Chapter C: The Promise of the Lord

And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, "Lord, wherefore hast thou evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath evil entreated this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all."

And the Lord said unto Moses, "Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for by a strong hand shall he let them go, and by a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land."

THE MEANING OF THE STORY

96 (Sec.34A). We left Moses in Midian. Locate it again on the map. With whom did he live? What was his occupation? Notice that he came to Mt. Horeb, which is also called Mt. Sinai. Locate it on the map.

97 (Sec.34A). As Moses was alone in the wilderness, his thoughts would naturally turn to his people. What would he wish for them? How greatly they needed a leader! If ever the thought occurred to him that he ought to be their leader, how would he feel about it? At last God's message came to him. It is one of the beautiful stories of God speaking to man. How was Moses told to show his reverence? It is the custom in the East. How could they take off their shoes so easily? (See illustration of the sandal.) What custom do we have to show reverence? How did Moses show a still deeper reverence?

98 (Sec.34A). What did God tell Moses? It might have seemed to the lonely exile that the Lord had forgotten all about the people in bondage. A commission is a duty given to a man: what was Moses' commission? At last God's plan for poor Israel was clear. The deliverer had been found.

99 (Sec.34B). It was a startling commission for Moses. He remembered how the people had treated him when he had tried to help them. (Recall Sec.31.) What was he now afraid of? Tell the story of the signs with which the Lord gave him confidence. People were always anxious for something wonderful in those old days.

100 (Sec.34B). Moses had another reason for hesitation. Is humility a good preparation for a great work or is confidence better? How does the Lord fit an earnest man for his work? Humility is not good when it is through lack of faith. "The anger of the Lord" means his displeasure at what is not right. Who was sent with Moses?

101 (Sec.35). How did Moses act after receiving the commission. Did he tell his father-in-law his plans? Describe the meeting, as you may imagine it, between the two brothers and the Hebrew people.

102 (Sec.36A). It was a bold thing to go to the king. What did Moses and Aaron demand? What did the king say about the Lord? What did he say Moses and Aaron were doing?

103 (Sec.36B). Brick was made from the black Nile mud mixed with sand and with chopped straw. There are pictures in Egypt of captives making these bricks with overseers guarding them. The soft mud would be put into a wooden mold, which would then be lifted off and the brick left to dry in the sun. Sometimes the captives had to gather waste material or stubble instead of straw. Why was this such a hardship to the Hebrews?

104 (Sec.36B). Note how the orders were carried out. There are two classes of officials mentioned: the Egyptian taskmasters and the Hebrew officers. The latter were responsible for the full work being done by their countrymen. Tell the whole story of the bondage.

105 (Sec.36B). Describe the interview of the officers with Pharaoh. How did they feel toward Moses and Aaron?

106 (Sec.36C). How did all this affect Moses? It is often darkest just before day. What did the Lord promise?

WRITTEN REVIEW

Think over the story carefully and prepare for a debate, the students taking different sides on the question: Resolved that Moses was wrong in settling down in Midian and leaving his people so long without help.