patriarchs and prophets-第49部分

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the　folly　and　sin　of　idolatry；　and　early　taught　him　to　bow　down　and　pray　to
the　living　God；　who　alone　could　hear　him　and　help　him　in　every　emergency。

She　kept　the　boy　as　long　as　she　could；　but　was　obliged　to　give　him　up　when
he　was　about　twelve　years　old。　From　his　humble　cabin　home　he　was　taken　to
the　royal　palace；　to　the　daughter　of　Pharaoh；　〃and　he　became　her　son。〃　Yet
even　here　he　did　not　lose　the　impressions　received　in　childhood。　The　lessons
learned　at　his　mother's　side　could　not　be　forgotten。　They　were　a　shield　from
the　pride；　the　infidelity；　and　the　vice　that　flourished　amid　the　splendor　of
the　court。

How　far…reaching　in　its　results　was　the　influence　of　that　one　Hebrew　woman；
and　she　an　exile　and　a　slave！　The　whole　future　life　of　Moses；　the　great
mission　which　he　fulfilled　as　the　leader　of　Israel；　testifies　to　the
importance　of　the　work　of　the　Christian　mother。　There　is　no　other　work　that
can　equal　this。　To　a　very　great　extent　the　mother　holds　in　her　own　hands　the
destiny　of　her　children。　She　is　dealing　with　developing　minds　and
characters；　working　not　alone　for　time；　but　for　eternity。　She　is　sowing　seed
that　will　spring　up　and　bear　fruit；　either　for　good　or　for　evil。　She　has　not
to　paint　a　form　of　beauty　upon　canvas　or　to　chisel　it　from　marble；　but　to
impress　upon　a　human　soul　the　image　of　the　divine。　Especially　during　their
early　years　the　responsibility　rests　upon　her　of　forming　the　character　of
her　children。　The　impressions　now　made　upon　their　developing　minds　will
remain　with　them　all　through　life。　Parents　should　direct　the　instruction　and
training　of　their　children　while　very　young；　to　the　end　that　they　may　be
Christians。　They　are　placed　in　our　care　to　be　trained；　not　as　heirs　to　the
throne　of　an　earthly　empire；　but　as　kings　unto　God；　to　reign　through
unending　ages。

Let　every　mother　feel　that　her　moments　are　priceless；　her　work　will　be
tested　in　the　solemn　day　of　accounts。　Then　it　will　be　found　that　many　of　the
failures　and　crimes　of　men　and　women　have　resulted　from　the　ignorance　and
neglect　of　those　whose　duty　it　was　to　guide　their　childish　feet　in　the　right
way。　Then　it　will　be　found　that　many　who　have　blessed　the　world　with　the
light　of　genius　and　truth　and　holiness；　owe　the　principles　that　were　the
mainspring　of　their　influence　and　success　to　a　praying；　Christian　mother。

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At　the　court　of　Pharaoh；　Moses　received　the　highest　civil　and　military
training。　The　monarch　had　determined　to　make　his　adopted　grandson　his
successor　on　the　throne；　and　the　youth　was　educated　for　his　high　station。
〃And　Moses　was　learned　in　all　the　wisdom　of　the　Egyptians；　and　was　mighty　in
words　and　in　deeds。〃　Acts　7：22。　His　ability　as　a　military　leader　made　him　a
favorite　with　the　armies　of　Egypt；　and　he　was　generally　regarded　as　a
remarkable　character。　Satan　had　been　defeated　in　his　purpose。　The　very
decree　condemning　the　Hebrew　children　to　death　had　been　overruled　by　God　for
the　training　and　education　of　the　future　leader　of　His　people。

The　elders　of　Israel　were　taught　by　angels　that　the　time　for　their
deliverance　was　near；　and　that　Moses　was　the　man　whom　God　would　employ　to
accomplish　this　work。　Angels　instructed　Moses　also　that　Jehovah　had　chosen
him　to　break　the　bondage　of　His　people。　He；　supposing　that　they　were　to
obtain　their　freedom　by　force　of　arms；　expected　to　lead　the　Hebrew　host
against　the　armies　of　Egypt；　and　having　this　in　view；　he　guarded　his
affections；　lest　in　his　attachment　to　his　foster　mother　or　to　Pharaoh　he
would　not　be　free　to　do　the　will　of　God。

