Now Moses — The years of Moses's life are remarkably divided into three forties; the first forty he spent as a prince in Pharaoh's court, the second a shepherd in Midian, the third a king in Jeshurun. He had now finished his second forty when he received his commission to bring Israel out of Egypt.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the angel of the Lord appeared to him — It was an extraordinary manifestation of the divine glory; what was visible was produced by the ministry of an angel, but he heard God in it speaking to him. In a flame of fire — To shew that God was about to bring terror and destruction to his enemies, li... [ Continue Reading ]
I will turn aside and see — He speaks as one inquisitive, and bold in his inquiry; whatever it was, he would if possible know the meaning of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see it, God called to him — If he had carelessly neglected it, it is likely God had departed and said nothing to him. God called and said, Moses, Moses — This which he heard could not but surprise him much more than what he saw. Divine calls are then effectu... [ Continue Reading ]
Put off thy shoes from off thy feet — The putting off the shoe was then what the putting off the hat is now, a token of respect and submission. The ground is holy ground, made so by this special manifestation of the divine presence. We ought to approach to God with a solemn pause and preparation; an... [ Continue Reading ]
I am the God of thy father — He lets him know it is God that speaks to him, to engage his reverence, faith and obedience. Thy father, thy pious father Amram, and the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, thy ancestors. Engaged to them by solemn covenant, which I am now come to perform. And Moses hid his... [ Continue Reading ]
I am come down to deliver them — When God doth something very extraordinary, he is said to come down to do it, as Isaiah 64:1. This deliverance was typical of our redemption by Christ, and in that the eternal Word did indeed come down from heaven to deliver us. A large land — So it was, according to... [ Continue Reading ]
I will send thee — And the same hand that now fetched a shepherd out of a desert to be the planter of the Jewish church, afterwards fetched fishermen from their ships to be the planters of the Christian church, that the excellency of the power might be of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Who am I? — He thinks himself unworthy of the honour and unable for the work. He thinks he wants courage, and therefore cannot go to Pharaoh: he thinks he wants conduct, and therefore cannot bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt; they are unarmed, undisciplined, quite dispirited, utterly u... [ Continue Reading ]
Certainly I will be with thee — Those that are weak in themselves, yet may do wonders being strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. God's presence puts wisdom and strength into the weak and foolish, and is enough to answer all objections.... [ Continue Reading ]
When they shall say to me, What is his name? What shall I say unto them? — What name shall I use, whereby thou mayest be distinguished from false gods, and thy people may be encouraged to expect deliverance from thee?... [ Continue Reading ]
And God said — Two names God would now be known by. A name that speaks what he is in himself, I am that I am — This explains his name Jehovah, and signifies, 1st, That he is self — existent; he has his being of himself, and has no dependence upon any other. And being self — existent he cannot but be... [ Continue Reading ]
The Lord God of our fathers hath sent me unto you — Thus God made himself known, that he might revive among them the religion of their fathers, which was much decayed, and almost lost. And that he might raise their expectations of the speedy performance of the promises made unto their fathers: Abrah... [ Continue Reading ]
Hath met with us — Hath appeared to us, declaring his will, that we should do what follows.... [ Continue Reading ]
I am sure he will not let you go — God sends his messengers to those whose obstinacy he foresees, that it may appear he would have them turn and live.... [ Continue Reading ]
Everywoman shall ask (not borrow!) jewels. And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians — God sometimes makes the enemies of his people not only to be at peace with them, but to be kind to them. And he has many ways of balancing accounts between the injured and the injurious, of... [ Continue Reading ]