patriarchs and prophets-第50部分

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surrounded　him　in　Egyptthe　love　of　his　foster　mother；　his　own　high
position　as　the　king's　grandson；　the　dissipation　on　every　hand；　the
refinement；　the　subtlety；　and　the　mysticism　of　a　false　religion；　the
splendor　of　idolatrous　worship；　the　solemn　grandeur　of　architecture　and
sculptureall　had　left　deep　impressions　upon　his　developing　mind　and　had
molded；　to　some　extent；　his　habits　and　character。　Time；　change　of
surroundings；　and　communion　with　God　could　remove　these　impressions。　It
would　require　on　the　part　of　Moses　himself　a　struggle　as　for　life　to
renounce　error　and　accept　truth；　but　God　would　be　his　helper　when　the
conflict　should　be　too　severe　for　human　strength。

In　all　who　have　been　chosen　to　accomplish　a　work　for　God　the　human　element
is　seen。　Yet　they　have　not　been　men　of　stereotyped　habits　and　character；　who
were　satisfied　to　remain　in　that　condition。　They　earnestly　desired　to　obtain
wisdom　from　God　and　to　learn　to　work　for　Him。　Says　the　apostle；　〃If　any　of
you　lack　wisdom；　let　him　ask　of　God；　that　giveth　to　all　men　liberally；　and
upbraideth　not；　and　it　shall　be　given　him。〃　James　1：5。　But　God　will　not
impart　to　men　divine　light　while　they　are　content　to　remain　in　darkness。　In
order　to　receive　God's　help；　man　must　realize　his　weakness　and　deficiency；
he　must　apply　his　own　mind　to　the　great　change　to　be　wrought　in　himself；　he
must　be　aroused　to　earnest　and　persevering　prayer　and　effort。　Wrong　habits
and　customs　must　be　shaken　off；　and　it　is　only　by　determined　endeavor　to
correct　these　errors　and　to　conform　to　right　principles　that　the　victory　can
be　gained。　Many　never　attain　to　the　position　that　they　might　occupy；　because
they　wait　for　God　to　do　for　them　that　which　He　has　given　them　power　to　do
for　themselves。　All　who　are　fitted　for　usefulness　must　be　trained　by　the
severest　mental　and　moral　discipline；　and　God　will　assist　them　by　uniting
divine　power　with　human　effort。

Shut　in　by　the　bulwarks　of　the　mountains；　Moses　was　alone

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with　God。　The　magnificent　temples　of　Egypt　no　longer　impressed　his　mind　with
their　superstition　and　falsehood。　In　the　solemn　grandeur　of　the　everlasting
hills　he　beheld　the　majesty　of　the　Most　High；　and　in　contrast　realized　how
powerless　and　insignificant　were　the　gods　of　Egypt。　Everywhere　the　Creator's
name　was　written。　Moses　seemed　to　stand　in　His　presence　and　to　be
over…shadowed　by　His　power。　Here　his　pride　and　self…sufficiency　were　swept
away。　In　the　stern　simplicity　of　his　wilderness　life；　the　results　of　the
ease　and　luxury　of　Egypt　disappeared。　Moses　became　patient；　reverent；　and
humble；　〃very　meek；　above　all　the　men　which　were　upon　the　face　of　the　earth〃
（Numbers　12：3）；　yet　strong　in　faith　in　the　mighty　God　of　Jacob。

As　the　years　rolled　on；　and　he　wandered　with　his　flocks　in　solitary　places；
pondering　upon　the　oppressed　condition　of　his　people；　he　recounted　the
dealings　of　God　with　his　fathers　and　the　promises　that　were　the　heritage　of
the　chosen　nation；　and　his　prayers　for　Israel　ascended　by　day　and　by　night。
Heavenly　angels　shed　their　light　around　him。　Here；　under　the　inspiration　of
the　Holy　Spirit；　he　wrote　the　book　of　Genesis。　The　long　years　spent　amid　the
desert　solitudes　were　rich　in　blessing；　not　alone　to　Moses　and　his　people；
but　to　the　world　in　all　succeeding　ages。

