Ver. 15-25.-He is sent into the wilderness to await God's time. Note the provision made for him there. He helps the weak, and that help secures a home and a wife for him; and thus, like Paul after his conversion, (Gal. i. 17,) he was sent away from his fellows that he might learn God's will and be disciplined for his great work. It must have appeared strange to Moses; but he learned the very lesson he needed-that God's work is always best done by those who have learned obedience by suffering, (Heb. v. 8.) Memory Exercise-Shorter Catechism 92.-Job xxix. 13. Subject to be proved-We should give Help to those who Need it. Golden Text-"The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy."—Job xxix. 13. NOTES.-This was to Job in his great sufferings a source of constant joy. No one could say that he had ever refused help to those who needed it. Even a child can give help-can bear another's burden, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Shew how, helping a little one to prepare its lesson for school, taking care of it when out on the street, sitting beside a sick person and singing a hymn. All these little things are well pleasing to God; and He has promised that if we give only a cup of cold water through love to Him, He will reward us, (Matt. x. 42.) Older people can give more substantial help, and God expects this at our hands. Give examples to shew this. Lesson 90.-September 21. MOSES AT THE BURNING BUSH.-Exodus iii. 1-22. In Midian Moses (who had spent forty years in Pharaoh's court) spent forty years more in quiet pastoral pursuits, having married into the family of the priest or prince of the country. Meanwhile the king of Egypt, who had sought his life, died; the oppression of the Israelites continued unabated, (Exod. ii 23;) but the time of their deliverance was drawing nigh, (ver. 24.) Ver. 1-6.-Moses, with all his Egyptian lore, and not without intimations throughout these long forty years that God had higher work in reserve for him, is content meekly to await God's time, and is employed in keeping the flock of his father-in-law, when he witnesses the most august of all the appearances recorded in the Old Testament of the Angel of the Covenant. In the second verse he is called the "Angel of the Lord" (Jehovah); in the fourth verse, "the Lord" (Jehovah), and "God; "in the sixth verse this Divine being says of himself, "I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham," &c.; and repeatedly throughout this narrative He is styled Lord, or Jehovah. No man hath seen God at any time. This was the Second Person of the Godhead, the Lord Jesus Christ. The bush burning, but not consumed, was an emblem of God's suffering people in Egypt, as it is of His Church in every age of persecution. The sympathy of Christ, with His suffering body the Church, must have been familiar to Moses; hence Paul's allusion to his "esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. Observe, as further proofs of the Divine nature of the Being who appeared in the burning bush, the charge given to Moses in verse 5, and learn from this that we ought never to come into the presence of God in an act of worship without a sense of awe upon our spirits, as if that presence made the place where we kneel before Him"holy ground." Verses 7-10 express the Lord's compassion for His afflicted people, His purpose of deliverance, His intention to bring them to the land of promise, and His call to Moses to become the instrument in carrying out this Divine plan. The ear of the Lord is ever open to the " cry" of the oppressed and sin-afflicted soul, (ver. 9.) Ver. 11-15.-Moses shrinks with a sense of insufficiency from the arduous task to which he is called, and is encouraged by a pledge of the Divine presence and direction. He anticipates that when he declares his mission to the Israelites in the name of the God of their fathers, they will demand to know what is His name. Note the majestic simplicity of the reply in verse 14, denoting the self-existent God, eternal, unchangeable, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. The repeated references in this chapter to Jehovah as the God of Abraham, &c., are cited by Christ as proofs of the immortality of the soul, (Luke xx. 37, 38,) the patriarch being spoken of, not as dead, but living. Ver. 16-22.