Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me ,.... See Exodus 2:23 , and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them ; which is repeated to observe the great notice he took of it; and the reason of his descent and appearance in this wonderful manner, as well as of the urgent necessity of Moses's going to deliver the people from their oppression. read more
The Burning Bush. "Behold the bush," etc. Exodus 3:2 . A very astonishing event; yet amply evidenced to us by those voluminous arguments which now more than ever establish the authenticity of Exodus; but in addition to this, we have here the special endorsement of the Truth Incarnate. See Mark 12:26 . [Examine this passage critically, and consider how full and valid the endorsement is! No mere acceptance of received legend.] I. THE TIME . A solemn undertone in Mark 12:1 .... read more
THE MISSION OF MOSES . After forty years of monotonous pastoral life, affording abundant opportunity for meditation, and for spiritual communion with God, and when he had attained to the great age of eighty years, and the hot blood of youth had given place to the calm serenity of advanced life, God at last revealed Himself to Moses "called him" ( Exodus 3:4 ), and gave him a definite mission. The present chapter is' intimately connected with the next. Together, they contain an... read more
I. How MOSES MET WITH GOD . 1 . The marvel was marked and considered. He might simply have glanced at it and passed on; but he observed it till the wonder of it possessed his soul. There are marvels that proclaim God's presence in the earth today. Creation, the Bible, Christ's saving work. The first step towards conviction is to consider them. 2 . "He turned aside to see." It was a matter to be inquired into and probed to the bottom. 3 . God meets the earnest, sincere... read more
A large promise for a great need. I. THE GREAT NEED . It is a need carefully observed by God and well known to him. This has been recorded already, although hardly so emphatically, in Exodus 2:23-25 . It is one thing to have intelligence of God's interest communicated by some third person; quite another to hear the words of pity warm and tender from God himself. Moses and many of the Israelites may have thought that they knew the need only too well, bitter as their experiences... read more
The call of Moses. With face covered, but with ears attent to hear, Moses stands before God to learn his will. And God takes him, as it were, into counsel, not only calling him to a certain work, but revealing to him why he is called, what exactly he is to do, and what will be the issue of his enterprise. 1 . WHY HE IS CALLED . He is called because the affliction of Israel—their sufferings—from the constant toil, from the brutal taskmasters, from the cruel Pharaoh, from the... read more
God's sympathy with the oppressed. I. GOD IS EVER IN SYMPATHY WITH THE OPPRESSED , AND AGAINST THEIR OPPRESSORS ( Exodus 3:7 , Exodus 3:9 ). This is now, thanks to the Bible, made as certain to us as any truth can be. God's sympathy may be viewed— 1 . As implied in his moral perfection. 2 . As certified to us by the pity of our own hearts. He who put pity in these hearts must surely himself be pitiful. Yet, so much is there in the world which bears... read more
This is a repetition, in substance, of Exodus 3:7 , on account of the long parenthesis in Exodus 3:8 , and serves to introduce Exodus 3:10 . The nexus is: " I have seen the oppression— I am come down to deliver them—come now, therefore, I will send thee" read more
God calls Moses (3:1-12)While Moses was minding sheep at Mount Sinai (also called Mount Horeb, after the range in which it was situated), the unseen God, who for eighty years had silently guided his life, made himself known to him. The revelation of God in the burning bush showed that though this God was unapproachably holy, he could dwell among earthly things without destroying them (3:1-6).God was now going to use Moses to deliver his people from bondage in Egypt and bring them into a new... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 3:7-10
Now that Moses had put off his shoes (for, no doubt, he observed the orders given him, Exod. 3:5), and covered his face, God enters upon the particular business that was now to be concerted, which was the bringing of Israel out of Egypt. Now, after forty years of Israel's bondage and Moses's banishment, when we may suppose both he and they began to despair, they of being delivered and he of delivering them, at length, the time has come, even the year of the redeemed. Note, God often comes for... read more