patriarchs and prophets-第47章

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and　they　spoke　in　His　name：　〃Thus　saith　Jehovah；　God　of　Israel；　Let　My
people　go；　that　they　may　hold　a　feast　unto　Me　in　the　wilderness。〃

〃Who　is　Jehovah；　that　I　should　obey　His　voice　to　let　Israel　go？〃　demanded
the　monarch；　〃I　know　not　Jehovah；　neither　will　I　let　Israel　go。〃

Their　answer　was；　〃The　God　of　the　Hebrews　hath　met　with　us：　let　us　go；　we
pray　thee；　three　days'　journey　into　the　desert；　and　sacrifice　unto　the　Lord
our　God；　lest　He　fall　upon　us　with　pestilence；　or　with　the　sword。〃

Tidings　of　them　and　of　the　interest　they　were　exciting　among　the　people　had
already　reached　the　king。　His　anger　was　kindled。　〃Wherefore　do　ye；　Moses　and
Aaron；　let　＇hinder＇　the　people　from　their　works？〃　he　said。　〃Get　you　unto
your　burdens。〃　Already　the　kingdom　had　suffered　loss　by　the　interference　of
these　strangers。　At　thought　of　this　he　added；　〃Behold；　the　people　of　the

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land　now　are　many；　and　ye　make　them　rest　from　their　burdens。〃

In　their　bondage　the　Israelites　had　to　some　extent　lost　the　knowledge　of
God's　law；　and　they　had　departed　from　its　precepts。　The　Sabbath　had　been
generally　disregarded；　and　the　exactions　of　their　taskmasters　made　its
observance　apparently　impossible。　But　Moses　had　shown　his　people　that
obedience　to　God　was　the　first　condition　of　deliverance；　and　the　efforts
made　to　restore　the　observance　of　the　Sabbath　had　come　to　the　notice　of
their　oppressors。＇*　SEE　APPENDIX；　NOTE　1。＇

The　king；　thoroughly　roused；　suspected　the　Israelites　of　a　design　to　revolt
from　his　service。　Disaffection　was　the　result　of　idleness；　he　would　see　that
no　time　was　left　them　for　dangerous　scheming。　And　he　at　once　adopted
measures　to　tighten　their　bonds　and　crush　out　their　independent　spirit。　The
same　day　orders　were　issued　that　rendered　their　labor　still　more　cruel　and
oppressive。　The　most　common　building　material　of　that　country　was　sun…dried
brick；　the　walls　of　the　finest　edifices　were　made　of　this；　and　then　faced
with　stone；　and　the　manufacture　of　brick　employed　great　numbers　of　the
bondmen。　Cut　straw　being　intermixed　with　the　clay；　to　hold　it　together；
large　quantities　of　straw　were　required　for　the　work；　the　king　now　directed
that　no　more　straw　be　furnished；　the　laborers　must　find　it　for　themselves；
while　the　same　amount　of　brick　should　be　exacted。

This　order　produced　great　distress　among　the　Israelites　throughout　the　land。
The　Egyptian　taskmasters　had　appointed　Hebrew　officers　to　oversee　the　work
of　the　people；　and　these　officers　were　responsible　for　the　labor　performed
by　those　under　their　charge。　When　the　requirement　of　the　king　was　put　in
force；　the　people　scattered　themselves　throughout　the　land；　to　gather
stubble　instead　of　straw；　but　they　found　it　impossible　to　accomplish　the
usual　amount　of　labor。　For　this　failure　the　Hebrew　officers　were　cruelly
beaten。

These　officers　supposed　that　their　oppression　came　from　their　taskmasters；
and　not　from　the　king　himself；　and　they　went　to　him　with　their　grievances。
Their　remonstrance　was　met　by　Pharaoh　with　a　taunt：　〃Ye　are　idle；　ye　are
idle：　therefore　ye　say；　Let　us　go　and　do　sacrifice　to　the　Lord。〃　They　were
ordered　back　to　their　work；　with　the　declaration　that　their　burdens　were　in
no　case　to　be　lightened。　Returning；　they　met　Moses　and　Aaron；　and　cried　out
to　them；　〃The　Lord　look　upon　you；　and　judge；　because　ye　have　made　our　savor
to　be　abhorred　in　the　eyes　of　Pharaoh；　and　in　the　eyes　of　his　servants；　to
put　a　sword　in　their　hand　to　slay　us。〃

