Exodus 3

Exodus 3:1-22

Exodus 3:1-22; Exodus 4:1-31(b) Moses’ Call and Commission (Exodus 3:1-22; Exodus 4:1-31) The call came while Moses was about his usual daily occupation. So it came to David, while he was tending his sheep; to Elisha while he was plowing; to the shepherds while they watched their flocks. So it will always come. God calls us from work to work, never from idleness. He who fills well his present position is in line of promotion for a greater. God’ s call often comes while in solitude. The mother-country of the strong is solitude. What a change this was-from a busy palace to a quiet desert, but God tests His weapons before He uses them. Solitude-that is the definition of genius. One might have thought that Moses had flung away bright prospects in forsaking Pharaoh for Jethro. So we sometimes say of many a young man who gives up a worldly prospect for the work of God. It was a deliberate choice on the part of Moses: “ By faith Moses, when he was come to years, 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 in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:24-27). A wise choice it was, as the centuries that have passed by still bear witness. God spoke to Moses out of the bush that burned yet did not consume. The bush was doubtless a symbol of God’ s holiness, the divine fire consuming sin for the purpose of consecration. Compare Hebrews 12:29 -“ For our God is a consuming fire.” Jesus drew a lesson from the burning bush in His talk with the Pharisees (Mark 12:26). Just as the bush burned but did not consume away, so, once born, the soul dies not; ’ tis an eternal thing. Those whom we call dead are alive. The soul that is united to God by faith never dies. The title “ Jehovah” lifts (God up above men. The title “ The God of your fathers” brings God down to men. That is His memorial to all generations.

Exodus 3:16-20

Exodus 3:16-20 The program of Moses’ commission (Exodus 3:16-20) The end of the mission is known from the beginning. Moses need have no fear of failure. At first sight it might seem as though from this very fact Moses had a greater chance than we have. And yet the fact that we do not always, as Moses did, know the end from the beginning should lead us to cling more closely to God for greater grace, and stimulate us to greater effort. The assurance to be given to the children of Israel was that they were to be delivered by God Himself and planted again in their own land. The three day test (Exodus 3:18) was a picture of God working along the lines of least resistance, and favored Pharaoh. It was no deceit If Pharaoh would not allow three days, he would certainly not allow them to go for good. Why did God appeal when He knew that it would be in vain? That is answered by asking. Why does God still appeal to us when He knows ofttimes the appeal will be in vain? God makes the least possible request and with the greatest courtesy. That is why each time that Moses makes a demand upon Pharaoh the terms are more severe. Not even so little as God asked would be granted. The conflict was to be a religious one. It was a battle between the gods of Egypt and the God of Israel. This is the lesson that both Pharaoh and Moses should learn. Pharaoh especially would learn who Jehovah was when the plagues came upon him. The reference to “ borrowing jewelry” in Exodus 3:21-22 is understood when we substitute the word “ ask” instead of “ borrow.” Probably the word “ demand” would be better. These people had slaved so long for nothing that they were entitled to something, and we see later (Exodus 12:35-36) that the Egyptians forced their jewelry upon the Israelites, so glad were they to get rid of them.