Monday Bible Study Life in Christ Bible Church LICBC Headquarters, 154 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. Sierra Madre, CA 91024, USA http://www.licbc.org ********************************************************************************************** Systematic, Expository Study of God's Word Study 7: REVELATION OF GOD'S NAME AND POWER Exodus 6:1-30. So far, Moses' ministry to Israel in Egypt appeared not to have yielded any positive result. Being weak in faith and lacking in spiritual understanding, not fully knowing the ways of the Lord, he was discouraged by what he heard, felt and saw. "And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore hast Thou so evil entreated this people? Why is it that Thou has sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Thy name, he hath done evil to these people: neither has Thou delivered Thy people at all" (Exodus 5:22,23). After his seeming failure, he returned to the Lord to pour out his heart before Him. the discouragement he had met with was more than his weak faith and inexperienced heart could bear. There was no need for Moses to be discouraged by Pharaoh's initial attitude and reaction. God had warned him that Pharaoh "will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand". Yet he had been assured that no matter how much Pharaoh or Satan may roar, rage or rebel, God will stretch out His hand "... and after that he will let you go" (Exodus 3:19,20). Whatever we hear, see or feel, there is no need to be alarmed by the Enemy, or to be discouraged by our circumstances, the counsel of the Lord will stand and He will do all His pleasure (Isaiah 46:10; Proverbs 21:30). He says, "I will work, and who shall let (hinder) it?" Neither Pharaoh nor his colleagues and juniors to day can thwart the plan and purpose of the Almighty. Instead of chastising or setting Moses aside for his weak faith and "foolish and unlearned questions", the Lord encouraged him, renewed the commission and revealed His Name and power to His servant. 1. DIVINE ENCOURAGEMENT FOR FAINTING HEARTS Exodus 6:1-8; Isaiah 55:8-13; Numbers 23:19; Hebrews 6:18,19; Jeremiah 1:12; Isaiah 43:11-13,15. "Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh". Moses had been worried about what seemed be delay on God's part. God assured him, "now shalt thou see". Moses had been discouraged because of pharaoh's cruelty. God revealed His sovereignty and power: "Now shalt thou see what I WILL DO to Pharaoh". There were no 'ifs' or perhaps' or "maybe' about it. It was absolutely certain that "with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land" (Exodus 6:1). We have the same certainty concerning all the promises of God today (Isaiah 55:8-11). We defeat oursellbes by looking at circcumstances, difficulties and utterances of the rebellious tyrant. God has made known to us the triumphant outcome of good over evil. God, in reassuring Moses and renewing His charge to him, also revealed His Name to him. The Divine-titles are a most important subject of study, there is great significance in the names of God and the manner in which they are used in the Scriptures. The first use of the name of God in the Bible occurs in Genesis 1:1. "In the beginning God ..." This is translated from the Hebrew word Elohim which is used 2570 times in the Old Testament. Elohim (God) is the name which speaks of the Creator and Governor of His creatures. El Shaddai is the next name by which God was known and this is translated God Almighty. This is the name used in the first portion of Exodus 6:3, the name by which God was known to the patriarchs. It signifies the all-sufficient One aand the all-bountiful One. It shows the inexhausstible stores of stores of his bounty, the riches and fulness of His grace. The name Jehovah, which is translated LORD in the Old Testament (and used 6,823 times in the Old Testament) is the name which God revealed to Moses at this time of Israel's great trial in Egypt. Jehovah is God'd title as connected with His people by covenant relationship. God was about to manifest Himself as the faithful performer of His word, the descendants of the patriarchs would know Him in a way their fathers had not. As the time drew near when God would fulfill His covenant and Israel would witness His faithfulness and power in deliverance, He revealed His Name, Jehovah. God speaks to disappointed souls in prayer. Notwithstanding Pharaoh's kingship, obstinacy and despotism, when God says a thing shall be done, who shall hinder? God spoke of His outstretched arms as symbols of irresistible might. In verse 6 to 8, God made seven promises, prefacing them with the declaration "I will" and enclosed them in a framework of Divine assurance with the words "I arn the LORD" - I am JEHOVAH. "Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and (I) I will bring you out from under the burdens ... and (2) I will rid you out of their bondage and (3) Iwill redeem you with a stretched out arm ... And (4) I will take you to Me for a people, and (5) I will be to you a God ...And (6) I will bring you in unto the land ...and (7) I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD" (Exodus 6:6-8). He spoke clearly of (1) His plan, (2) His pity, (3) His power, (4) His purpose, (5) His promise, (6)) His performance and (7)) their possession. God's plan, promise and purpose for us are likewise made known in the new covenant (Jeremiah 31:33,34; Hebrewa 8:6,10-12). 