The Life of Moses (3)

It was not pleasant for Moses to dwell as a stranger in the wilderness. However, the wilderness became a place of necessary training where he learned three subjects: 1) humility, 2) patience, and 3) faith. He would need these in the position in which the Lord would place him. He had become a shepherd of his father-in-law’s flock. There in Midian he crossed the peninsula, knew all the places… however, his life seemed to be so useless, and we would say the best part of his life passed by. Though this seemed so, in reality, God’s hand was leading him toward His purpose. With one hand He prepared the people of Israel in their increasingly heavy oppression. “And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage” (Exodus 2:23). With His other hand, He molded the deliverer, Moses.

Also in the life of God’s children, when educated at the school of grace, the Lord teaches them to cry out of their great need. He makes them cry for deliverance. The Deliverer becomes utterly necessary, and what a wonder it is if the Lord reveals unto them that there is a Redeemer. His name is Jesus.

A special place

Now at the end of the forty years of Moses traveling in the wilderness, he led his flock to Mount Horeb. An abundance of water and enough food for the large herds could be found in the valleys of the mountain range. One of the most northern mountaintops is Horeb. It was not only a good place for Moses’ flock, but there the Lord would appear unto him. The place is called “the mountain of God.” It was a wonder that the Lord would show that He had heard the cries of Israel; “And God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob” (Exodus 2:24).

The Lord often appears when all hope is gone and there is no expectation. Moses seemed to be a forgotten man, but also Israel, in bondage in Egypt, seemed to be a forgotten people. Here, however, at the mountain of God, there will be a solemn appearance of the Lord to an insignificant shepherd who had learned many lessons in the wilderness. He would have to put off his shoes from off his feet “for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” God is there. His majesty is shown. “A fire goeth before Him, and burneth up His enemies round about” (Psalm 97:3). The Lord appeared with fire in His anger and righteous wrath over His enemies. “For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with His chariots like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire” (Isaiah 66:15). Sinners cannot dwell with God. His wrath would consume them. The prophet also speaks of it in Isaiah 33:14, “The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?” The Apostle Paul also speaks of this in 2 Thessalonians 1:8, “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” How solemn is this truth, for we all will have to meet God, and how will we stand before a holy and righteous Judge? Would Moses flee? No, the Lord Himself has brought him there to meet with Him.

The burning bush

“And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush.” Who is that Angel? He is the Son of God Himself. It is Christ. This Angel of the Lord appeared to Abraham; He appeared in human form in Judges 6 and 13, and here in the wilderness He is met with Moses.

He appeared in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. No, it was not a tall, lofty spreading oak or cedar, but a low, thorny bramble bush. The bush may be interpreted as signifying the people of Israel in the furnace of affliction in Egypt. It may be a symbol of the Church of God in all ages under affliction and in distress. They are like the thorn bush both for their small quantity, as it is but a little flock, and for their qualities, as in themselves they are but weak and without strength, mean and low, and they have about them the thorns of corruption and temptations. They are often afflicted and persecuted.

There was something very special about this bush. We read “And, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.” The fire may then be a picture of the afflictions and trials in the life of God’s Church. That insignificant bush is worthy to be given up to be consumed but is preserved because the Church is the object of the eternal electing grace of God in Christ. He has cast Himself for her in the fire of God’s wrath. This fire may also be sometimes:

A. A picture of God’s wrath as was manifest upon Sodom, Egypt, Babel, and will be upon everyone outside of Christ. However, Christ, the green Tree, descended into the fire instead of His Church, who deserved it. Did it already become reality in your life? Have you become worthy to be consumed? Has it ever become a wonder to you what we read in Malachi 3:6, “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed”?

B. A picture of God’s love to salvation. This is a fire in which God’s Church comes for refining and cleansing. This fire is often kindled by man, but God considers it to be useful to His Church for trial and for testing and proving. “For thou, O God, hast proved us: Thou hast tried us, as silver is tried” (Psalm 66:10).

C. A picture of God’s faithfulness and care. The bush was not consumed because the Angel of the Lord was in it. Christ was in the fire; He cried out, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me?” God’s wrath is kindled by sin, but is also spent when the fire is extinguished. Blessed is he who may know this by faith.

We read in Isaiah 54:9, “For this is as the waters of Noah unto Me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.” Now there may be the kind and comforting light of God’s countenance, now the fire only consumes sin and corruption of the Church of God. We do not have to ask for afflictions, but the heavenly Refiner uses them so that the gold of His own work may shine forth. The dross may be removed and then the gold revealed. God will only be glorified in His own work.

It was also God’s goodness to the people of Israel that He brought them into the furnace of oppression, in the fire, so that they would not feel too much at home in Egypt and assimilate with their idolatrous life.

Need of instruction

It was understandable that Moses did not know what this meant. He said, “I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.” It was a mystery to him. That insignificant bramble bush was burning and was not consumed. It was indeed a great sight for Moses. There will be instruction for him. “And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush” (Exodus 3:4a). The Lord knew what His servant needed. Moses needed to be enlightened; therefore, God called him and said, “Moses, Moses.” It was a solemn, powerful calling. Moses was called by his name. There is the gospel: “I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine.” That also implied separation from the world. No unholy one will appear before the Lord. He can only receive cleansed, pure people.

The place was holy ground. Moses answered, “Here am I.”

The Lord had a wonderful and blessed message for him. He would be God’s servant, a shepherd for an oppressed people in the wilderness, one who will need patience, humility, and faith. The Lord would provide. Moses had only to follow. However, that is only possible by the grace of Him whose meat and drink it was to do the Father’s will, and who said, “Follow Me,” and His grace will be sufficient for Moses. He will, even in the fire, provide for Moses. This He will do for all His children and for all His servants.

(To be continued)

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