Moses saw a bush burning in the midst of the desert as he was watching Jethro’s sheep. He was both mesmerized and intrigued by this heretofore unseen phenomenon, as the bush burned but was not consumed. His curiosity caused him to look more closely at this spectacle before him. Imagine his consternation when a VOICE issued forth from that bush as he approached, calling him by name. (see John 10:3) He responded in the only fashion he could, saying, “Here am I” (Ex.3:4). “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27)
HE told Moses that this place was “holy ground”, not because it was physically different from any other spot on the Earth, but because HE chose to visit this place. It became a place which Moses could not approach unto, nor could claim any right to be there at that place and time. It was a time and place ordained by GOD, as “No man hath seen God at any time.” (John 1:18) But it was in the mercy of GOD that HE chose to visit with Moses, revealing to him who HE is, which Moses did not and could not know by carnal understanding. Like Job of old, he had heard of HIM “by the hearing of the ear.” Yet this was a completely new experience for Moses who was now in the very presence of HIM before whom the heavens and the Earth shall flee away. In the same fashion that Job, Isaiah, Daniel, and John, reacted when the LORD revealed HIMSELF to them, so too did Moses likewise. “And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.” (Exo 3:6) The LORD strikes fear in all whom HE visits. “Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.” (Rev 15:4)
As the LORD appeared to Moses in the BURNING BUSH, HE described HIS deliverance of the sons of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and then told Moses the task that HE had assigned to him. Moses (being a meek and humble man) asked who he should tell the children of Israel had sent him. The LORD then made a statement that is unrivaled in its audacity and is completely unfathomable by the finite human mind. ”And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” (Exo 3:14) HE literally said “I exist, who exist.”
That which sets HIM apart from all that HE has created is HIS self-existence. All of creation derives its existence from HIM who is the BEGINNING and the END. “Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” (1Tim 6:16) Though many have attempted to describe the LORD, yet HE remains quite set apart from finite creation by HIS eternal power and GODHEAD. Men cannot fully comprehend the concept of eternity much less HE who occupies it and gives it its glory.
If that were all that we were given to know of HIM and HIS dwelling place, we would have a bleak and very limited existence of our own. Yet HE has not only declared HIS unapproachableness (HE is HOLY) but has condescended to dwell with men, revealing HIMSELF to them in JESUS CHRIST, the FULNESS of the GODHEAD bodily. Though HE “inhabiteth eternity”, HE is pleased to dwell with men of low estate who have no life at all except that which HE is pleased to give them. “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” (Isa 57:15)
Though the LORD has always dwelt with HIS people, (in a measure) yet it pleased HIM, when the fulness of time was come, to take on flesh and blood and manifest the perfect redemption which HE had hidden in a mystery from the beginning. “Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints.” (Col 1:26) This is the reason that HE has sent HIS messengers into the Earth to declare the DAY of SALVATION that HE might be glorified and HIS elect might be brought out of darkness and into the LIGHT. “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.” (Eph 3:9) “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” (1Tim 3:16)
Thus, are introduced, the four “whos” which manifest the eternal and unchanging purpose of GOD to bring glory to HIS NAME in the salvation of that elect people which HE has loved from the beginning. The backdrop of the LORD stating HIS NAME to Moses, sets the stage for a grand declaration by the Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Romans. “If GOD be for us, who can be against us.”(v.31) How audacious and insolent would any of creation be who thought it even possible to overturn that which the LIVING GOD has purposed to bring to pass. The LORD plainly stated what it was that HE came into the world to do and what would be the result of those actions. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28) It is interesting to point out that those religious Jews which heard the LORD speak these words took up stones to stone HIM. Religious men have not changed in the two thousand years that have passed since then. Religious men are convinced that their salvation depends upon something that they do or avoid and will continually be set against those who proclaim otherwise. Yet the LORD will supply HIS sons and daughters with all that they stand in need of. “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.” (Isa 54:17)
“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.” (v.33) If HE who created man from the dust of the Earth which HE spoke into existence, has made a man to be “righteous”, then upon what grounds and in what manner could any created being call that into question or somehow negate it. When CHRIST poured out HIS precious blood to forever satisfy the Law’s demands for the destruction of HIS elect, HE destroyed the ability of any to even bring a charge against those sons, let alone to undo what HE has done. HE has not only satisfied the demands of the Law but HE has removed HIS elect from its jurisdiction. “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Rom 8:2)
“Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (v.34) The greatest “condemner” of the sons of GOD is their own sinful, doubting flesh. The preaching of the gospel is sent to impress upon the sons of GOD their complete acceptance in the courts of heaven on the basis of that which CHRIST has done in the shedding of HIS blood in their behalf. HIS presence at the RIGHT HAND of GOD, ensures that this redemption is complete. Their lack of faith does not change what HE has done for them. “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” (2Tim 2:13) “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.” (1John 3:20)
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (v.35) Calamities and trials are sure to come upon all men who dwell in this Earth. The sons of GOD are not exempt from such. In fact, the LORD designs such trials to cause HIS children to learn to lean upon HIM and not to trust the arm of the flesh. Paul gave us an illustration of this fact when he wrote of his own troubles which he beseeched the LORD to remove from him. The LORD’s answer was most comforting and manifested HIS determination to uphold HIS people in the midst of such trials. “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2Cor 12:9-10) “For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” (Isa 41:13)
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