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God’s Deliverance

November 3, 2013

Lesson: Exodus 3:1-22

Key Verses: Exodus 3:16-17

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Introduction

God’s people finally had prayed for deliverance from the heavy arm of Egypt. God was already working out His covenant promise by calling Moses in the Jethro-valley. This prince of Egypt who did not forget his brethren while in Egypt was now, 40 years later, shepherding the flock of Jethro. Isaiah, speaking of the lovingkindness of the Lord, praises Him for all the goodness He has “bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his loving-kindnesses” (Isa. 63:7). The Lord was their Savior, and it was in their affliction that He revealed His redemptive love, that the “Angel of his presence saved them:” in His love He redeemed them, and “carried them all the days of old” (Isa. 63:8-9). Isaiah reminds God’s people that He, their Savior and Lord, was the One who “led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm” (Isa. 63:12).

The Lord’s mercy is, no more or no less, shown to His people today. When we come to understand the works of deliverance and redemption in the life of Moses and Israel, we come to understand the lovingkindness of the Lord toward us today. It is to be understood that His redemptive, forgiving, love is toward those who are called by His name, who believe in the Son as He is revealed in His infallible and inerrant Word, written.

We come to the same Lord as did His people in the days of Moses. We come to the Savior who was “wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isa. 53:5).

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The Burning Bush –Exodus 3:1-5

While Moses was caring for the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, he came to “the mountain of God, even to Horeb.” It was at this mountain, also called Sinai, that the “angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.” The Almighty Lord God, Creator and Redeemer, appears to Moses in a way that he could comprehend. The imposing and majestic God of Abraham reveals Himself as an Angel in a fire that does not consume the bush. Moses turns his attention to the “great sight” asking, “Why the bush is not burnt.” The Lord God then called “unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses.”

The Angel of the Lord called Himself Jehovah. It is the person and the glory of God who meets Moses at the bush which is not being consumed. It is said that the One who called Moses was none other than the eternal Son of God, the second person in the Godhead, the only Mediator between God and man. The New Testament records this truth of the wilderness journey: “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ” (1 Cor. 10:4).

It is God Himself who calls Moses, and he answers, “Here I am.” Communion is established between God and His servant. Moses must come in humble worship. For the One who is speaking has sanctified the place of meeting. This chosen place of meeting was the place where Moses met God. God so commands: “Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.”

Though God had sanctified this place of meeting, where He would further meet with Moses, we must not see our sanctuaries as God’s chosen places. For we are taught by the same Lord that “true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him” (John 4:23). God’s people are His sanctified place where He dwells with them. We therefore come to worship our Lord as those who come unworthy of such a communion, drawn only by the Father Himself who has loved us and redeemed us in Christ His Son. Let our worship therefore; be sanctified by His Word only, and not by the whims of man.

Discussion: How should our Sabbath worship reveal the glory and honor of our Father who has called us to be His people?

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The Majestic “I AM” God –Exodus 3:6-15

The sacredness of the occasion is revealed in these words of the Lord which draws Moses to Himself: “I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses responds by hiding his face, “for he was afraid to look upon God.”                                 The faith of Moses, that God would redeem His people, is secured in these words of the Lord: “I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.”

The conversation between God and His servant continues. What if we learned from this conversation a lesson in prayer? To know that when we pray God is not only listening but answering us? Or are we so interested in what we are saying to God that we forget to turn our ears to Him? God has given us His written Word. This word, the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, is God speaking to us today. The Holy Spirit witnesses to our Spirit of the will and wonders of heaven. Go therefore to Scriptures, before and after your petitions to your Father in heaven. And, even as the Holy Spirit writes them upon your hearts, He may bring His word to remembrance even as you lift your words to His throne of grace.

Jehovah sends Moses to Pharaoh to bring forth His people “the children of Israel” out of Egypt. Moses questions God: “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh?” He receives this answer: “I will be with thee.” This is also the confession of the saints who are sent into all the world: “In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me” (Psa. 56:4). Our Lord Jesus said, “Go… and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28:19-20).

Moses has another question: “When I come unto the children of Israel… what shall I say unto them?” The final answer from God is this: “I AM THAT I AM… Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” Moses began with the question, “Who am I?” God’s answers with, “I AM THAT I AM!” All of the divine glory of God is seen in this statement. He is always existent, always present, without beginning or end. He is also the alpha and omega, the beginning and end of all His creatures. He acts according to His own will and purpose. He is the only One who can deliver His people from Egypt, or from sin unto eternal life. Our Lord adds another name, that of the covenant, “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” He is the One who remembers His promise. He will come because of this covenant, and all generations will know that He is faithful in His promises.

Discussion: What confidence does God give Moses that he may obey His command?

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God’s Promises –Exodus 3:16-22

The Lord God continues to command Moses. Moses is to gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, “The Lord God of your fathers, The God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt.” Moses is to bring to their remembrance the covenant of God which was spoken of to them by their fathers. They were to know that God would deliver them from their enemies “unto a land flowing with milk and honey.” The Lord also promises Moses that the elders will listen to him, and they will come with him to Pharaoh, and the king of Egypt will hear these words: “The Lord God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.”

The Lord warns Moses that Pharaoh will not let them go. However, the Lord Himself will stretch out His hand, “and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go. And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty.”    The Lord God, in keeping His covenant, will not only deliver them from the evil of Egypt, but will give them blessings of a promised land. God’s blessings of redemption are filled with the fruitfulness of an abundant life. Our Lord has prepared a place for us, by way of the cross of Calvary, i.e., that where He is there we will be also. We must remember that we live by the gracious provisions of God. As the Lord has promised: “And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing” (Ez. 34:26).

Discussion: How do the promises of God encourage us to live for Him in our daily lives?

Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2013 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.

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