-Moses is here informed more particularly of the nature of the work assigned to him, of the favour his message would receive from the elders of Israel, the opposition of Pharaoh, the miracles that would be wrought in order to overcome his resistance, and the final triumph. The dialogue thus sustained betwixt the Angel of the Covenant and the still reluctant Moses, is continued in the following chapter. The lesson offers ample scope for illustrating the greatness and goodness of God, who, although dwelling in light that is inaccessible to mortal eye, and full of glory, condescends to men of low estate, by revealing himself through His Son, our Saviour and deliverer, to emancipate sinners of mankind from a worse than Egyptian bondage, and bringing them at last into the heavenly Canaan. Memory Exercise-Shorter Catechism 93.-Zechariah ii. 8. Golden Text-"For thus saith the Lord of Hosts, After the glory hath He sent me unto the nations which spoiled you; for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye."-Zechariah ii. 8. NOTES.-A remarkable expression to shew God's care over His own. Think of the eye, how tender it is! What care God has bestowed upon it for its protection from injury, and how carefully we ourselves guard it! Well, God says in this verse that whosoever touches, so as to injure, one of His people, touches, as it were, His own eye. He feels any injury done them as if it were done to himself in the most tender part. Think, then, how safe all God's people are. God and they are so much one that what touches them touches Him. He feels it at once; and He has all power-is almighty-and can protect them. (Compare Psalm xci. 1-7.) Lesson 91.-September 28. MOSES CALLED TO BE LEADER.-Exodus iv. 1-23. I. Moses' First Objection, (ver. 1-9.)-He fears the people will not believe him. They will deny his mission. "God hath not appeared unto thee." His long exile has taught him experience. Forty years before he thought they would have understood how that God intended by him to deliver them, (Acts vii. 25;) but now he knows the human heart better-that it is a heart of unbelief. Note now how God provides against this unbelief. He gives His servant the power of working miracles. First, the miracle of the rod. Go over it in detail, and shew wherein the miracle lay. Then note verse 5th, where God expressly declares His reason for giving him this power,-He gives it to the intent that they may believe. Hence the use of miracles to establish the Divine mission of Moses. For the same reason did our Lord work miracles, (John xii. 37.) We have these miracles recorded for our use, that we also may believe. Next, the miracle of the withered hand. Explain it also in detail, and shew wherein the miracle lay. Then refer to verses 8th and 9th, and from them shew also the use of this miraculous power. Evidently the miracles were not to be confined to these two, for in verse 9th reference is made to a third. II. Moses' Second Objection, (ver. 10-17.)-Moses pleads his want of eloquence. He was slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. Point out that in that age eloquence had much more power than now, when printing has come so much in place of speaking. Still, the objection was a weak one, for it shewed that Moses was still trusting in himself. He thought his eloquence could accomplish the whole. He forgot that his strength was all from God. How often do we forget this too! How seldom do we remember the solemn words of the Lord to Zerubbabel! (Zech. iv. 6.) See how long-suffering God is. He bears with this excuse of Moses. He makes allowance for it, and promises him the needed help,-"I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou wilt say." After this, what need he fear? This was the very promise which Christ gave His disciples, (Matthew x. 19, 20;) and Paul found it wonderfully fulfilled, (1 Cor. ii. 4.) So will all who put their trust in God. He will give them wisdom, (James i. 5.) He gave it to Solomon when he asked; and He gives it to all. Have you asked it-the highest wisdom, even to know Jesus Christ and Him crucified? Moses was still unwilling to go, and makes one last request. wishes God to send some one with him. His faith is still weak. He cannot go alone. God's patience was exhausted-His anger was kindled; and yet He grants the request. Note whom he sends-his own brother. No one so well fitted to sympathize with Moses in all his difficulties and trials-no one who would stand by him so constantly. So with our Elder Brother. He knows the frailty of our frame. He can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them who are out of the way. He is our very Brother. Note, further, the relation in which they were to stand. Moses was to be chief, Aaron subordinate. He was to be merely spokesman. "" He III. Moses prepares to go, (verses 18-23.)