THE K I N G ’ S BUS INESS
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APPROACH: Of all the men who lived in the long-ago time before the
would man’s righteousness profit God; the effect, either of the sinfulness or righteousness, would fall upon man, not on God (cf. Job 35:6-8). In a com ing day God will give His people one heart to fear Him forever, “for the good of them” (cf. Jer. 32:39). The Lord promised that as the peo ple walked in obedience to Him, He would make them “a peculiar treasure unto me above all people,” and they should “be a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation” (vs. 5, 6). This was the message Moses de livered .to the people. But alas, they desired another covenant, one that was legal, one which they could not fulfill. By grace alone God had brought them forth out of Egypt and had supplied their needs. He would continue to treat them in this manner, but they insisted upon something more tangible than the pillar of cloud and of fire, something they thought they could understand. But there is no one who can understand God’s grace. Sadly, the people preferred to accept the legal covenant of Sinai, which could only bring disaster upon them ^-because of their inability to keep it. Points and Problems 1. "Thou. . . shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do" (Ex. .18:20). These words suggest the twofold respon sibility of the minister of God: to establish his people in the right way and to set before them the proper walk. The preacher must be both doctrinal and practical in his preach ing. He must make sure that his peo ple know the way (John 14:6), the blood-sprinkled way of the cross. They need to know and be grounded in the great doctrines of the faith. Then, no preacher has done his duty who has not pointed out the importance of radiant Christion living. He must show them the work that is theirs to do, namely, to witness for Christ always and everywhere. 2. "So Moses hearkened to'the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he said" (Ex. 18:24). Did Moses do right in heeding the, advice of Jethro? Was he following worldly wisdom in listening to this counsel? Some seem to think so, but there is no evidence in the chapter before us that would indicate that this advice was wrongT Futhermore, Jethro was not a worldly man. He worshiped Moses’ God (v. 12), and in no way manifested a worldly spirit. Also the counsel of Jethro is in utter harmony with later teaching in the Word of God as to the division of responsibilities in the service of God. Study 1 Corinthians 12. The story of our lesson presents no evidence that Moses was shirking his duty.
BLACKBOARD LESSON
Lord Jesus came to earth, perhaps we know m o r e about Moses than about anybody else. You r e m e m b e r that when Moses was a baby, G od t o o k care of him in a little basket-b o a t in the river, and
5 -DIYISIOn
led a princess to find him (Ex. 2:1-10). God was getting Moses ready then to be a leader of His people—a leader who would help them to think about God. LESSON STORY: T o d a y we see Moses grown up and(teaching the peo ple. The Bible says that “Moses sat to judge [or teach]—the people: and' the people stood by Moses from, the morning unto the evening” (18:13). How busy he must have been! And how tired! About that time, Moses’ father-in- law came to see him. “Why,” the father said in words like these, “it would be better, Moses, if you divided the work of teaching, so you would not have to do it all alone.” Moses thought that was a good idea (vs. 21- 26). He found many helpers, and they did little things, but Moses was still the chief teacher whose work was,to tell about the heavenly Father. When God wanted the people to have the very 4mportant lessons called the Ten Commandments, He gave them first to Moses. He wanted Moses to make clear that the com mandments, or rules, were to help men and women and boys and girls to know what is right. Thé first rule was: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (v. 3). That meant: You must not love anybody or anything else more than you love thk heavenly Father. “If you will keep that rule,” Moses seemed to say, “if you will love God with all your heart, you will be happy, and then you can learn how to keep all the other good rules that God gives.” * — Object Lesson O b e y , a n d O k a y OBJECT:- A paper telescope. \ (IJse a piece of adding rhachine paper 2% inches wide by 5 feet long. Roll tightly until the diameter is approxi mately 1% inches. Paste the end of the paper on the outside, to keep it from unrolling. Print a large “0 ” on the roll. Wet your finger, place it on the inside of the roll, and pull down,“until the telescope is approximately 18 inches long. Print down from the “O” . on every other layer of paper the letters “BEY,” which will ^complete
Rather it sets forth a principle that ought to operate in the work of God at any time. 3. "I bare you on eagle’s wings,'and brought you unto myself. . . All that the Lord hath spoken we will do" (Ex. 19:4, 8). Two vastly different pictures present themselves in these two statements. In the first, there is a beautiful picture of God’s grace. We see God saving, God providing, God doing everything. His people are lifted out of their bondage and despair by His power and mercy. But in the sec ond statement, there is a picture of man’s bold attempt to save himself by law. It fails utterly to realize the weakness of man’s nature and to de pend upon God’s grace and strength. It is the most presumptuous vow that sinful man can utter. Golden Text Illustration P r o v e r b s 14:34 In the second war with England, on September 11, 1814, after Com modore MacDonough had cleared his vessels for action, in the bloody and decisive battle on Lake Champlain, he gathered around him his officers and men. Kneeling on the deck of the Saratoga near his heaviest gun, he prayed for the aid of Almighty GOd, and committed the issue into His hands. In the moment of triumph, he sent to the Secretary of the Navy the following dispatch: “Sir: The Almightj. Jias been pleased to give us a signal victory on Lake Champlain.” A few days following the battle, at a public dinner in Plattsburg, this toast was offered after the commodore had left the table: “The pious and brave MacDonough—the professor of the religion of the Redeemer—prepar ing for action, called on God, who forsook him not in the hour of danger. May he not be forgotten by his coun try.”—A Modern Cyclopedia of Illus trations. Why We Have Rules E x o d u I s 18:19-24; 20:1-3 MEMORY VERSE: “If ye love me, keep m y commandments” (John 14:15). AIM: To show that God’s rules are meant to help us to love Him.
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