The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 1 — Section 85

(Parker); but it is also true that to a merely curious disposition God usually reveals little, and to an irre-verent one nothing. The habit of inquiry is Ill! va.lua.ble, if one's ultimate aim is in all things to become acquainted with God and his will, as in science and philosophy, or any other form of the pursuit of knowledge; but let inquiry be dernut. "Search the Scriptures" (John v. 39). Ponder thoughtfully events of pro- Yidence and facts of history. Study NatuN with an eye to spiritual suggestions-to underlying spirit,ual analogies. Give to whatever you read or hear, which seems to have truth or value in it, the attention it deserves. Inquiry throws the mind into tho atti- tude most favourable for receiving Divine revelations. Moses was not called by name till he "turned aside to see." 3. With the perception that in this circumstance Uod was specially calling him to inquire. As Moses gazed, he would be prompted to ask a.bout this bush-What means it? What invisible power is here manifesting itself? Why is it burning at this place, and at this time ? What mystery is contained in it? Has it a message for me , And he would not be long in perceiving that it must be burning there with the special view of attracting his attention. And is it not thus that the Di,·ine usually draws near to us? Attention is arrested by something a little aside from the course of ordinary experience, and the impression it makes upon us produces the con'l'iction that it is not unintended; that it is, as we say, "sent;" that it has a. meaning and message to us we do well to look into. Every man, a.t some point or another in his history, has felt himself thus appealed. to by the supernatural. The im- pression may be made by a. book we feel drawn to read, or by something we read in it; through a. sermon, through some event of life, by a sickness, a.t a deathbed, by the sayings an... doings of fellow-men, or in hours of solitude, when even Nature seems peopled with strange voices, and begins to speak to us in parables. But, originate as,it may, there is plainly in it, as in all special dealings of God with us, a call to inquire, to question ourselves, to ask whether, from the midst of the mystery, God may not have i,ome further message for our souls. Ill. THE SIGHT ITSELF. The bush that burned (ver. 2) was-1. ..4. token of the Divine Presence. Moses would soon feel that he was standing in presence of the Unseen Holy. 2. ..4. significant embl,em. It represented. the Israelites in their state ot affliction, yet miraculously surviving. Possibly, in the questionings of his spirit, Moses lwl. not before sufficiently considered the " token for good" implied in this astonishing 11reservation of ·the nation, and needed to have his attention directed. to it. It was a clear proof that the Lord had not cast off his people. If Israel was preserved., it could only be for one reason. The continued vitality, growth, and vigour of the nation was the-infallible pledge of the fulfilment of the promise. 3. .An answer to prayer. For what could be the meaning of this portent, but that the long, weary silence was at length broken; that the prayer, "0 Lord, how long?" was at last to receive its answer? Faith can see great results wrapped up in small beginnings. For nothing in God's procedure is isolated. Beginnings with God mean endings too. IV. THE PERSONAL CALL. A.s Moses wondered-I. The revelation became pers()'Tl;al. He heard himself addressed by name, "Moses, Moses" (ver. 4). Solemnised, yet with that.presence of mind which could only a.rise from long habituation to the idea of an invisible spiritual world, he answered, " Here am L" This was_ to place himself unre- i.ervedly at God's disposal. Mark the order--(1) God revealing (ver. 1); (2) man attending (ver. 2); (.3) the revelation becoming persona.I (ver. 3). Then followed the direction (ver. 5), "Draw not nigh hither; put off thy shoes," etc. Thus Moses was instructed: 2. As to the ri,ght atf,itude towards G~s revelations. (1) Self-surrender; (2) reverence; (3) obedience. Moses doubtless obeyed the injunction he received. These qualities meet in all true religion: humility in hearing what God hatt to ea.y; submission of mind and heart to it when said ; readiness to obey. Glance for a moment at the requirement of reverence. One can understand how in the tumult of his feelings at the moment-in the very eagerness of his spirit to hear what further God had to say to him-Moses should be in danger of neglecting the outward tokens of the reverence which no doubt he felt; hut it is instructive to observe that G.od recalls his attention t.o them. We are thus taught that reverence becomes us, not enly in relation to God himself, but in relation to whatever is even outwardly connected with his presenOI!, worship, or revelation. E.g., in our dealing with Scripture, in the use of Divine names 11.ud titles, in the ritual of Divine service. 'l'he ~ttitude of the spirit is doubtless the WL nL 1-6.] '!'HE BOOK OF EXODUS. 67