-All his scruples are now overcome. Moses has been made willing. But he will not depart, like Jacob, without his father-in-law's consent. He returns and asks permission. Though born to be a ruler, he has learned obedience. So with Christ. He was Son, yet He had to learn obedience, (Hebrews v. 8.) So have all. Obedience is not the habit of our nature. We must learn it. God alone can teach it. Have you learned it ? Jethro grants the permission-" Go in peace.' God again appears to him, and encourages him, warns him that Pharaoh will harden his heart, and that he will not let the people go. This was wise. God sends no man a warfare on his own charges. Moses might have been discouraged when He found Pharaoh hardening his heart; but, being forewarned, he was forearmed. Note, finally, the name God gives Israel-"My son, my first-born." What treasure of love in the word! Read Zech. xii. 10, and see what is implied in the name 66 firstpromises to make us His sons and daughters. Think of the Memory Exercise-Shorter Catechism 94.-Psalm xl. 8. Subject to be proved-We should not Shrink from Duty. Golden Text-"I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart."-Psalm xl. 8. born." God honour! NOTES.-These words refer to Jesus, as we learn from Hebrews x. 7, and shew how willing He was to do His Father's will, even when the doing of it led to suffering and shame. All who wish to be like Jesus must have the same mind in them as He had, and must be ready to do whatever God bids them do. It may seem hard at first, but in the end it will be easy; for in keeping God's commandments there is a great reward. It is good to have God's law in our memory, but it is better to have it in our hearts. If we love it, we will find it easy to obey it. Lesson 92.-October 5. MOSES BEFORE PHARAOH.-Exodus v. 1-23. 1. The Request of Moses, and Pharaoh's Answer, (1-9.)-Moses, in obedience to God's command, presents himself before Pharaoh, and requests leave for the people to go into the wilderness to keep a feast. Pharaoh's impiety-"Who is the Lord? I know not the Lord." He did not wish to know Him, and he makes his ignorance of the Lord an excuse for not letting the people go. Moses explains (ver. 3) who had sent him, and why; and gives an indication of God's power, who might send pestilence or the sword upon them. Pharaoh attributes this request to idleness on the part of the people. He thinks they have too much time on their hands, otherwise they would never think of leaving Egypt. Pharaoh was wise in his generation. He knew that the people, the moment they began to think of their burdens, would desire release, and so he will keep them from thinking. Observe how. He will give them more work-he will keep them busy-occupy them with their daily toil. To do this he will give no more straw for bricks, and yet he will exact the former number. (Tale, in ver. 8, means number.) Note ver. 9. Pharaoh calls the request of Moses vain words. Moses' request was simply that the people should be allowed to worship God. Pharaoh thinks this a vain, i. e., foolish thing. So it is still. Bad men see no use in worshipping God. They call those who do so vain or foolish; and they laugh at them. But God's people have the laugh on their side, and even Pharaoh found that it was no vain thing to fight against God. Note, further, that Satan just follows Pharaoh's plan. He tries to keep people busy. He tries to keep them from thinking of their slavery; and when Jesus approaches they cry out, "Let us alone;" exactly so, don't disturb us; we like our bondage, and we don't want freedom. Pray that God may arouse you, though it should be by the earthquake, as was the case with the Philippian. Any state is better than being left alone. II. Their Bondage Increased, (ver. 10-14.)-Shew how it was increased from these verses, and then use them to illustrate the truth that the first efforts at deliverance always increase the suffering. Whenever Satan finds a man slipping from his grasp, he tries all the harder to keep him. When a great strain is put on a ship, the seamen cast another anchor. When God puts a great strain on a poor soul to drive him from his old moorings into new-from darkness into light-the devil casts out another anchor, and tries to hold him fast. He calls to his taskmasters to redouble their efforts. The love of money, pleasure, fear of being laughed at, are all thrown in the man's face by Satan, if by any means he may hold him. See also what a poor service the service of sin is! The devil has no mercy. The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. The officers (ver. 14) are beaten. The wages of sin is death. III. Effect on the People, (ver. 15-23.)-The officers first cry out unto Pharaoh. They might have as soon cried to a dead wall. Their cry was music to the king, for he thought he saw in it the good results of his plans. "There will be no more talk of sacrifice now-keep them at work, work, work. I know how to treat them for listening to vain words." No wonder though it is said (ver. 19) they were in evil case-their work increased, and the tyrant laughing at them. What a picture of Satan's service!