CRITICAL NOTES.— Exodus 4:1. Kept] Not merely once upon a time; but statedly, as his usual occupation: _lit_., “he had come to be shepherding,” the participle denoting continuance. Backside] That is, “to the west:” the east being the quarter towards wh. one is supposed to look (Gesenius, Fürst, Dav... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Exodus 4:6_ LEPROSY AS EMBLEMATICAL OF DOUBT I. THAT AS LEPROSY WAS THE WORST DISEASE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PERMITTED TO THE HAND OF MOSES, SO DOUBT OF THE DIVINE WORD IS THE MOST HURTFUL THAT CAN OVERTAKE THE HUMAN MIND. 1. _Both are small in their commencement_... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Exodus 4:10_ THE OBJECTIONS MADE TO RELIGIOUS SERVICE I. THESE OBJECTIONS WERE MADE AFTER GOD HAD GIVEN HIM A FULL INSIGHT INTO THE NATURE OF THE SERVICE REQUIRED. 1. _The insight given to Moses was infallible_. It had been Divinely imparted. God had appeared to... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Exodus 4:14_ MUTUAL AID IN RELIGIOUS WORK I. THAT SOMETIMES GOOD MEN ARE CALLED TO UNDERTAKE A WORK, AGAINST THE PERFORMANCE OF WHICH THEY IMAGINE THEMSELVES TO HAVE A NATURAL IMPEDIMENT. Moses was called to go and achieve the freedom of Israel. But he says that... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Exodus 4:18_ A TRUE RECOGNITION OF FILIAL DUTY I. IT CONSISTS IN A TRUE RECOGNITION OF PARENTAL AUTHORITY. “And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt.” Thus... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Exodus 4:19_ THE DIVINE PRECAUTION FOR THE SAFETY OF CHRISTIAN WORKERS I. IT IS SOMETIMES MANIFESTED BY REMOVING GOOD MEN AND GREAT WORKERS FROM DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS. The Divine Being uses every precaution for the safety of those employed in the great moral en... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Exodus 4:20_ THE JOURNEY TO EGYPT I. THAT A GOOD MAN JOURNEYING ON THE SERVICE OF GOD SHOULD TAKE HIS FAMILY WITH HIM. “And Moses took his wife and sons,” &c. When a man is going on the errands of God he should always take his family with him, that they may part... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Exodus 4:21_ THE ANTICIPATION OF CHRISTIAN SERVICE I. THAT VERY FREQUENTLY GOD CAUSES GOOD MEN TO ANTICIPATE CHRISTIAN SERVICE. 1. _It is often anticipated as the hour of severe trial_. “See that thou do all those wonders _before Pharaoh_.” It is almost instinct... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— Exodus 4:25. A bloody husband.] An unfortunate rendering, bearing an opprobrious tone foreign to the Hebrew which is more exactly (with Benisch, Keil. Young, and others), “A bridegroom of blood,” or “blood-bridegroom,” “art thou to me.” Coupling the expressive Hebrew plural “bloods”... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Exodus 4:27_ THE MEETING OF TWO BROTHERS I. IT WAS IN A STRANGE PLACE. The wilderness would not be a very favourable place for the meeting of these two brothers It would be wild and lonely. But brotherly affection is not dependent upon time and place; it can tur... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Exodus 4:29_ THE FIRST INTERVIEW OF MOSES AND AARON WITH THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL, AND THE WELCOME THEY RECEIVED I. THEY ACTED UPON THE DIVINE SUGGESTION. “And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the Elders of the Children of Israel.” This is what God tol... [ Continue Reading ]