〃And　it　came　to　pass　in　process　of　time；　that　the　king　of　Egypt　died：　and
the　children　of　Israel　sighed　by　reason　of　the　bondage；　and　they　cried；　and
their　cry　came　up　unto　God　by　reason　of　the　bondage。　And　God　heard　their
groaning；　and　God　remembered　His　covenant　with　Abraham；　with　Isaac；　and　with
Jacob。　And　God　looked　upon　the　children　of　Israel；　and　God　had　respect　unto
them。〃　The　time　for　Israel's　deliverance　had　come。　But　God's　purpose　was　to
be　accomplished　in　a　manner　to　pour　contempt　on　human　pride。　The　deliverer
was　to　go　forth　as　a　humble　shepherd；　with　only　a　rod　in　his　hand；　but　God
would　make　that　rod　the　symbol　of　His　power。　Leading　his　flocks　one　day　near
Horeb；　〃the　mountain　of　God；〃　Moses　saw　a　bush　in　flames；　branches；　foliage；
and　trunk；　all　burning；　yet　seeming　not　to　be　consumed。　He　drew　near　to　view
the　wonderful　sight；　when　a　voice　from　out　of　the　flame　called　him　by　name。
With　trembling　lips　he　answered；　〃Here　am　I。〃　He　was　warned　not　to　approach
irreverently：　〃Put　off　thy　shoes　from　off　thy　feet；　for　the　place　whereon
thou　standest　is　holy　ground。　。　。　。　I　am　the　God

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of　thy　father；　the　God　of　Abraham；　the　God　of　Isaac；　and　the　God　of　Jacob。〃
It　was　He　who；　as　the　Angel　of　the　covenant；　had　revealed　Himself　to　the
fathers　in　ages　past。　〃And　Moses　hid　his　face；　for　he　was　afraid　to　look
upon　God。〃

Humility　and　reverence　should　characterize　the　deportment　of　all　who　come
into　the　presence　of　God。　In　the　name　of　Jesus　we　may　come　before　Him　with
confidence；　but　we　must　not　approach　Him　with　the　boldness　of　presumption；
as　though　He　were　on　a　level　with　ourselves。　There　are　those　who　address　the
great　and　all…powerful　and　holy　God；　who　dwelleth　in　light　unapproachable；
as　they　would　address　an　equal；　or　even　an　inferior。　There　are　those　who
conduct　themselves　in　His　house　as　they　would　not　presume　to　do　in　the
audience　chamber　of　an　earthly　ruler。　These　should　remember　that　they　are　in
His　sight　whom　seraphim　adore；　before　whom　angels　veil　their　faces。　God　is
greatly　to　be　reverenced；　all　who　truly　realize　His　presence　will　bow　in
humility　before　Him；　and；　like　Jacob　beholding　the　vision　of　God；　they　will
cry　out；　〃How　dreadful　is　this　place！　This　is　none　other　but　the　house　of
God；　and　this　is　the　gate　of　heaven。〃

As　Moses　waited　in　reverent　awe　before　God　the　words　continued：　〃I　have
surely　seen　the　affliction　of　My　people　which　are　in　Egypt；　and　have　heard
their　cry　by　reason　of　their　taskmasters；　for　I　know　their　sorrows；　and　I　am
come　down　to　deliver　them　out　of　the　hand　of　the　Egyptians；　and　to　bring
them　up　out　of　that　land　unto　a　good　land　and　a　large；　unto　a　land　flowing
with　milk　and　honey。　。　。　。　Come　now　therefore；　and　I　will　send　thee　unto
Pharaoh；　that　thou　mayest　bring　forth　My　people　the　children　of　Israel　out
of　Egypt。〃

Amazed　and　terrified　at　the　command；　Moses　drew　back；　saying；　〃Who　am　I；
that　I　should　go　unto　Pharaoh；　and　that　I　should　bring　forth　the　children　of
Israel　out　of　Egypt？〃　The　reply　was；　〃Certainly　I　will　be　with　thee；　and
this　shall　be　a　token　unto　thee；　that　I　have　sent　thee：　When　thou　hast
brought　forth　the　people　out　of　Egypt；　ye　shall　serve　God　upon　this
mountain。〃

Moses　thought　of　the　difficulties　to　be　encountered；　of　the　blindness；
ignorance；　and　unbelief　of　his　people；　many　of　whom　were　almost　destitute　of
a　knowledge　of　God。　〃Behold；〃　he　said；　〃when　I　come　unto　the　children　of
Israel；　and　shall　say　unto

