266. THE REVELATION AT THE BUSH

"This is my name forever"

Since Moses' flight from Egypt, almost 40 years had elapsed. The children of Israel were stricken with cruel bondage and their cries were heard of God (Ex. 2:24-25). The time had now come to commence a fur ther development in His plan as foretold in Gen. 15:16.

The aim of this lesson is to show how God's Memorial Name revealed His intention to redeem His people and how He set about securing His objective.

Exodus 3 and 4 AT MT. SINAI (Ex. 3:1-12).

Moses, as shepherd of Jethro's flock had led his sheep to the € backside of the desert € near Mt. Horeb (next to Mt. Sinai) in search of grazing land. In this unpopulated and desolate region, man's insignificance in the face of God's awesome power is to be seen and felt. Towering mountains and rugged hills, coupled with silence apart from the restless wind, make an unforgettable impression on the mind of the human travelling in this area.

In a subdued and receptive state of mind, Moses saw a remarkable sight. He saw a bush ablaze with fire but the bush was not consumed. Moses was astonished and resolved to "turn aside" and see this wonder at close quarters.

As he approached, he was called by the Angel, and upon answering was told not to come any further but to remove his shoes, as he stood on holy ground. The Angel spoke further to him, declaring himself to be the representative of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

In the presence of God, Moses always exhibited a proper respect and fear (see Heb. 12:18-21), and this occasion was no exception. Moses was afraid. As he stood trembling he was told of his part in God's plan. God was to deliver his people from Egyptian oppression by Moses' hand, and lead them to Sinai where they would worship Him (verse 8-12).

There is no doubt that the bush has a deep significance. God's plan was expressed from the midst of the bush which blazed and shimmered in in tense heat, yet was not destroyed. To find the meaning of this symbol we must look at Israel.

1. They were called to be God's people (Ex. 6:7).
2. They were to proclaim His righteousness to the nations (Deut. 4:6-8).
3. They continuously rebelled against Him and suffered affliction because of it (Deut. 9:24).
4. Though afflicted, they were never to be destroyed (Jer. 46:28; Mal. 3:6).

The parallel is clear. The bush portrayed Israel, whose history of afflic tion displayed the righteousness of Yahweh's judgment to the world, and, despite terrible national calamities, survive as a separate people. The Divine purpose, with Israel at its centre, cannot be extinguished (Isa. 43:1-7).

THE MEMORIAL NAME (Ex. 3:13-15).

Moses, in asking God his Name, was seeking more than an authority with which to approach Israel. In certain instances a name in those times revealed a person's mission or purpose in life. The name 'Abraham' means "Father of a great multitude" (Gen. 17:5 margin). 'Moses' means "drawn out" because he was drawn out of the water (Ex. 2:10 margin). 'Jesus' means "Salvation of God" because that is his mission (Isa. 49:6). Moses was in fact asking God to reveal His purpose, expressed in a Name (see Jer. 16:21; Ps. 8:1; Ezek. 36:22).

God's answer (v.14) is translated in our Authorised Version of the Bi ble as "I am that I am", but the Hebrew words "Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh" are more correctly rendered, "I will be who I will be (R.V. mg.). Verse 14 should then read: €

"And God said unto Moses 'I WILL BE WHO I WILL BE,' and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, 'I WILL BE' hath sent me unto you."

(Notice that EHYEH in verse 12, "certainly I WILL BE with thee", has been correctly rendered). The meaning of God's name then becomes: €

"I will extend My being in others whom I will become".

The name of God then is a far-reaching prophecy € the "I will" points forward, and the name was said to be God's "memorial to all generations" (v.15). Its fullness will be seen in the Kingdom Age and beyond, when God will be revealed in a glorified host who will display His character and glory and in whom God will dwell. Hence the phrase used by Paul, God will "be all in all" (1 Cor. 15:28).

The Lord Jesus Christ was the first man to whom apply the words "whom I will become". Jesus was the "word made flesh", the expressed mind of God walking on earth as a man. As the only begotten Son of God, he displayed the Father's glory, revealing His ways perfectly in the days of his flesh (Jn. 1:14). All that he said and did showed the mind and character of God (Jn. 5:30; 14:10), so that anyone seeing him "saw the Father" (Jn. 14:9).

The name thus points forward to the time when God would be revealed as a Father, manifesting Himself first in a Son, and then in sons (Rom. 8:19).

God's Name, as spoken by Himself, is EHYEH, "I WILL BE." But when spoken of by others, it becomes YAHWEH, in the third person, meaning, "HE WHO WILL BE".

To Moses, the Name indicated that the work of God manifestation was to commence in Israel, God's firstborn nation, whom God would redeem to be a people displaying His character. God's purpose would not involve all men, for He will only reveal Himself in those "WHOM I will become" (cf. Ex. 33:19). When He linked His name of Yahweh with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (3:15,16; 4:5), He showed that the channel of His purpose would be through Israel and that outside Israel there would be no hope (Eph. 2:12). God had previously been seen by the fathers as an Almighty power, but now in their deliverance from Egypt the nation would see Him as Yahweh, "He who will" redeem His people, so that, as His people, they might manifest their God (Ex. 6:2-8).