-an evil case, verily, to be the servant of sin; no straw given, and yet the same amount of work exacted, and the stern taskmaster rejoicing in his poor slaves' misery. Who would serve Satan? who would be under such a taskmaster? The people lay the blame on Moses. They feel the iron entering into their souls, but they do not know that this is the precursor of liberty. Like a sick man, they blame the physician who wounds that he may heal. So is it in spiritual deliverance. Christ came to send a sword first, and peace thereafter, (Matt. x. 34.) Even so, the sword first, the coming down, the death, then peace, the rising up, the resurrection into newness of life. No cross no crown. They were travailing in spiritual birth, and the glad joy of freedom would soon be theirs. Even Moses did not fully comprehend God's plan; but he took the right method of having his doubts cleared up. He went to God, (ver. 22.) He went complaining, no doubt; but even that was better than to stand still-than to be let alone; and so God takes the matter up, and vindicates His ways to the people, and finally brings them forth with a strong hand. Memory Exercise-Shorter Catechism 95.-Hebrew xii. 11. Subject to be proved-We should cast all our Care upon God. Golden Text-"No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."-Hebrews xii. 11. NOTES. First explain and illustrate the word chastening. Take an earthly parent. He has to chasten his child. This is no joy to the child or the parent. But it is for the child's good. He that spareth the rod hateth his child. Take silver ore. It has to pass through the fire to be purified. So with God: He chastens His people for their good. He refines them as silver is refined. The process is painful, but the result is blessed. They come out of the trial seven times purified. The fruit, as in our text, is righteousness-holiness. We are made perfect through suffering. This was the way with Christ, (Heb. v. 8, 9, and so must it be with all who are His. (Compare Rev. vii. 13-15.) LESSON 89.-MOSES IN THE LAND OF MIDIAN.-Exodus ii. 11-25. 163. We should give Help to those who Need it, (ver. 11-13.)—A fire having broken out in a village of Denmark, one of the inhabitants, a poor man, was very active in giving assistance; but every effort to extinguish the flames was in vain. At length he was told that his own house was in danger, and that, if he wished to save his furniture, not a moment was to be lost. "There is something more precious," replied he, "that I must first save. My poor sick neighbour is not able to help himself. He will be lost if I do not assist him. I am sure he relies upon me. He flew to his neighbour's house, rushed at the hazard of his life through the flames, and carried the sick man in his arms to a place of safety. A society at Copenhagen shewed its appreciation of his conduct by presenting him with a silver cup filled with Danish crowns. 164. Friends should not Quarrel, (ver. 13.)—On the day before the battle of Trafalgar, Nelson took Collingwood and Rotherham, who were at variance, to a spot where they could see the fleet opposed to them. Yonder," said the admiral, are your enemies; shake hands, and be good friends, like good Englishmen.' દ LESSON 90.-MOSES AT THE BURNING BUSH.-Exodus iii. 1-22. 165. God is to be Approached with Reverence, (ver. 5, 6.)—The traveller in the Eastern countries lays off his sandals, tarnished with the dust of the way, at the gate of the palace which he would enter. The Christian pilgrim should lay aside his week-day thoughts, and devoutly enter the church, and engage in the worship of the Most High. 166. God never Forgets His People, (ver. 7-10, 15-17.)-Mungo Park, in the course of his travels in Africa, was robbed by banditti and stripped of everything. "After they were gone," he says, "I sat for some time looking around me with amazement and terror. Whichever way I turned nothing appeared but danger and difficulty. I saw myself in the midst of a vast wilderness, in the depth of the rainy season, naked and alone, surrounded by savage animals, and men still more savage. I was 500 miles from the nearest European settlement. I felt that I had no alternative but to lie down and perish. At this moment, painful as my reflections were, the extraordinary beauty of a small moss irresistibly caught my eye. Can that Being, thought I, who planted, watered, and brought to perfection, in this obscure part of the world, a thing which appears of so small importance, look with unconcern upon the situation and sufferings of creatures formed after His own image? Surely not!' Reflections |