By　the　laws　of　Egypt　all　who　occupied　the　throne　of　the　Pharaohs　must　become
members　of　the　priestly　caste；　and　Moses；　as　the　heir　apparent；　was　to　be
initiated　into　the　mysteries　of　the　national　religion。　This　duty　was
committed　to　the　priests。　But　while　he　was　an　ardent　and　untiring　student；
he　could　not　be　induced　to　participate　in　the　worship　of　the　gods。　He　was
threatened　with　the　loss　of　the　crown；　and　warned　that　he　would　be　disowned
by　the　princess　should　he　persist　in　his　adherence　to　the　Hebrew　faith。　But
he　was　unshaken　in　his　determination　to　render　homage　to　none　save　the　one
God；　the　Maker　of　heaven　and　earth。　He　reasoned　with　priests　and　worshipers；
showing　the　folly　of　their　superstitious　veneration　of　senseless　objects。
None　could　refute　his　arguments　or　change　his　purpose；　yet　for　the　time　his
firmness　was　tolerated　on　account　of　his　high　position　and　the　favor　with
which　he　was　regarded　by　both　the　king　and　the　people。

〃By　faith　Moses；　when　he　was　come　to　years；　refused　to　be　called　the　son　of
Pharaoh's　daughter；　choosing　rather　to　suffer　affliction　with　the　people　of
God；　than　to　enjoy　the　pleasures　of　sin　for　a　season；　esteeming　the　reproach
of　Christ　greater　riches

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than　the　treasures　in　Egypt：　for　he　had　respect　unto　the　recompense　of　the
reward。〃　Hebrews　11：24…26。　Moses　was　fitted　to　take　pre…eminence　among　the
great　of　the　earth；　to　shine　in　the　courts　of　its　most　glorious　kingdom；　and
to　sway　the　scepter　of　its　power。　His　intellectual　greatness　distinguishes
him　above　the　great　men　of　all　ages。　As　historian；　poet；　philosopher；
general　of　armies；　and　legislator；　he　stands　without　a　peer。　Yet　with　the
world　before　him；　he　had　the　moral　strength　to　refuse　the　flattering
prospects　of　wealth　and　greatness　and　fame；　〃choosing　rather　to　suffer
affliction　with　the　people　of　God；　than　to　enjoy　the　pleasures　of　sin　for　a
season。〃

Moses　had　been　instructed　in　regard　to　the　final　reward　to　be　given　to　the
humble　and　obedient　servants　of　God；　and　worldly　gain　sank　to　its　proper
insignificance　in　comparison。　The　magnificent　palace　of　Pharaoh　and　the
monarch's　throne　were　held　out　as　an　inducement　to　Moses；　but　he　knew　that
the　sinful　pleasures　that　make　men　forget　God　were　in　its　lordly　courts。　He
looked　beyond　the　gorgeous　palace；　beyond　a　monarch's　crown；　to　the　high
honors　that　will　be　bestowed　on　the　saints　of　the　Most　High　in　a　kingdom
untainted　by　sin。　He　saw　by　faith　an　imperishable　crown　that　the　King　of
heaven　would　place　on　the　brow　of　the　overcomer。　This　faith　led　him　to　turn
away　from　the　lordly　ones　of　earth　and　join　the　humble；　poor；　despised
nation　that　had　chosen　to　obey　God　rather　than　to　serve　sin。

Moses　remained　at　court　until　he　was　forty　years　of　age。　His　thoughts　often
turned　upon　the　abject　condition　of　his　people；　and　he　visited　his　brethren
in　their　servitude；　and　encouraged　them　with　the　assurance　that　God　would
work　for　their　deliverance。　Often；　stung　to　resentment　by　the　sight　of
injustice　and　oppression；　he　burned　to　avenge　their　wrongs。　One　day；　while
thus　abroad；　seeing　an　Egyptian　smiting　an　Israelite；　he　sprang　forward　and
slew　the　Egyptian。　Except　the　Israelite；　there　had　been　no　witness　to　the
deed；　and　Moses　immediately　buried　the　body　in　the　sand。　He　had　now　shown
himself　ready　to　maintain　the　cause　of　his　people；　and　he　hoped　to　see　them
rise　to　recover　their　liberty。　〃He　supposed　his　brethren　would　have
understood　how　that　God　by　his　hand　would　deliver　them；　but　they　understood
not。〃　Acts　7：25。　They　were　not　yet　prepared　for　freedom。　On　the　following
day　Moses　saw　two　Hebrews　striving　together；

