The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 1 — Section 84

derived, under the guidance of God'~ SpirH, from revelations already given-is not to be expected, 'fhe Bible is the sum of God's authoritative revelations to the ra,::e, 'l'his bush, e.g., still burns for us in Scripture, where at any time we can visit it, and bear God's voice speaking out of it. But in another sense, revelation is not obsolete. It is not a tradition of the past, but a living reality. It has its objective side in the con- tinuous (non-miraculous) revelation going on in nature (Ps. xix. 1 ; Rom. i. 19, 20) and history (Acts xvii. 26, 27); and in the tokens of a supernatural presence and working in the Church (Matt. xxviii. 20; 1 Thess. i. 3-10; Rev. ii. 1). And it has its subjective side in the revelation (mediate) of Divine things to the soul by the Holy Spirit (Eph. i. 17), and in the manifestation of God to the heart in private spiritual experience (John xiv. 21, 23; Rom. v. 5; viii. 16). The veil between the soul and the spiritual world is at all times a thin one, The avenues by which God can reach devout minds are innumerable. The Word, sacraments, and prayer are special media, the Divine Spirit ta.king of the things of Christ, and showing them to the soul (John xvi. 15), illuminating, interpreting, applying, confirming. But, in truth, God is "not far from every one of us" (Acts xvii. 27); and by events of providence, in workings of conscience, through our moral and spiritual intuitions, enlightened and purified as these are by the Word, by numberless facts of nature and life, he can still draw near to those who tarry for him; meets them in ways as unexpected and sur- prising as at the burning bush ; awes them by his wonders ; flashes to them the mes- sages of his grace. Viewing this revelation at the bush as a chapter in spiritual history, consider- !. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF IT, The revelation came to Moses-(1) unexpectedly; (2) while in th~ way of duty-he "kept the flock;" (3) in a solemn place-" mountain of God," a natural oratory and place of sacred repute-and probably while revolving solemn thoughts; (4) from a most unlooked-for quarter-a common bush; and at first (5) impersonally. The bush burning had no apparent relation to Moses more than to another. It was there for him to look at, to inquire into, if he chose. It invited, but did not compel, or even ask for, his attention. All which circumstances are significant. 1. The Divinity is ever nearer to us than we think. So Jacob, as well as Moses, found it. "Surely God is in this place, and I knew it not" (Gen. xxviii. 16). 2. Revelations are not to be expected, save in the way of duty. 3. God may be met with anywhere (John iv. 24), but some places are more favourable for communion with God than others-the closet (Matt. vi. 6), the sanctuary (Ps. lxxiii. 16, 17), natural solitudes (Matt. xvi. 23). And revelations have usually a relation to the state of mind of those who receive them-answering questions, resolving perplexities, affording guidance, adapting themselves to psychological conditions (cf. Job ii. 12, 13; Dan. ii. 29; ix. 20, 21; x. 2-6; Acts x. 3, 10; 1 Cor. xii. 9; Rev. i. 10). It is. in every wa.y likely that Moses' thoughts were at that moment deeply occupied about Israel's future. 4. Goa:s discoveries of himself are marked by great condescension. Lowliness of situation is no bar to the visits of the King of Heaven, while humility of heart is indispensable to our receiving them. He who dwelt in the bush will not refuse the dwelling place of the contrite heart (Is. !vii. 15). God's most wonderful discoveries of himself have been made through " base things of the world, a.nd things which are despised" (1 Cor. ii. 28). The highest example of this is Christ himself, of whose incarnation the angel in tb.e bush may be regarded as a prophecy. "He shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground; he hath no form nor comeliness," etc. (ls. !iii. 2). 5. God's revelations act as a moral test. This applies to the objective revelation-to the tokens of the supernatural strewn everywhere around 11s in life and history, as well as to Nature and the Bible. We may pass them unheeded, or we may draw nearer to inquire. The Bible invites attention by the supernatural in its history, as well as by its teachings. It is only when we draw nearer to it that the Word becomes persona.I. and seizes on the conscience with spiritual power. .Attention on man's part is rewarded by further self-discovery on God's. II. ITS INTEREST FOR MosEs. We may connect his turning aside to see (ver. 4)- 1. With an appeal to his faculty of wonder. This is one function of miracle--t-0 arrest attention, and awaken in the witness of it a powerful consciousness of the Divine presence. 2. With a general habit of devout inquiry. It may be true that "many a man has been led through the pale of curiosity into the sanctuary of reverence" EXODUS, F  66 THE BOOK OF EXODUS. [cE III, 1-----6,