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them；　The　God　of　your　fathers　hath　sent　me　unto　you；　and　they　shall　say　to
me；　What　is　His　name？　what　shall　I　say　unto　them？〃　The　answer　was

〃I　Am　That　I　Am。〃　〃Thus　shalt　thou　say　unto　the　children　of　Israel；　I　Am
hath　sent　me　unto　you。〃

Moses　was　commanded　first　to　assemble　the　elders　of　Israel；　the　most　noble
and　righteous　among　them；　who　had　long　grieved　because　of　their　bondage；　and
to　declare　to　them　a　message　from　God；　with　a　promise　of　deliverance。　Then
he　was　to　go　with　the　elders　before　the　king；　and　say　to　him

〃The　Lord　God　of　the　Hebrews　hath　met　with　us：　and　now　let　us　go；　we　beseech
thee；　three　days'　journey　into　the　wilderness；　that　we　may　sacrifice　to　the
Lord　our　God。〃

Moses　was　forewarned　that　Pharaoh　would　resist　the　appeal　to　let　Israel　go。
Yet　the　courage　of　God's　servant　must　not　fail；　for　the　Lord　would　make　this
the　occasion　to　manifest　His　power　before　the　Egyptians　and　before　His
people。　〃And　I　will　stretch　out　My　hand；　and　smite　Egypt　with　all　My　wonders
which　I　will　do　in　the　midst　thereof：　and　after　that　he　will　let　you　go。〃

Direction　was　also　given　concerning　the　provision　they　were　to　make　for　the
journey。　The　Lord　declared；　〃It　shall　come　to　pass；　that；　when　ye　go；　ye
shall　not　go　empty：　but　every　woman　shall　borrow　of　her　neighbor；　and　of　her
that　sojourneth　in　her　house；　jewels　of　silver；　and　jewels　of　gold；　and
raiment。〃　The　Egyptians　had　been　enriched　by　the　labor　unjustly　exacted　from
the　Israelites；　and　as　the　latter　were　to　start　on　the　journey　to　their　new
home；　it　was　right　for　them　to　claim　the　reward　of　their　years　of　toil。　They
were　to　ask　for　articles　of　value；　such　as　could　be　easily　transported；　and
God　would　give　them　favor　in　the　sight　of　the　Egyptians。　The　mighty　miracles
wrought　for　their　deliverance　would　strike　terror　to　the　oppressors；　so　that
the　requests　of　the　bondmen　would　be　granted。

Moses　saw　before　him　difficulties　that　seemed　insurmountable。　What　proof
could　he　give　his　people　that　God　had　indeed　sent　him？　〃Behold；〃　he　said；
〃they　will　not　believe　me；　nor　hearken　unto　my　voice：　for　they　will　say；　The
Lord　hath　not　appeared　unto　thee。〃　Evidence　that　appealed　to　his　own　senses
was　now　given。　He　was　told　to　cast　his　rod　upon　the　ground。　As　he　did　so；
〃it　became　a　serpent；　and　Moses　fled　from　before　it。〃　He　was　commanded　to
seize　it；　and　in　his　hand　it　became　a　rod。

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He　was　bidden　to　put　his　hand　into　his　bosom。　He　obeyed；　and　〃when　he　took
it　out；　behold；　his　hand　was　leprous　as　snow。〃　Being　told　to　put　it　again
into　his　bosom；　he　found　on　withdrawing　it　that　it　had　become　like　the
other。　By　these　signs　the　Lord　assured　Moses　that　His　own　people；　as　well　as
Pharaoh；　should　be　convinced　that　One　mightier　than　the　king　of　Egypt　was
manifest　among　them。

But　the　servant　of　God　was　still　overwhelmed　by　the　thought　of　the　strange
and　wonderful　work　before　him。　In　his　distress　and　fear　he　now　pleaded　as　an
excuse　a　lack　of　ready　speech：　〃O　my　Lord；　I　am　not　eloquent；　neither
heretofore；　nor　since　Thou　hast　spoken　unto　Thy　servant；　but　I　am　slow　of
speech；　and　of　a　slow　tongue。〃　He　had　been　so　long　away　from　the　Egyptians
that　he　had　not　so　clear　knowledge　and　ready　use　of　their　language　as　when
he　was　among　them。

The　Lord　said　unto　him；　〃Who　hath　made　man's　mouth？　or　who　maketh　the　dumb