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one　of　them　evidently　at　fault。　Moses　reproved　the　offender；　who　at　once
retaliated　upon　the　reprover；　denying　his　right　to　interfere；　and　basely
accusing　him　of　crime：　〃Who　made　thee　a　prince　and　a　judge　over　us？〃　he
said。　〃Intendest　thou　to　kill　me；　as　thou　killedst　the　Egyptian？〃

The　whole　matter　was　quickly　made　known　to　the　Egyptians；　and；　greatly
exaggerated；　soon　reached　the　ears　of　Pharaoh。　It　was　represented　to　the
king　that　this　act　meant　much；　that　Moses　designed　to　lead　his　people
against　the　Egyptians；　to　overthrow　the　government；　and　to　seat　himself　upon
the　throne；　and　that　there　could　be　no　security　for　the　kingdom　while　he
lived。　It　was　at　once　determined　by　the　monarch　that　he　should　die；　but；
becoming　aware　of　his　danger；　he　made　his　escape　and　fled　toward　Arabia。

The　Lord　directed　his　course；　and　he　found　a　home　with　Jethro；　the　priest
and　prince　of　Midian；　who　was　also　a　worshiper　of　God。　After　a　time　Moses
married　one　of　the　daughters　of　Jethro；　and　here；　in　the　service　of　his
father…in…law；　as　keeper　of　his　flocks；　he　remained　forty　years。

In　slaying　the　Egyptian；　Moses　had　fallen　into　the　same　error　so　often
committed　by　his　fathers；　of　taking　into　their　own　hands　the　work　that　God
had　promised　to　do。　It　was　not　God's　will　to　deliver　His　people　by　warfare；
as　Moses　thought；　but　by　His　own　mighty　power；　that　the　glory　might　be
ascribed　to　Him　alone。　Yet　even　this　rash　act　was　overruled　by　God　to
accomplish　His　purposes。　Moses　was　not　prepared　for　his　great　work。　He　had
yet　to　learn　the　same　lesson　of　faith　that　Abraham　and　Jacob　had　been
taughtnot　to　rely　upon　human　strength　or　wisdom；　but　upon　the　power　of　God
for　the　fulfillment　of　His　promises。　And　there　were　other　lessons　that；　amid
the　solitude　of　the　mountains；　Moses　was　to　receive。　In　the　school　of
self…denial　and　hardship　he　was　to　learn　patience；　to　temper　his　passions。
Before　he　could　govern　wisely；　he　must　be　trained　to　obey。　His　own　heart
must　be　fully　in　harmony　with　God　before　he　could　teach　the　knowledge　of　His
will　to　Israel。　By　his　own　experience　he　must　be　prepared　to　exercise　a
fatherly　care　over　all　who　needed　his　help。

Man　would　have　dispensed　with　that　long　period　of　toil　and　obscurity；
deeming　it　a　great　loss　of　time。　But　Infinite　Wisdom　called　him　who　was　to
become　the　leader　of　his　people　to　spend

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forty　years　in　the　humble　work　of　a　shepherd。　The　habits　of　caretaking；　of
self…forgetfulness　and　tender　solicitude　for　his　flock；　thus　developed；
would　prepare　him　to　become　the　compassionate；　longsuffering　shepherd　of
Israel。　No　advantage　that　human　training　or　culture　could　bestow；　could　be　a
substitute　for　this　experience。

Moses　had　been　learning　much　that　he　must　unlearn。　The　influences　that　had
surrounded　him　in　Egyptthe　love　of　his　foster　mother；　his　own　high
position　as　the　king's　grandson；　the　dissipation　on　every