166. THE REVELATION AT THE BUSH

In this lesson we will discover the wonderful name of the God of Israel. It is a name full of meaning and was given to Moses at a very important stage in the history of his people.

Moses himself needed to feel sure that God was with him. The dramatic events of the burning bush and the voice of God from its midst restored Moses' confidence in God and in himself Moses was still hesi­tant about being a leader and so God gave him Aaron, his elder brother, as his spokesman. Moses and Aaron returned together to Egypt to ac­complish Israel's deliverance.

Exodus 3

IN MIDIAN (Exodus 3:1-12)

Almost forty years had passed since Moses fled into Midian. God was now ready to deliver His people according to His plan given to Abraham so long ago (Gen. 15:13-16).

Moses had taken his father-in-law's flock to the area around Mount Sinai. It was a lonely place of rugged grandeur, well suited to a revelation from God. Here, the lofty peaks which rise steeply from the plain and the deep silence emphasize the greatness of the Creator and the relative in­significance of man.

Moses on this occasion witnessed a remarkable sight—a bush burning but not being consumed! (Exodus 3:1-2). Moses went closer. An angel addressed him from the midst of the bush (vv.3-4). He was told to remove his shoes for the ground whereon he stood was holy (v.5) and that this angel spoke for the God of his fathers (v.6).

A fearful Moses then heard the meaning of the burning bush! God had heard Israel's cry of affliction in Egypt, and had come down to deliver them. To this end He had appointed Moses as their deliverer (vv.7-10 cp. Exod. 2:23-25). Moses was instructed to lead the nation out to worship God in Mount Sinai. As a sign of this, God gave him the sign of the burn­ing bush (w. 11, 12).

The bush burning but unconsumed pointed to the future history of God's people. They would suffer affliction and "fiery" trials but God would preserve them (cp. Jer. 30:11). His Name, about to be revealed to Moses, guaranteed their survival as a people, a fact recognised by the prophets (Mai. 3:6; Isa. 43:1-2). God would reveal himself through them, would bring them through many persecutions and in the end they will reflect His glory in the Kingdom as the head of all nations (Zech. 2:5).

THE NAME OF GOD (Exodus 3:13-16)

Hebrew names are quite often expressive of character or purpose. God's Name is no different. His Name has a meaning that tells us of a future time when God's glory shall fill this earth.

Moses asked His Name so that he could return to his people and show that he had come with the full authority of God to lead Israel out of Egypt.

God's Name as revealed in Exod. 3:14 is "I am that I am" but this translation in our English bibles is incorrect. The words should be translated as prophetic and should read "I will be who I will be". When Moses spoke of God to Israel he would say "He who will be" and the nearest equivalent English pronunciation of the Hebrew word is "Yahweh". "Yahweh" is therefore God's Name and we find it generally indicated in our bibles as "LORD" or "GOD". We should always speak of God's Name with total respect. It is His Holy Name, and by it we are caused to think of God's future purpose with the earth and His people. His Name is linked with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (v.15) for He will become their mighty ones (Elohim) as part of the fulfilment of His cove­nant with them.

God is now calling out of the nations a people for His Name (Acts 15:14). Those who are worthy at the second coming of Christ will be made immortal and assist him in the Kingdom. God's purpose will then be to educate and bless all nations so that the glory of God will fill the earth and God will be able to dwell with those who have "become" im­mortal. They will show forth the wonderful characteristics to be found in God's Name (Ex. 34:6, 7). God's Name, "I will be who I will be" will then be complete (cp. Num. 14:21; Isa. 11:9; Hab. 2:13; 1 Cor. 15:28; Rev. 21:3).

THE CHARACTER OF GOD (Exodus 34:6-7)

The name Yahweh expresses more than purpose. It teaches us about the character of God. God loves righteousness and hates iniquity (see Rom. 11:22). When we are baptized, we are baptized "into the name of the Father. . ." (Matt. 28:19). This means that our lives should show His goodness. An example of how this works is to be seen in the life of Jesus. He said "I have manifested Thy Name" i.e., he showed the character of God in all that he did. He said, "I have declared Thy Name", i.e., he preached the gospel of the kingdom of God or taught Yahweh's purpose (cp. John 17:6, 26). The believer must therefore forsake the world and walk faithfully and obediently toward the coming Kingdom. We look to the example of Christ for our daily living, learning from him how to display His Father's character in these days of Gentile wickedness.

This Name is being fulfilled —

1. in the mind, character and exaltation to immortality of our Lord Jesus Christ;

2. in the development of a character like Yahweh's in men and women of faith by their obedience to the gospel;

3. in those who will be Christ's at his second coming; and finally, at the end of the millennium when God is "all and in all".

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MOSES (Exodus 3:16-22)

God instructed Moses in detail how he was to bring about Israel's deliverance. He was to be bold in the face of Pharaoh's refusal so that God might bring upon the king and his nation the punishment which they deserved. Yahweh was going to be feared and honoured by both the Egyptians and His people, the Hebrews. During the coming plagues He was to be known in the eyes of all the people.

When the time was ready, Pharaoh would let them go but they were not to go empty (v.21). They were to "borrow" (the word actually means "demand") of the Egyptians jewels and raiment. They had laboured for many years as slaves and God demanded their wages! By His power God would show He was greater than the might of Egypt and its gods.

MOSES' RELUCTANCE (Exodus 4:1-17, 27-31)

Moses was reluctant to act. No doubt he remembered his people's re­jection of him forty years earlier. God gave Moses three signs to show that God would be with him.

• The rod that became a serpent (vv.1-5);

• The hand that turned leprous and was healed (vv.6-8);

• The waters of the river that turned to blood (v.9).

Yet Moses still did not want to go. God's reply was direct and assuring "Go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say" (vv.ll, 12). Yet Moses still refused to go (v.13) so that God's anger was roused (v.14). So Aaron was appointed as Moses' spokesman (vv.15, 16) and Moses was instructed to return to Pharaoh, rod in hand, to per­form the signs (v.17).

Aaron was sent to meet Moses as he returned and together they made known to the Israelites God's purpose and convinced them that the time of their deliverance had come: "The people believed. . .and they bowed their heads and worshipped" (vv.27-31).

SUMMARY:

•The bush that burned but was not consumed was given as a symbol of God's intention to deliver His people out of their afflictions and to reveal himself in them.

• So that Israel might ever keep in mind God's purpose with them He revealed Himself by the name "Yahweh" — He who will be.

• God's judgments were to be poured out upon Egypt so that all people might fear His Holy Name — just as the world will fear His Name at Armageddon.

REFERENCE LIBRARY:

"Elpis Israel" (J. Thomas)—Pp. 288-289

"Phanerosis (Australian Edition), Pp. 56-59

"Visible Hand Of God" — Chapters 10 and 11

'The Story Of The Bible" (H. P. Mansfield)—Pp. 237-257

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:

1. What was the meaning of the burning bush?

2. What is God's Name and what is its meaning?

3. How did the Lord Jesus Christ reveal God's name?

4. What was the reason for sending Moses back to Egypt?

5. What signs did God give to Moses to show that God would be with him? How did Moses use the signs?

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

1. Explain the meaning of God's memorial name.

2. Describe the events which took place when the angel of God appeared to Moses at the burning bush.

3. What was Moses' reaction when he was told to go and lead Israel out of Egypt. How was he helped in this work?