Remarks on the Fourth Chapter of Exodus. 147

Physician of the soul, who stands ready to heal all manner of spiritual sickness and disease? It is bedo not believe you are sick, and need the

cause you

Physician.

But you are not the only offenders in this respect. Would to God, none but the utterly careless and worldly were infected with unbelief, that dire disease of the soul; but, too often, alas! now, as of old, the question may be put to Christ's own disciples" How is it that ye have no faith?" When you see difficulties arise in your path, how is it that you are so cast down? When you are despised and spoken against, how is it that you so take it to heart? How is it that you go on your way with little joy, little comfort, little praise, little life? How is it, that, when tempted by the enemy of your soul, you are ready to give up all for lost?-Ought you not to rejoice in the Lord always, to "run and not be weary?" Ought not the praises of God to be in your mouth, and the peace of God to rule in your heart? And when difficulties arise, ought you not to be able to say, "I will trust, and not be afraid?" Yes, you know it ought to be so, for the promises are all sure, all " yea and amen in Christ Jesus." But you say, you have never found it so;-neither will you find it so till you have more faith. But there are persons who do. I know some such, and these enjoy true happiness; having their will conformed to his, and striving to glorify him with all their power. What is the reason of it? They really believe his word, and they live to God, and are constantly expecting to find it "even as he has told them." (Acts xxvii. 25.) Well, you allow that this is right, and best; and you confess yourself guilty of unbelief: but you have never thought much of it as a sin. Now consider, for one moment, what God himself says about it-" He that believeth not God hath made him a liar." How is that? Why, treated Him as a liar! mistrusted Him, as if he had been a

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liar! And is that no sin? You know there is nothing a man of character resents so much as to be accused of falsehood. He will bear to be told he is passionate, or extravagant, or idle; but the mere insinuation that he is a liar, is what he cannot put up with. And this is the affront you put upon God, whenever you harbour the thought that things will not turn out as he has said. For instance-when you, who are unholy, hope and trust that God will take you to himself when you die, though he says, "without holiness no man shall see the Lord"-or, when you are desirous of serving God, and are doubting his power and mercy, though He has promised "that all things shall work together for your good,"—or, when you kneel down and ask your heavenly Father for his Holy Spirit, just as a matter of course, without really expecting to have it at all the more for your prayer? Is not this unbelief? And, whenever you act thus, do you not "make God a liar?" If you want more proof of God's displeasure at this sin, take, as an instance, his conduct towards Israel. They were his peculiar people-redeemed out of the house of bondage, with a mighty hand, and stretched-out arm-delivered from their enemies by many wonderful miracles-their hunger and their thirst satisfied with bread from heaven, and water poured forth from the rock-led on by a cloudy pillar

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favoured with God's presence among them-instructed and chastened by the Lord himself:-and, after all, their carcases fell in the wilderness-they were not permitted to enter the promised land. And why? They could not enter in because of unbelief." Look at your unbelief, then, in its true colours-look at it as a sin—confess it as a sin—and let the prayer be continually on your lips," Lord, increase my faith."

Now let us consider, a little more particularly, what passed between the Lord and Moses, in this conversation. When Moses objected (v. 1.) that the

"the

Remarks on the Fourth Chapter of Exodus: 149 people would not believe that the Lord had appeared to him, he was directed to work three miracles, in order to satisfy them. When he further complained of his want of eloquence, God reminded him" who hath made man's mouth?" and added the encouraging promise, "I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say:" and lastly, on Moses declining the message altogether, wishing it might be sent by any body but himself, though anger of the Lord was kindled against him," he so far attended to his desire, as to give him one to help him. "Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well, and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth; and he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God." (V. 14-17.) What wonderful condescension to the infirmities of his servant we see in the conduct of God,-such forbearance-such tenderness-such a gracious compliance with his wishes, just like a tender father encouraging and supporting a weak, timid, doubting child.

V. 18, 19. See how all difficulties are smoothed. Jethro might have opposed his going, might have been unwilling to let his daughter leave her own country, and go down to the land whence her husband had been obliged to flee for his life: but when it is the will of God a thing should come to pass, every hindrance quickly disappears. The Lord said unto Moses in Midian," Go, return into Egypt; for all the men are dead which sought thy life;" that is, the king of Egypt, who had died while he was in Midian, and probably the friends of the Egyptian whom he had killed.

V. 20. "And Moses took the rod of God in his hand:" the same rod he held in his hand when he saw the burning bush,-which he probably used for a shepherd's staff, to guide and count his sheep, but now called the rod of God, because, by means of it, God enabled him to work the signs and wonders

which he was to perform in the sight of Israel, and of the king of Egypt.

V. 22. You may, perhaps, have been puzzled by reading of Pharaoh in the days of

again, when Joseph was forgotten-Pharaoh driving Moses out of Egypt, and when he was dead, still Pharaoh is king. The reason is, that all the kings of Egypt then took that name: and it was still the custom in the days of Isaiah, many years after. "Israel is

my son, even my first-born." We have already observed many expressions of God's kindness and pity towards his people; we have seen his care and watchfulness over them from the time he called Abram out of Ur of the Chaldees; but this is the first time we find him speaking of them in so near a relation as that of " a son. It seems as if his love was increased by the affliction they were suffering: it seems as if he took delight in shewing that he acknowledged his family, though oppressed and trodden under foot of men.

V. 24-26. "Sought to kill him." Was it necessary for the Lord to seek to kill him? can he not slay any of us by the breath of his lips? Certainly; but yet God sought to slay Moses; that is, God threatened his life, in order that he might see his sin, and repent, and be spared. We may often remark this kind severity in God's manner of treating us. "He threatens, that men may repent, and so prevent the execution of his threatening: He terrifies, that he may not destroy." Moses had not circumcised his child; he had neglected the command of God; and the Lord appeared to him by the way in the inn, and withstood him, to shew that he will not pass over neglect and disobedience in those whom he receives to the most intimate communion with himself, and advances to the highest honours among his people.

V. 31. "And the people believed." There was no such reluctance to receive the word and com

mand of God as Moses had expected; they believed, they gratefully received the good news, that the Lord had looked upon their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshipped." Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power!"

T. B. P.

A PRAYER.

O GOD of grace and truth, whose word standeth fast for ever and ever, who wilt never alter the thing that is gone out of thy lips, I come to thee to confess my guilty unbelief: I have often doubted thy word, I have mistrusted thy promises, I have thought of thee as if it were possible that thou shouldest lie, I have not ventured to give full credit to what thou hast said: pardon me this great sin, for Christ's sake; for thou hast told us that his blood cleanseth from all sin. O Lord, increase my faith. Thou hast given us exceeding great and precious promises; help me to believe them. Thou hast _promised wisdom to him that asketh for it; Lord, I ask, give me wisdom. Thou hast promised thy Holy Spirit to those who ask; Lord, I ask, give me thy Holy Spirit. Thou hast promised to satisfy the longing soul, and to fill the hungry soul with goodness; Lord, I long for the light of thy countenance, I hunger after righteousness; fill me, I beseech thee, according to thy word. Bestow these blessings upon me, notwithstanding my unworthiness, for the sake of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour. Amen. T. B. P.