LESSON 1

JANUARY 5, 1889.

SHRINKING FROM DUTY

  1. UNDER what circumstances did the Lord appear to Moses at Horeb? Ex. 3:1-6.
  2. For what purpose did the Lord appear to him? Verses 7-10.
  3. By what name did the Lord say he would be known? Verses 13-15.
  4. What is the significance of this name? Ans. - The One who is; the self-existent and eternal One.
  5. What similar terms do we find in the New Testament? Rev. 1:4; Heb. 13:8.
  6. What sign was given to Moses, by which the Israelites might know that the Lord had appeared to him? Ex. 4:1-5.
  7. What additional sign was given? Verses 6, 7.
  8. What further sign was Moses to give in case the Israelites should not believe the first two? Verse g.
  9. What excuse did Moses then make? Verse 10.
  10. What rebuke and encouragement did the Lord give him? Verses 11, 12.
  11. What reply did Moses make? Verse 13, see margin.
  12. With what did Moses thus indirectly charge God? See note.
  13. How did the Lord regard this? Verse 14, first clause.
  14. What further encouragement did he give Moses? Verses 14-16.
  15. What practical lesson may we learn from this occurrence? See note.

NOTES

WHEN Moses said to the Lord, “Send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou shouldst send,” he indirectly charged God with not knowing whom he ought to send. If the Lord had not seen that Moses was the best man for the place, he would not have selected him. While God doe’s not wanted a man to run when he has not been sent (see Jer. 23:21), he does want a man to go when he sends him. If God indicates that he wants a man to do a certain work, that is sufficient evidence that he will sustain him in that work. It is a terrible thing to refuse to obey the Lord. To beg off from labour to which one has been appointed, is not always humility. It may be evidence of pride or stubbornness. This case under consideration may naturally call to the minds of many the case of Jonah, although Jonah was not like Moses except in that he did not want to do what the Lord wanted him to do. The motives of the two men were different. The teacher, however, who exhausts the lesson before the allotted time has expired, will do well to call attention to the case of Jonah, and of others that come to his mind, as different phases of this shrinking from duty.

VERY often people who plead inability to do a certain work in the church or Sabbath-school, to which they are called, think that their refusal is an evidence of their humility, when, in fact, it is an evidence of nothing but pride. They fear that if they should take hold of it, they might make mistakes; and that people might not think so much of them in consequence. And so, in order to avoid possible criticism by men, they are content to be drones, and to risk the displeasure of God. That is one of the worst kinds of pride.

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