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As　Moses　listened　to　these　reproaches　he　was　greatly　distressed。　The
sufferings　of　the　people　had　been　much　increased。　All　over　the　land　a　cry　of
despair　went　up　from　old　and　young；　and　all　united　in　charging　upon　him　the
disastrous　change　in　their　condition。　In　bitterness　of　soul　he　went　before
God；　with　the　cry；　〃Lord；　wherefore　hast　Thou　so　evil　entreated　this　people？
why　is　it　that　Thou　hast　sent　me？　For　since　I　came　to　Pharaoh　to　speak　in
Thy　name；　he　hath　done　evil　to　this　people；　neither　hast　Thou　delivered　Thy
people　at　all。〃　The　answer　was；　〃Now　shalt　thou　see　what　I　will　do　to
Pharaoh：　for　with　a　strong　hand　shall　he　let　them　go；　and　with　a　strong　hand
shall　he　drive　them　out　of　his　land。〃　Again　he　was　pointed　back　to　the
covenant　which　God　had　made　with　the　fathers；　and　was　assured　that　it　would
be　fulfilled。

During　all　the　years　of　servitude　in　Egypt　there　had　been　among　the
Israelites　some　who　adhered　to　the　worship　of　Jehovah。　These　were　solely
troubled　as　they　saw　their　children　daily　witnessing　the　abominations　of　the
heathen；　and　even　bowing　down　to　their　false　gods。　In　their　distress　they
cried　unto　the　Lord　for　deliverance　from　the　Egyptian　yoke；　that　they　might
be　freed　from　the　corrupting　influence　of　idolatry。　They　did　not　conceal
their　faith；　but　declared　to　the　Egyptians　that　the　object　of　their　worship
was　the　Maker　of　heaven　and　earth；　the　only　true　and　living　God。　They
rehearsed　the　evidences　of　His　existence　and　power；　from　creation　down　to
the　days　of　Jacob。　The　Egyptians　thus　had　an　opportunity　to　become
acquainted　with　the　religion　of　the　Hebrews；　but　disdaining　to　be　instructed
by　their　slaves；　they　tried　to　seduce　the　worshipers　of　God　by　promises　of
reward；　and；　this　failing；　by　threats　and　cruelty。

The　elders　of　Israel　endeavored　to　sustain　the　sinking　faith　of　their
brethren　by　repeating　the　promises　made　to　their　fathers；　and　the　prophetic
words　of　Joseph　before　his　death；　foretelling　their　deliverance　from　Egypt。
Some　would　listen　and　believe。　Others；　looking　at　the　circumstances　that
surrounded　them；　refused　to　hope。　The　Egyptians；　being　informed　of　what　was
reported　among　their　bondmen；　derided　their　expectations　and　scornfully
denied　the　power　of　their　God。　They　pointed　to　their　situation　as　a　nation
of　slaves；　and　tauntingly　said；　〃If　your　God　is　just　and　merciful；　and
possesses　power　above　that　of　the　Egyptian　gods；　why　does　He　not　make　you　a
free　people？〃　They　called　attention　to　their　own　condition。　They　worshiped
deities

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termed　by　the　Israelites　false　gods；　yet　they　were　a　rich　and　powerful
nation。　They　declared　that　their　gods　had　blessed　them　with　prosperity；　and
had　given　them　the　Israelites　as　servants；　and　they　gloried　in　their　power
to　oppress　and　destroy　the　worshipers　of　Jehovah。　Pharaoh　himself　boasted
that　the　God　of　the　Hebrews　could　not　deliver　them　from　his　hand。

Words　like　these　destroyed　the　hopes　of　many　of　the　Israelites。　The　case
appeared　to　them　very　much　as　the　Egyptians　had　represented。　It　was　true
that　they　were　slaves；　and　must　endure　whatever　their　cruel　taskmasters
might　choose　to　inflict。　Their　children　had　been　hunted　and　slain；　and　their
own　lives　were　a　burden。　Yet　they　were　worshiping　the　God　of　heaven。　If
Jehovah　were　indeed　above　all　gods；　surely　He　would　not　thus　leave　them　in
bondage　to　idolaters。　But　those　who　were　true　to　God　understood　that　it　was
because　of　Israel's　departure　from　Himbecause　of　their　disposition　to
marry　with　heathen　nations；　thus　being　led　into　idolatrythat　the　Lord　had
permitted　them　to　become　bondmen；　and　they　confidently　assured　their
brethren　that　He　would　soon　break　the　yoke　of　the　oppressor。

