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THE K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S
Moses to go to this wicked king, and ask him to let the people of Israel go out of the land of Egypt away from the king; and God asked Moses to become the leader of His people, and bring them to the mountain where He was then talking to him. But Moses was afraid to go; he said, Who am I that I should go to this king and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt? Now of course Moses could not do this hard task in his own strength, any more than we can do the things we should do by ourselves. Just as we need God’s help, so Moses needed it. And now listen to the wonderful words God spoke to Moses, the words of our memory verse. “Certainly I will be with thee.” (Do not fail to emphasize God’s power over earthly trials and troubles, as you lead on in this story, taking up to the Red Sea ready for next week’s story. Now is the time to im press the little minds with the truth that God is able and mighty.) Closing Prayer. January 27, 1924 Israel Saved at the Red Sea Golden Text: “The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation.” Ex. 15:2. Besson Text: Ex. 12:37 to 18:27. Devotional Reading, Psa. 106:1-9. When Israel went out of Egypt they received a new and blessed manifestation of the Divine presence and guidance in the pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night, (Ex. 13:21-22). Moreover God led them in such a way that they were brought in contact with their BESSON foes and under such circumstances that EXPOSITION there seemed no way' of escape. The sea F. W. Farr was before them, the mountains hemmed them in on either side and the Egyptians were behind them. Every avenue of escape was cut off. The children of Israel cried unto God in their distress and despair and God made a way of escape. He opened a path way through the sea and the host went through dry shod, the waters being a wall of protection unto them on the right hand and on the left. “Thy way is in the sea, thy path in the mighty waters and thy footsteps are not known.” “Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.” The Shepherd of Israel went before His people and led them through the mighty waters. “By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.” There is the difference between faith and presumption. There the power of the enemy was broken and the armies of Egypt destroyed. “There the Lord saved Israel that day” (v. 30) and on the farther shore of the Red Sea they sang with glad and grate ful hearts the first song of salvation (Ch. 15). Viewing the various stages in the process by which Israel was saved, we have a parable and picture of the experience of the soul in its deliverance from the bondage of sin. There are seven clearly marked stages in the history of Israel’s salvation from Egyptian bondage. First, we find them “sighing and crying,” (Ch. 2:23). Here is a recognition of need. One. must see his sin before he can see his Saviour. Second, we see them “believing and worshipping,” (Ch. 4 :31 ). This is the beginning of real faith which matures into full assurance and becomes established in (14 :31 ). Third, Pharaoh’s grasp is loosened by the successive plagues sent by God in judgment on their oppressors, (5: 1 1 ) . Fourth, they find shelter beneath the blood of the slain lamb, (12:1-30).
finished, the first period of training— “learning to be somebody.” Yet the life, like that of Moses during the first period, is not being made a blessing to others. Moses was of no help whatever to his needy people until he “by faith refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt” (Heb. 11:24-26). Thus he stepped into the second period of training, although he probably did not know all that the step involved, and God had a chance to finish the training which qualified him to become a mighty instrument in His hands, and made him a channel of bless ing to Israel and to the world. May God deliver His ser vants from the pride, the self-sufficiency, the self-seeking which hinder their being used of Him! “Oh, to be nothing, nothing, Only to lie at His feet, A broken and empty vessel For the Master’s use made meet.” This fine hymn has been severely criticized; but until the truth which it was intended to convey has gripped us, we cannot be used as He would have us. Jesus said: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (John 12:24). Moses At The Burning Bush. Exodus 3:1-12. Memory Verse.— “Certainly I will be with thee.” Ex. 3:12. (Read 1st 12 chapters). Approach.— I have a picture here this 'morning of one of the most beautiful stories in the Bible. What is the first thing you notice as you look at the picture? I knew you would say the dear little baby. Who can tell me the story of this baby? All right, Jennie you EBEMENTARY tell us. Now we see how God watches Mabel B. Merrill over even the tiniest baby, and knows all about them and He knows when they are in danger. God had a great work for this little baby to do for him when he grew_up, and even though the wicked king gave an order that all the little boy babies should be killed, little Moses was saved because God wanted him to live. Prayer. Besson Story.— Paul will you tell us how God watched over and cared for a boy in our story last week? What a wonderful God Joseph had to help him in all his troubles, and do you know boys and girls that wonderful God is our Saviour and He will do for us just as he did for Joseph if we will obey and trust him, as Joseph did. Today we have been learning about Moses, and how this same won derful God saved him, and got him ready to do a great work for God. Moses in our story is a grown man, and he is taking care of some sheep out on a desert, and one day as he was watching the sheep as they were feeding near a mountain, Moses heard a voice speaking to him; and when Moses looked, he saw a bush on the mountain side burning, and even though the fire was coming out of the bush, it was not burned. Then he said, I will turn and see this wonderful sight——why the bush is not burned. And when he turned, God called to him out of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. He answered, Here am I. And God told him not to come near, but to take his shoes off, because the place where he stood was holy ground. It was holy, and Moses was Tiot to come near because God was there. Then God spoke to Moses and told him He had seen how the children of Israel, God’s people, were suffering because of the cruel treatment of the wicked king. Now what do you think God asked Moses to do for Him? Yes, He asked
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