patriarchs and prophets-第44章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


upon　the　Land　of　Promise；　for　the　time　of　deliverance　would　surely　come。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（241）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　22

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Moses


The　people　of　Egypt；　in　order　to　supply　themselves　with　food　during　the
famine；　had　sold　to　the　crown　their　cattle　and　lands；　and　had　finally　bound
themselves　to　perpetual　serfdom。　Joseph　wisely　provided　for　their　release；
he　permitted　them　to　become　royal　tenants；　holding　their　lands　of　the　king；
and　paying　an　annual　tribute　of　one　fifth　of　the　products　of　their　labor。

But　the　children　of　Jacob　were　not　under　the　necessity　of　making　such
conditions。　On　account　of　the　service　that　Joseph　had　rendered　the　Egyptian
nation；　they　were　not　only　granted　a　part　of　the　country　as　a　home；　but　were
exempted　from　taxation；　and　liberally　supplied　with　food　during　the
continuance　of　the　famine。　The　king　publicly　acknowledged　that　it　was
through　the　merciful　interposition　of　the　God　of　Joseph　that　Egypt　enjoyed
plenty　while　other　nations　were　perishing　from　famine。　He　saw；　too；　that
Joseph's　management　had　greatly　enriched　the　kingdom；　and　his　gratitude
surrounded　the　family　of　Jacob　with　royal　favor。

But　as　time　rolled　on；　the　great　man　to　whom　Egypt　owed　so　much；　and　the
generation　blessed　by　his　labors；　passed　to　the　grave。　And　〃there　arose　up　a
new　king　over　Egypt；　which　knew　not　Joseph。〃　Not　that　he　was　ignorant　of
Joseph's　services　to　the　nation；　but　he　wished　to　make　no　recognition　of
them；　and；　so　far　as　possible；　to　bury　them　in　oblivion。　〃And　he　said　unto
his　people；　Behold；　the　people　of　the　children　of　Israel　are　more　and
mightier　than　we：　come　on；　let　us　deal　wisely　with　them；　lest　they　multiply；
and　it　come　to　pass；　that；　when　there　falleth　out　any　war；　they　join　also
unto　our　enemies；　and　fight　against　us；　and　so　get　them　up　out　of　the　land。〃

The　Israelites　had　already　become　very　numerous；　they　〃were　fruitful；　and
increased　abundantly；　and　multiplied；　and　waxed

242

exceeding　mighty；　and　the　land　was　filled　with　them。〃　Under　Joseph's
fostering　care；　and　the　favor　of　the　king　who　was　then　ruling；　they　had
spread　rapidly　over　the　land。　But　they　had　kept　themselves　a　distinct　race；
having　nothing　in　common　with　the　Egyptians　in　customs　or　religion；　and
their　increasing　numbers　now　excited　the　fears　of　the　king　and　his　people；
lest　in　case　of　war　they　should　join　themselves　with　the　enemies　of　Egypt。
Yet　policy　forbade　their　banishment　from　the　country。　Many　of　them　were　able
and　understanding　workmen；　and　they　added　greatly　to　the　wealth　of　the
nation；　the　king　needed　such　laborers　for　the　erection　of　his　magnificent
palaces　and　temples。　Accordingly　he　ranked　them　with　the　Egyptians　who　had
sold　themselves　with　their　possessions　to　the　kingdom。　Soon　taskmasters　were
set　over　them；　and　their　slavery　became　complete。　〃And　the　Egyptians　made
the　children　of　Israel　to　serve　with　rigor：　and　they　made　their　lives　bitter
with　hard　bondage；　in　mortar；　and　in　brick；　and　in　all　manner　of　service　in
the　field：　all　their　service；　wherein　they　made　them　serve；　was　with　rigor。〃
〃But　the　more　they　afflicted　them；　the　more　they　multiplied　and　grew。〃