The memorial name of God is always rendered "LORD" or "GOD" in our Bibles, and much is lacking because of this. It is combined with other words to make several titles of God. Here are a few of the most common titles: LORD God € Yahweh Elohim € "He who will be mighty ones" Lord GOD € Adonai Yahweh € "He who will be rulers" LORD of hosts € Yahweh T'zvaoth € "He who will be armies" It can be seen that these titles all have their fulfillment in the Kingdom, and that the various developments, whether Israel called to manifest Him (Deut. 28:10), or the Ecclesia "taken out from the Gentiles as a people for his name" (Acts 15:14), are all designed to bring about His purpose. In the fullest sense, those counted worthy will inherit God's own nature, and manifest Him in fact and in truth (Rev. 3:12; Eph. 1:1; 1 John 3:2). The characteristics of God, which we must put on when we are baptis ed into the name of the Father, were revealed to Moses at the foot of Mount Sinai when he wanted to know God's way. Read Exodus 34:6-8 carefully. There are three stages of regeneration through which we must pass:

1. Mental Regeneration: by the understanding and belief of His Word (Jn. 3:16).
2. Moral Regeneration: by building into our lives, the character God ap proves; love, mercy, faithfulness, etc. (Jn. 14:23).
3. Physical Regeneration: by transformation from mortality to immor tality at Christ's second coming (Phil. 3:20, 21).

When all stages are complete, God will be "all in all".

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MOSES (Ex. 3:16-22).

Having made His great Name known to Moses, God told him to return to Egypt, call the elders of Israel together, tell them of the purpose He had with them, and then go boldly before Pharaoh and demand that he let Israel go to worship in the wilderness. At the same time, God told Moses that Pharaoh would refuse his request, but that ultimately he would be forced to let the people go.

When the time of the Exodus finally arrived they were to "ask" or "demand" (not "borrow" as in 3:22) jewels and raiment from the Egyp tians, and God assured them that they would willingly give them. They had laboured for many years as slaves, and God demanded their pay!

In all this, God determined to vindicate His power over the might of Egypt and its gods (9:16).

MOSES' RELUCTANCE (Ex. 4:1-17).

In spite of God's promised help, Moses lacked confidence to act the part of deliverer. Forty years in the wilderness tending sheep had drastically changed Moses. No longer had he the self-assurance of youth. He was now humble and thoughtful, but in God's eyes ready to do the great work of bringing Israel out of Egypt.

Moses would have remembered how Israel had rejected his help 40 years earlier, and doubtless felt they would do so again. God endowed him with special signs with which to prove his authority: €

1. The rod that became a serpent;
2. The hand that turned leprous and was healed;
3. The turning of the waters of the river into blood.

Still Moses was reluctant to act. He claimed that he was not a ready speaker (v.10). But notice God's reply, particularly the words: "Go, and I will be with thy mouth and teach thee what thou shalt say" (vv. 11-12). Still Moses hesitated so that God's anger was roused (vv. 13-14). Aaron was thereupon appointed as Moses' spokesman and Moses was instructed to return, rod in hand, to perform the signs (vv. 15-17).

Meanwhile, Aaron went out, as he had been told, and met and com muned with Moses in the Mount of God (vv.27-28). Returning they called together the elders of Israel and Aaron told them about God's purpose. When the people heard the words of Moses, and saw the signs he showed them, they realized that God was indeed with him: "The people believed... they bowed their heads and worshipped" (vv.29-31).

LESSONS FOR US:

• The burning bush, which was not consumed, was a symbol of God's eternal purpose with Israel. Throughout the centuries He has preserved them and today their regathering in Palestine shows plainly that God rules in the kingdom of men.
• God's Name memorializes His purpose to redeem men. God purposes that all the world shall be filled with His glory and then the meaning of His Name will have been fulfilled. We are privileged in being "taken out of the Gentiles as a people for His Name" (Acts 15:14).
• God chose Moses to lead His people after he had matured during forty years in which he was a shepherd in the awesome surroundings of Mt. Sinai.

REFERENCE LIBRARY:

"Elpis Israel" (J. Thomas) € Pages 288-289

"Phanerosis" (J. Thomas) € Pages 56-59

"The Visible Hand of God" (R. Roberts) € Chapters 10 and 11

"Christadelphian Standards" (H. P. Mansfield) € Pages 35-54

"The Story of the Bible" (H. P. Mansfield) € Vol. 1, Pages 236-257

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:

1. What is the significance of the burning bush?
2. What was God's Name that he revealed to Moses. What does it mean?
3. How did the Lord Jesus Christ reveal God's Name?
4. What signs did God give Moses to prove he had been sent by Him?
5. Why was Moses reluctant to lead Israel out of Egypt?
6. How had he changed during the 40 years in Midian?

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

1. Explain the meaning of God's Memorial Name. What did it teach and how does it relate to us?
2. Describe the events which took place when the angel of God appeared to Moses at the burning bush.