2. UNBELIEF OF ANGUISHED SOULS Exodus 6:9-13; Mark 9:1 7-27; Hebrews 3:12-1 9; Romans 4:1 7-21. "And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel, but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage" (Exodus 6:9) Everything in the message - its Author, its bearer, its nature was intended to comfort, not to repel them. Its Author was the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob; its bearer was Moses, a man who for their sake had sacrificed his position among the princes of Pharaoh; its nature was hope to the desponding and freedom to the ensalved. The time, too, seemed fit: when the bondage had become unbearable, word was sent that the bondage was almost over. Moses did not invent the message, he was simply repeating the Divine message. As he received it, so he spoke it. He brought glad tidings to the people. It was the gospel of hope, the gospel of glorious promise. The message was very clear and comforting but they could not receive it. The cause of their rejection of liberty was the extreme sverity of their bondage. What a paradox: the slavery is excessively severe, and therefore the slave does not care for freedom. What a lesson we have to learn here. To us, as to them, is the message of mercy, hope and salvation preached. It proclaims deliverance to the captive. God recognizes all mankind as slaves, and sends an offer of freedom. Christ is the Messenger, the Mediator of the covenant. A greater than Moses is here, publishing a greater salvation, yet many do not regard the message. Why? Annnguish of spirit and cruel bondage make many captives hug their chains, refuse to hear the voice which invites them to glorious liberty. Beware of neglecting your spiritual state and interests either because of personal afflicition or unjust oppression. 3. GENEALOGY OF GOD'S AMBASSADORS Exodus 6:14-25; Numbers 26:57-60; Genesis 49:3-7; Ezekiel 18:4-18; John 6:37; Romans 10:1 1-13; 1 Corinthians 15:8-10. The list of names here was given to remind Israel that God's ambassadors were "flesh of their flesh and bone of their bones". These two great men represented God before Israel and presented God's demand to Pharaoh. They were not strangers but men from among their brethren. "This is why verses 16 to 25 are devoted to the tribe of Levi from which Moses and Aaron came while only verses 14 and 15 speak of the tribes of Reuben and Simeon. It was from the tribe of Levi, which along with Simeon, lay under a curse (Genesis 49:5-7) that God called the honoured instruments of deliverance. Here we see the grace, mercy and goodness of God to whosoever will repent and surrender to His Lordship. In Christ, the curse is broken for those who repent, believe and surrender. Notice also that Moses was younger than Aaron, yet he was greater in spiritual power and authority. Spiritual matters do not always follow the order of natural lines (Jeremiah 1:7; Luke 13:30; 1 Corinthians 15:8-10) The parents (Amram and Jochebed) of Aaron and Moses demonstrated faith in God and brought up their three children (Moses, Aaron and Miriam) to serve the Lord actively (Micah 6:4). Later the whole tribe of Levi responded to the call of repentance (Exodus 32:26) and became God's priests and servants. God became their inheritance (Numbers 3:5-12; 8:14-16; Deuteronomy 10:9; 18: 1,2). God's grace, forgiveness, favour, salvation, service, reward and inheritance are all available to whosoever repents and believes in Christ whatever he or his forefathers might have done in the past. 4. GOD'S UNCHANGING COMMISSION Exodus 6:26-30; Malachi 3:6; Jonah 3:1,2; 2 Corinthians 2:17; 1 Timothy 4:16. Though Moses complained again of "uncircumcised lips" God's command and commission did not change. "The LORD spake unto Moses, saying, I am LORD: speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt ALL THAT I SAY UNTO THEE" (Exodus 6:12,13,29). The service must be continued because the command of God had not been fully executed. Moses and Aaron were sent on exactly the same work as before. There is much waste of effort in the Church, because men are so restless and are given to change in message and methods (Proverbs 24:2 1). We need determination, concentration and perseverance in our effort to rescue the perishing and save the lost. Failure is no excuse for fickleness in Christian service. Let us concentrate all our energies patiently and persistently on our Christian calling and service.
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