The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 1 — Section 165

distinctness, formality, and solemnity. Note-There may have been an lntcrvai of months between the cry and these annoll.Ilcements. Note also, that this is not a second account of the rcYelation of the Burning Dush. The true explanation of the likeness between the two ~evelations _is, _that Moses having fallen into a desponding state of mind, God recalled to him first pnnc1ples. So now, one cure at least for discouracrcment ie to fall back 0n elemental Gospel tmths. God announced-I. Bis resolve: v~r. 1, see llebrew; and expound the true meaning. Pharaoh would be forced, not only to "send" Israel out, but to " drive" them out. 2. His name. First, God gave again his proper name, "Jehovah;" and then we have a positi'l"e and a negative declaration--(1) Positive. 'l'o the fathers God had been known as El-Sbaddai-God all-sufficient-that is to and for them in their moving tents. (2) Negative. This may not mean that" J;hovah" had.nc\'er fallen on their ear; but this, that all in that name had not dawned on their inteiligence. God's revelation of himself is always gradual. So it is in the gradual unfolding of the successive Bible economies. And so it is still. Modern science cannot give us a different idea of God; but an. enlarged idea, and one vastly illuminated. Dr. Chalmers when delivering his "Astronomical Discourses" had a grander idea of God than John Milton. Geology tells us of the awns throucrh which he works. Microscopical revelations tell of the infinitude of his condescensions. As Diderot said: "Elargissez Dieu"-Enlarge your idea of God. 3. His covenant: ver. 4. 4. His sympathy: 'l"er. 5. With new sorrows. 5. His salvation: vers. 6, 7 8. It is impossible to read these verses without noting the parallel with a still 'greater salvation. God promised--(1) Deliverance. Note the" burden-bearing" (see the Heb.) of sin-its essential servitude-the redemption price-the power, the outstretched arm, "IVith which sal'l"ation is wrought-the judgment on powers of darkness, Col. ii. 15. (2) .Adoption. (3) The land of rest. These blessings for us, as for them, on the condition of implicit trust. HI. THE DEAFE1''ING POWER OF BORROW : ver. 9. The contrast now and eh. iv. 31. "On a former occasion the people were comparatively at ease, accustomed to their lot, sufficiently afflicted to long for deliverance, and sufficiently free in spirit to hope for it." Now !-ver. 9. Observe the Heb., "shortness of breath," i.e. such as comes with anguish; or may not the meaning be, "shortness of spirit,'' as we say " shortness of temper"? This verse is against the theory that lsrael, by sheer force of religious enthusiasm, emancipated itself. For them, as for us, no salvation save in Jehovah their. God. Sorrow may shut out comfort. How maoy mistakenly stay away from the sanctuary because of their grief! IV. 'l'BE PERSIBTEKCE OF THE DELIVERING Gon. In this extremity of woe, God appears. The demand once was for a three days' absence ; now God uncovers all his purpose. Ver. 11 is the ultimatum of God. This new commission overwhelms Moses with a deeper sense of incompetence. He plead.s-1. The aversion of his own people. Effective homiletic use may here be made of the fact, that much of the strength or ministers, which might be used against the enemies of God, is used in dealing with the frowardness.of his professed friends. 2. His own infirmity. 'l'here may be here a sense of moral unfitness-" uncircumcised lips "-and a latent reference to the disobedience, eh. iv. 24--26. God did not allow these pleas; but put the two leaders forward once more into the position of responsibility, peril, and honour (ver. 13).--R. Vee. 9.-The pains of the lower life shutting out the blessings of the higher one. "'They hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage." Notice that this reason., and not some other, is stated for the indifference of Israel to the glorious words which Moses was commanded to repeat to them. We might fairly have expected some other reason to be stated; as, for instance, "Wo have been deceived once, and are not again to be put off with fair words;" or, "'l'his array of promises is very grand e.nd imposing, but there is nothing in them." But they ar~ emphatically represented as not even attending to what Moses had to say. Their mmds were effectually closed by preoccupation with something else. They were eo much harassed in body and mind as to lack not only the inclination, but even the ability, to give Moses a proper hearing. And 60 Pharaoh'e policy had this effect at least, that it prevented the people,for a whi'le, from considering things belonging to their highest welfare. Only we must bear in mind that as the liberating advance of God was not in the least hinderod l,y the cruelty of Pharaoh, 60 neither was it hindered by the negligeuce of Israel. A olt. v1. 0.] THE BOOK OF EXODUS. 14')