The　king　and　his　counselors　had　hoped　to　subdue　the　Israelites　with　hard
labor；　and　thus　decrease　their　numbers　and　crush　out　their　independent
spirit。　Failing　to　accomplish　their　purpose；　they　proceeded　to　more　cruel
measures。　Orders　were　issued　to　the　women　whose　employment　gave　them
opportunity　for　executing　the　command；　to　destroy　the　Hebrew　male　children
at　their　birth。　Satan　was　the　mover　in　this　matter。　He　knew　that　a　deliverer
was　to　be　raised　up　among　the　Israelites；　and　by　leading　the　king　to　destroy
their　children　he　hoped　to　defeat　the　divine　purpose。　But　the　women　feared
God；　and　dared　not　execute　the　cruel　mandate。　The　Lord　approved　their
course；　and　prospered　them。　The　king；　angry　at　the　failure　of　his　design；
made　the　command　more　urgent　and　extensive。　The　whole　nation　was　called　upon
to　hunt　out　and　slaughter　his　helpless　victims。　〃And　Pharaoh　charged　all　his
people；　saying；　Every　son　that　is　born　ye　shall　cast　into　the　river；　and
every　daughter　ye　shall　save　alive。〃

While　this　decree　was　in　full　force　a　son　was　born　to　Amram　and　Jochebed；
devout　Israelites　of　the　tribe　of　Levi。　The　babe　was　〃a　goodly　child；〃　and
the　parents；　believing　that　the　time　of　Israel's　release　was　drawing　near；
and　that　God　would　raise　up　a　deliverer　for　His　people；　determined　that
their　little　one　should

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　243

not　be　sacrificed。　Faith　in　God　strengthened　their　hearts；　〃and　they　were
not　afraid　of　the　king's　commandment。〃　Hebrews　11：23。

The　mother　succeeded　in　concealing　the　child　for　three　months。　Then；　finding
that　she　could　no　longer　keep　him　safely；　she　prepared　a　little　ark　of
rushes；　making　it　watertight　by　means　of　slime　and　pitch；　and　laying　the
babe　therein；　she　placed　it　among　the　flags　at　the　river's　brink。　She　dared
not　remain　to　guard　it；　lest　the　child's　life　and　her　own　should　be
forfeited；　but　his　sister；　Miriam；　lingered　near；　apparently　indifferent；
but　anxiously　watching　to　see　what　would　become　of　her　little　brother。　And
there　were　other　watchers。　The　mother's　earnest　prayers　had　committed　her
child　to　the　care　of　God；　and　angels；　unseen；　hovered　above　his　lowly
resting　place。　Angels　directed　Pharaoh's　daughter　thither。　Her　curiosity　was
excited　by　the　little　basket；　and　as　she　looked　upon　the　beautiful　child
within；　she　read　the　story　at　a　glance。　The　tears　of　the　babe　awakened　her
compassion；　and　her　sympathies　went　out　to　the　unknown　mother　who　had
resorted　to　this　means　to　preserve　the　life　of　her　precious　little　one。　She
determined　that　he　should　be　saved；　she　would　adopt　him　as　her　own。

Miriam　had　been　secretly　noting　every　movement；　perceiving　that　the　child
was　tenderly　regarded；　she　ventured　nearer；　and　at　last　said；　〃Shall　I　go
and　call　thee　a　nurse　of　the　Hebrew　women；　that　she　may　nurse　the　child　for
thee？〃　And　permission　was　given。

The　sister　hastened　to　her　mother　with　the　happy　news；　and　without　delay
returned　with　her　to　the　presence　of　Pharaoh's　daughter。　〃Take　this　chid
away；　and　nurse　it　for　me；　and　I　will　give　thee　thy　wages；〃　said　the
princess。

God　had　heard　the　mother's　prayers；　her　faith　had　been　rewarded。　It　was　with
deep　gratitude　that　she　entered　upon　her　now　safe　and　happy　task。　She
faithfully　improved　her　opportunity　to　educate　her　child　for　God。　She　felt
confident　that　he　had　been　preserved　for　some　great　work；　and　she　knew　that
he　must　soon　be　given　up　to　his　royal　mother；　to　be　surrounded　with
influences　that　would　tend　to　lead　him　away　from　God。　All　this　rendered　her
more　diligent　and　careful　in　his　instruction　than　in　that　of　her　other
children。　She　endeavored　to　imbue　his　mind　with　the　fear　of　God　and　the　love
of　truth　and　justice；　and　earnestly　prayed

244

that　he　might　be　preserved　from　every　corrupting　influence。　She　showed　him
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。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　245


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