Exodus 3:1-6 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert… I. AN EMBLEM. 1. This bush had God in the midst of it (ver. 4), and the Church has God in the midst of her (Psalm 46:5). 2. This bush, burning in the night, gave a great light in the wilderness; and the Church of God gives a great light in this dark world. 3. The bush burns, but is unburnt. The Church suffers, but stiff survives. II. A MIRACLE. The first miracle we read of was wrought upon fire. Fire had been more worshipped than any of the elements of nature: from the Moloch of the Ammonites to the Juggernaut of the Hindoos, no idol has had such crowded temples or costly offerings. God struck His first blow at the favourite idol. "He will not give His honour to another, nor His glory to graven images." "He will not have a rival — He cannot have an equal." All the miracles of Egypt were wrought against idolatry. Each was a blow struck at some favourite idol. In Babylon another blow was struck at fire, in the case of the three Hebrew youths. III. A MAGNET. "I will draw near and see," etc. Since the fall, man has ever been more alive to the gratification of his curiosity than the welfare of his soul. Plain truths, though big with importance to him, he neglects; but mysteries in nature, providence, and revelation, he industriously pries into. IV. A MONITOR. It is true, that now we are not ordered to keep at a distance, but draw near; instead of timidity, there is to be boldness; instead of a burning bush a throne of grace; and instead of a God upon whose face we cannot look, there is an incarnate God upon whose face we can look. Yet this monitor teaches us this most important truth — that we can come to God acceptably, only when we come in His own way; and God's way is through Christ, "with reverence and godly fear." (T. Macconnell.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. |
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