Song # 1061.1 from Our Gospel In Song Collection by Col Johnston. The Book of Exodus tells us in chapter 3 that the Angel of the Lord spoke to Moses from within a burning bush that did not burn up. Moses was told that God was going to rescue the Israelite people from the hand of the Egyptians, and through Moses, guide them to the land of milk and honey.
Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God (Exodus 3:1). There the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up (Exodus 3:2). “Do not come any closer” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5). Then the Lord said “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob” (Exodus 3:6). The Lord said “I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt” (Exodus 3:7). “So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8).
Then God said to Moses “The elders of Israel will listen to you, go to the king of Egypt and say ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us take a three day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God’” (Exodus 3:18). Then God said “But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him” (Exodus 3:19). “So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go” (Exodus 3:20). (God was referring to the ten plagues he would set upon Egypt to show that He alone is Almighty God). “And I will make the Egyptians favourably disposed towards this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed” (Exodus 3:21). “Every woman is to ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles of silver and gold and for clothing, which you will put on your sons and daughters. And so you will plunder the Egyptians” (Exodus 3:22).
Thought for today: no-one is more secure than those in God’s hands.
Thought for the future: God speaks to those who listen, and listens to those who pray. Where will you spend your eternity?