Exodus 3:12

"Handfuls of Purpose"

For All Gleaners

"Certainly I will be with thee." Exodus 3:12 .

The thoughts which arise in connection with this inspiring assurance are such as ought to touch our life at every point. God is the unchanging One. As he had been with Moses, so he promised to be with Joshua; and so from age to age he is the inspiration and strength of his moral creatures. Take this assurance as applying to the whole service of sanctified life, and it entitles us to draw four practical inferences: I. "Certainly I will be with thee." Then man is servant, not master. He should know his place, or he can never keep it. As servant, he should (1) constantly consult his Master; (2) constantly speak in the name of his Master; and (3) constantly be jealous of the honour of his Master. II. "Certainly I will be with thee." Then the work must succeed. What is the guarantee of success? (1) Not human cleverness; ministers may be clever, so may churches, etc.; we may have learned sermons, able sermons, ingenious sermons, etc.; (2) not skilful organisation. Cards, bazaars, registers, circulars, etc., all useless as ends. (3) The word of the Lord is the guarantee of success. "The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it"; "My word shall not return unto me void." III. "Certainly I will be with thee." Then the servant is to be received for the Master's sake. "He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me." The true minister carries a blessing with him. The Romans were to receive Phebe in the Lord. What a lesson to ministers they are representatives of God! IV. "Certainly I will be with thee." Then there need be no lack of grace or power. "If any man lack wisdom," etc. "Lo, I am with you alway," etc. "Ye have not, because ye ask not, or because ye ask amiss." The servants may take counsel of one another, but not to the interruption of continuous and trustful prayer to the Master. (l) God is with his servants for their comfort; (2) for their guidance; (3) for their safety.

Application Notice (1) the individuality of the promise, "I will be with thee" with the one man; (2) the emphasis of the promise " Certainly." Who is with us in our life-ministry?