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THE KING’S BUSINESS
4:1; Gal. 1:18). So he learned the weak ness of the flesh, the emptiness of the world, and became small in the eyes, of men and —of-Moses. 7. The “I AM." “Say I AM hath sent me.” “I AM” means “I WAS, I AM, I SHALL BE.” The “I AM” of the burning bush, was the Christ of the burning body (Rev. 1:13-15). 8. The Instrument. “What hast thou in thy hand ?” “A rod.” As commonly said, this means that God can use the gift or talent at hand, the most commonplace in strument or agent. It is true. But this rod was Christ (in a figure). He is called a rod (“Matteh,” Ps. 110:2; “Choter,” Isa. 11:1; “Shebet,” “Scepter,” Num. 24:17); and is typified as a dead rod made alive (Num. 17:8). By Him Jehovah does all things, and His servants can do a,ll “through Christ that strengthens them” (Phil. 4:13) 9. The Signs. (1) “The serpent was the symbol of royal and divine power on the diadem of 1. "The Words" (Exod. 3:4-22) were given to “the elders” (official heads, Num. 11:16). It was a gospel typical of our own, who “wait for the adoption” and the land (see Rom. 8:21-25). A long and varied conflict of opposing powers must intervene, but the promise was sure. It was and it is as with the American Emancipation Procla mation, but at last the slaves were free. 2. “The Signs’1 were done. The serpent proved harmless in the grasp of Moses; the leprosy passed into purity and vigor; the water (Egypt’s life) became blood (death). These were the first miracles done through men to authenticate a Divine message. Bible heroes of the earliest ages did no miracles, the very times when in pagan myths they abounded. Bible miracles are duly timed and occasioned, like all provi
every Pharaoh.” The grasp of faith should find him harmless. By becoming a serpent Christ lays hold of that “old serpent the devil” (Num. 21:9; John 3:14; 1 Cor. 5:21; Rev. 20:2). (2) The hand is the symbol and seat of power. In Moses’ bosom struck with death (leprosy), God gave it life and power. Or, Moses carrying leprous Israel in his bosom (Num. 11:12) God would make them clean. Moses is the Law. In the Law all are sin ners (lepers), delivered from the Law we have life and become God’s servants (Rom. 7:11; 6:22; 8:2), so Israel. (3) The Nile, Egypt’s life, should become blood, evidence of Egypt’s death, and Is rael’s life (Exod. 12:13). 10. Who Made Can Use the Mouth. “I will be with thy mouth.” For this reason Moses says continually, “Thus saith Je hovah” (see Luke 21:15). “I will put words in his mouth.” This, then, is the way God puts words in the prophet’s mourn, and the prophet speaks the words God puts there. dential realities. They are credentials of men “sent from God,” heaven’s ambassa dors. Reason demands them. The light of nature cannot give a redeeming God, or an experience of salvation. They lie who say that miracles never happened, or that they neither concern nor convince men now. If the Record bore no miracles it would bear no authority. They who reject those super natural works, soon, no, already reject the supernatural Word. Miracles do not now occur, for a document once signatured by its author is not more sure by being signed over and over. Miracles were done “in the sight of the people,” not “in a corner” (v. 30; Acts 26:26). Their witnesses, cir cumstances, nature, relation to .the wjiole system, combine to make the record of miracles more trustworthy than any other historical writings. Hence they satisfy us;
LESSON IV.—July 27.— M oses ' D emand R eeused ,—Exod. 4:29—6:1. G olden T ext : Blessed are they that, mourn; for they shall be comforted. _ Matt. 5 :4. I. G ood N ews to I srael .
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