Preparation for Deliverance
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Key Verse: “Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt: And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto … a land flowing with milk and honey.” Selected Scripture: |
TODAY’S LESSON BEGINS following some unique experiences of Moses recorded in the Book of Exodus. In the second chapter, details are given regarding his birth, Pharaoh’s daughter’s adopting him as her son, his being raised to adulthood in the royal court, his observing the suffering of his people, and his witnessing the smiting of one of his brethren by an Egyptian. Moses slew this oppressor, and when Pharaoh learned what he had done, Moses fled for his life and settled in the land of Midian. There he married one of Jethro’s daughters and began to raise his own family.
Many years later, Moses saw a bush that burned without being consumed. As he approached to observe this phenomenon, the Lord spoke to him from out of the bush and gave him instruction about the covenant that had been made with Abraham as well as his descendants. Moses learned it was God’s intention, through him, to effect the deliverance of the Hebrews from the hands of their oppressors, and to take them into a land where they would find safety and additional blessings.—Exod. 3:3-10
Moses was distrustful of his own ability to accomplish this task. However, God assured him of the ultimate success of this undertaking, and that it would be achieved not through the wisdom and power of Moses, but rather through the hand of divine providence. Still hesitant to embark on this mission, Moses envisioned that his Hebrew brethren would not believe that he was the agent commissioned to bring to fruition what seemed to be a monumental task of leading them out of Egypt. He inquired what he should say if he were asked by what authority he presumed that he had been selected to be their leader. In reply, Moses was informed that he should tell the people, “I AM”—the self-existing one, referring to Jehovah who is without a beginning or end—sent him.—vss. 11-14
Our Key Verses reaffirm the commission given to Moses to return to Egypt and inform the elders of Israel concerning their promised deliverance from slavery into a land flowing with milk and honey.
Faithful Christians who trust God’s promises likewise have the prospect of deliverance from all the foes which presently assail them. Let us always have full confidence in our Savior to lead us to this victory, if we hearken to the words of comfort given to us from the Master, as well as those contained in apostolic exhortations. “I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”—Rom. 8:38,39