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THE K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S
all our enemies (Luke 1:71, 74). (2) “To bring them up out of that land.” God does not deliver us from the hand of the Egyptians and then leave us in the land of the Egypt ians. He brings us OUT also (1 Cor. 6 :17 ). (3) “To bring them INTO a good land. God does not merely bring out of a bad, but He brings into the good. The trouble with many Christians is that they have come out of the world (Egypt) but they have not come into the fullness there is in Christ (Canaan) the “good land and large, a land flowing with milk and honey.”—Torrey. (3 :18 ) The three-day test was a picture of God working along the J inea^of least resistance, and favoured Pharaoh. Pharaoh would not allow three days, certainly n t . allow them to go for good.—Evans. % (3:22) “IJorrow” # |e s not imply a promise to return but tgignifie»' simply to as* or demand (cf. -Psa. 2 :8 ). The Mtaeiilea afar« but, ts*eiving at last the lair wages for their t o ^ i i y i G p I S e ^ e s s p r s had denied them. They shall not be ashamed who wait for God.—Gray. (4 :21 ) InstrUmentally God hardened Pharaoh’s heart by forcing him to an issue against which he hardened his own heart in refusal. Light rejected, rightful obedience refused, inevitably hardens conscience and heart. See Rom. 9:17-24.— Scofield.
There was a Divine prophecy—-the burning bush, a type of Israel and of the Bible. And there must be a Divine purpose. Moses was to be tested, and he was to be the deliverer of Israel. His schooling in the wilderness was solitude, self-meas urement and meditation. He acquired a knowledge of God, of the land and of wilderness life. He was to be a servant, “Come now, therefore, and I will send thee.” Men must come before they can be sent. A servant of God must be commissioned. He must speak with authority. He must have a revelation from God, through His word. God had heard the cry, had seen their affliction, had remembered His covenant and determined to deliver them. Moses is to be His instrument and God will be in their midst as the miracle-working God. God speaks today to us,l|j-“Turn aside; take off your shoes; look!” What do we see? The cross— two pieces of wood— a Man dying! But that cross is to revolutionize the world. “Exodus” means “departure” or “outgoing.” It is the word used in Hebrews 11:22— “The departure of the chil dren of Israel.” It is also a book of redemption— its types being of a redemptive character. It is suggestive to note in this connection that the conversation COMMENTS between Moses and Elias and Christ on FBOM THE the mount of transfiguration had to do COMMENTARIES with the “decease” (literally the “exo- V. V. Morgan dus” ) which Christ should accomplish at Jerusalem. The “exodus” which Moses began but could not finish, Christ, on Calvary’s cross, will “accomplish” (literally, “completely fulfill” ).— Evans. (1:8-14) This world has a short inemory for its bene factors. The idol of today is ignored tomorrow. The mar velous growth of God’s people awakened the envy and the fear of the new king (cf. Acts 4 :17 ). Times of revival are always times of bitter opposition by the devil and by the world. Pharaoh made the greatest mistake a man can make; he left God out of his calculations. In trying to up set God’s plans he was simply carrying them out. (Psa. 105:25; Prov. 21:30). It was the increase of Israel that Pharaoh tried to stop, but that was impossible for that in crease had been predicted in the sure word of God (Gen. 13:16; cf. Mat. 24 :35 ). This affliction was a good thing for Israel (v. ¡12). That was why God permitted it (cf. Heb. 12:6; Mai. 3 :3 ). Their affliction caused them to cry to God. (ch. 2:23).-—Torrey. (2 :11 ) This part of Moses’ history should be studied in connection with Acts 7:20-29 and Heb. 11:23-27, where we have an inspired commentary on his actions and motives.—• Gray.' (2:12-16) The slaying of the Egyptian by Moses is an attempt at human redemption, to accomplish God’s work by means of the flesh rather than by God’s Spirit. It is a repetition of the mistake which Abraham and Sarah made when they resorted to Hagar to help fulfill the promise of God.— Evans. (3 :1 ) God has trained all His great servants in the wild erness, alone with Himself. Luke 3:2; Matt. 4:1; Gal. 1:17. (3 :2 ) Jehovah’s presence was symbolized by the fire. Cf. chap. 13:21-22; 19:18; Deut. 4:11, 24; Heb. 12:29.— Torrey. Calvary is pre-eminently the “burning bush” of God’s providence and love, “Turn aside and see.”—J. M. Coon. (3 :6 I am the God— God does not say I “was” the God of thy fathers, but: I “am” their God. The patriarchs were still living, for God is not the .God of the dead but of the living (Mark 12 :27 ).—Arnold. (3:7-8) God tells Moses three wonderfully comforting things: (1 ) “I have surely seen the affliction of My peo ple.” God always sees the affliction of His people (Psa. 12 :5 ). But it did not seem through all these bitter years that God had seen the affliction of His people, but He had. (2) “I have heard their cry” (cf. Psa. 50:15; 145:18, 19). (3) “I know their sorrows” cf. Psa. 63:9. In every hour of most hopeless sorrow we may say, “He knows” (Psa. 142 :3 ). God came down Himself (vs. 8; cf. Luke 19:10; Jno. 1:14; 1 Jno 3 :8 ). He came down to do a three-fold work, ( l j “To deliver them out of the hands of the Egypt ians.” He will also deliver us from the hand of Satan and
ELEMENTARY Kate H. Hans
After many years, Joseph and the kings who loved him, died, and there came a new king upon the throne in Egypt, who did not know Joseph, or the wonderful things that he did for Egypt. The Jews had become a very great com.-
pany so that they filled the part of Egypt where they lived and had become very powerful. This new king became afraid the Jews might become troublesome and try to fight. This king decided he w o u l d make slaves of them, -and so kill them out. He became very cruel, and ordered all the as they were born. In spite
of that order, the Jews increased more and more in num ber. One day a beautiful boy baby was born to a Jew named Amiram. For three months his mother hid him from King Pharaoh’s soldiers, but he grew so large, she could not hide him longer. (Here tell the story of Ex. 2:1-10.) As Moses grew up in the king’s house, he was taught all the Egyptians knew, and also taught to be a great soldier. His mother had taught him to love God and do the right. When he grew up, he made up his mind that he would help his brothers, the Jews. When he caught an Egyptian beat ing a Jew, he killed the man, without letting the king know. The next day he saw two Jews fighting and tried to get them to stop; they were angry and asked Moses if he was going to kill the fighter as he had killed the Egyptian? When Pharaoh found out that Moses had killed an Egypt ian, he wanted to kill Moses, but Moses had run away, to another land. There in the land of Midian, Moses lived many years. The priest of the land was very kind to Moses, because Moses had helped his daughters to water their flocks. So Moses stayed with this priest, and married one of his daughters. Moses lived there 40 years, when the king, who hated him died; the Jews were having a very hard time as slaves in Egypt. (Here tell how the Jews had to make brick for the Egyptians.) The Jews were praying hard to God to be taken out of slavery, and God heard their prayer. One day Moses was in the field with his flock, and saw a bush on fire, and yet
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