BROOKLYN, N.Y., JUNE 24TH, 1940
BROOKLYN, N.Y., JUNE 24TH, 1940
Beloved Brother, — Your letter came today and I am very glad to have it. What you wrote agrees with our exercises here as to the great pressure upon you all in Great Britain. Our hearts are with you and our brethren in profound sympathy and our prayers are incessant. The affliction may be on account of general moral conditions but the saints have to share it, and in them it takes the form of trial, “that the proving of your faith, much more precious than of gold which perishes ... be found to praise and glory and honour in the revelation of Jesus Christ”.
Although far away from the actual scene of the sorrow, the whole matter touches me, I may say, peculiarly and I am constantly challenging my heart as to it; and I am more and more impressed that God is in it for some purpose. If it is immediately to reach the end, the translation of the assembly is near and the trial is that we should be more conformed to Christ, for His own heart; but if the testimony is to continue — as subsequent to Napoleon’s wars of conquests — there will, of course, be an end, or definite modification of the present course on the Continent. Thus the matter calls for patient trust in [p. 185] God on our part, so that having suffered a little “Himself shall make perfect, stablish, strengthen, ground us”.
My wife and I enjoyed reading the paper you sent — in the main it is very calculated to fortify the saints in their agonies. May God use it in this way!
As to Exodus 3: 1 - 6, I see nothing to alter my thought that the “bush” is rather the people of God than Christ. The idea of bush is what is in the ground, having roots, which exists in an active way and it is — being a thorn-bush — hardly suitable, hardly dignified enough, to be a type of Christ. As a type of Israel at that time it is suitable. Moses well knew how they were regarded in Egypt, and that Jehovah would be in their midst in His holiness was a most important sign for His servant. The whole position indeed enters into the history of the people of God at all times. God was in the bush — He dwelt in it. We cannot carry this thought into Christ actually made sin for us. W.B. is right in calling attention to the fact that the sin-offering typifying the atoning sufferings of Christ was burnt without the camp.
Your reference to Hebrews 11: 27 makes Moses “seeing him who is invisible” an historical event, whereas it is characteristic; it is not ‘having seen’, but seeing. Besides, the allusion is to an earlier period than the bush. The order in which it is recorded would show that the departure to Midian is in mind.
The work in this country and Canada is peculiarly cheering. There is energy in preparing for special meetings and in attending them. Five special meetings — three days each — are arranged for the first week in July — extending across the Continent.
My wife unites in love in Christ to you and your house and to all the brethren.
Affectionately in Him,
James Taylor.