M. 2513. B.C. 1491._ In this chapter we have, (1,) _ The discovery God was pleased to make of his glory to Moses at the bush, Exodus 3:1._ (2,) _ A general declaration of God's good-will to his people, who were beloved for their fathers' sake, Exodus 3:6._ (3,) A particular notification of God... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now Moses_ The years of Moses's life are remarkably divided into three forties; the first forty he spent as a prince in Pharaoh's court, the second a shepherd in Midian, the third a king in Jeshurun. He had now finished his second forty when he received his commission to bring Israel out of Egypt.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Angel of the Lord appeared to him_ Not a created angel, but the Angel of the covenant, Christ, who then and ever was God, and was to be man, and a messenger from God to man. He, termed the _Angel of God's presence_, (Isaiah 63:9,) had wrestled with Jacob, (Genesis 32:24;) and had redeemed him f... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will turn aside and see_ He speaks as one inquisitive and bold in his inquiry: whatever it was, he would, if possible, know the meaning of it. _God called to him, and said, Moses, Moses_ Probably there had been no appearance of God to any one since Jacob's descent into Egypt, above two hundred ye... [ Continue Reading ]
_Draw not nigh hither_ Keep thy distance. Thus God checks his curiosity and forwardness, and disposes his mind to the greater reverence and humility. _Put off thy shoes from thy feet_ This is required as a token of his reverence for the Divine Majesty, then and there eminently present; of his humili... [ Continue Reading ]
_I am_, &c. He lets him know it is God that speaks to him, to engage his reverence, faith, and obedience. _The God of thy father_ Thy pious father Amram, and the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, thy ancestors: engaged to them by solemn covenant, which I am now come to perform. _And Moses hid his fa... [ Continue Reading ]
_I am come down to deliver them_ When God doth something very extraordinary, he is said to _come down_ to do it, as Isaiah 64:1. This deliverance was typical of our redemption by Christ, and in that the eternal Word did indeed _come down from heaven to deliver us. A large land_ So it was, according... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will send thee_ And the same hand that now fetched a shepherd out of a desert to be the planter of the Jewish Church, afterward fetched fishermen from their ships to be the planters of the Christian Church, _that the excellency of the power might be of God._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who am I?_ He thinks himself unworthy of the honour, and unable for the work. He thinks he wants _courage_, and therefore cannot go to Pharaoh: he thinks he wants _conduct_, and therefore cannot _bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt_ They are unarmed, undisciplined, quite dispirited, utt... [ Continue Reading ]
_Certainly I will be with thee_ Those that are weak in themselves, yet may do wonders, being strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. God's presence puts wisdom and strength into the weak and foolish, and is enough to answer all objections.... [ Continue Reading ]
_When they shall say, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?_ What name shall I use, whereby thou mayest be distinguished from false gods, and thy people may be encouraged to expect deliverance from thee?... [ Continue Reading ]
_God said_ Two names God would be known by: 1st, A name that speaks what he is in himself, I AM THAT I AM. The Septuagint renders the words ειμι ο ων, I AM _the existing Being_, or HE WHO IS; and the Chaldee, I AM HE WHO IS, and WHO WILL BE. That is, I am He that enjoys an essential, independent, im... [ Continue Reading ]
God will be known, 2d, By a name that speaks _what he is to his people._ Lest they should not understand the name I AM, Moses is directed to make use of another name of God more familiar to them. _The Lord God of your fathers hath sent me unto you_ Thus God made himself known, that he might revive a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hath met with us_ Hath appeared to us, declaring his will, that we should do what follows. _I am sure he will not let you go_ God sends his messengers to those whose obstinacy he foresees, that it may appear he would have them turn and live.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Every woman shall ask_, שׁאלה, _shaalah_, (not borrow,) _jewels. And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians_ God sometimes makes the enemies of his people not only to be at peace with them, but to be kind to them. And he has many ways of balancing accounts between the _injured... [ Continue Reading ]