The　Hebrews　had　expected　to　obtain　their　freedom　without　any　special　trial
of　their　faith　or　any　real　suffering　or　hardship。　But　they　were　not　yet
prepared　for　deliverance。　They　had　little　faith　in　God；　and　were　unwilling
patiently　to　endure　their　afflictions　until　He　should　see　fit　to　work　for
them。　Many　were　content　to　remain　in　bondage　rather　than　meet　the
difficulties　attending　removal　to　a　strange　land；　and　the　habits　of　some　had
become　so　much　like　those　of　the　Egyptians　that　they　preferred　to　dwell　in
Egypt。　Therefore　the　Lord　did　not　deliver　them　by　the　first　manifestation　of
His　power　before　Pharaoh。　He　overruled　events　more　fully　to　develop　the
tyrannical　spirit　of　the　Egyptian　king　and　also　to　reveal　Himself　to　His
people。　Beholding　His　justice；　His　power；　and　His　love；　they　would　choose　to
leave　Egypt　and　give　themselves　to　His　service。　The　task　of　Moses　would　have
been　much　less　difficult　had　not　many　of　the　Israelites　become　so　corrupted
that　they　were　unwilling　to　leave　Egypt。

The　Lord　directed　Moses　to　go　again　to　the　people　and　repeat　the　promise　of
deliverance；　with　a　fresh　assurance　of　divine　favor。　He　went　as　he　was
commanded；　but　they　would　not　listen。　Says　the　Scripture；　〃They　hearkened
not　。　。　。　for　anguish　of　spirit；　and　for　cruel　bondage。〃　Again　the　divine
message　came　to　Moses；

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　263

〃Go　in；　speak　unto　Pharaoh　king　of　Egypt；　that　he　let　the　children　of　Israel
go　out　of　his　land。〃　In　discouragement　he　replied；　〃Behold；　the　children　of
Israel　have　not　hearkened　unto　me；　how　then　shall　Pharaoh　hear　me？〃　He　was
told　to　take　Aaron　with　him　and　go　before　Pharaoh；　and　again　demand　〃that　he
send　the　children　of　Israel　out　of　his　land。〃

He　was　informed　that　the　monarch　would　not　yield　until　God　should　visit
judgments　upon　Egypt　and　bring　out　Israel　by　the　signal　manifestation　of　His
power。　Before　the　infliction　of　each　plague；　Moses　was　to　describe　its
nature　and　effects；　that　the　king　might　save　himself　from　it　if　he　chose。
Every　punishment　rejected　would　be　followed　by　one　more　severe；　until　his
proud　heart　would　be　humbled；　and　he　would　acknowledge　the　Maker　of　heaven
and　earth　as　the　true　and　living　God。　The　Lord　would　give　the　Egyptians　an
opportunity　to　see　how　vain　was　the　wisdom　of　their　mighty　men；　how　feeble
the　power　of　their　gods；　when　opposed　to　the　commands　of　Jehovah。　He　would
punish　the　people　of　Egypt　for　their　idolatry　and　silence　their　boasting　of
the　blessings　received　from　their　senseless　deities。　God　would　glorify　His
own　name；　that　other　nations　might　hear　of　His　power　and　tremble　at　His
mighty　acts；　and　that　His　people　might　be　led　to　turn　from　their　idolatry
and　render　Him　pure　worship。

Again　Moses　and　Aaron　entered　the　lordly　halls　of　the　king　of　Egypt。　There；
surrounded　by　lofty　columns　and　glittering　adornments；　by　the　rich　paintings
and　sculptured　images　of　heathen　gods；　before　the　monarch　of　the　most
powerful　kingdom　then　in　existence；　stood　the　two　representatives　of　the
enslaved　race；　to　repeat　the　command　from　God　for　Israel's　release。　The　king
demanded　a　miracle；　in　evidence　of　their　divine　commission。　Moses　and　Aaron
had　been　directed　how　to　act　in　case　such　a　demand　should　be　made；　and　Aaron
now　took　the　rod　and　cast　it　down　before　Pharaoh。　It　became　a　serpent。　The
monarch　sent　for　his　〃wise　men　and　the　sorcerers；〃　who　〃cast　down　every　man
his　rod　and　they　became　serpents：　but　Aaron's　rod　swallowed　up　their　rods。〃
Then　the　king；　more　determined　than　before；　declared　his　magicians　equal　in
power　with　Moses　and　Aaron；　he　denounced　the　servants　of　the　Lord　as
impostors；　and　felt　himself　secure　in　resisting　their　demands。　Yet　while　he
despised　their　message；　he　was　restrained　by　divine　power　from　doing　them
harm。

264


It　was　the　hand　of　God；　and　no　human　influence　or　power　possessed　by　Moses
and　Aaron；　that　wrought　the　miracles　which　they　showed　before　Pharaoh。　Those
signs　and　wond