Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-07-07
Lesson ..
ISRAEL IN EGYPT.

Gods people in Egypt we had painful
glimpse in our last lesson. The new
king, who knew not Joseph, had taken
alarm at their rapid growth, and had
set himself to break their spirit and
hinder their increase. At first, as we
saw, he laid crushing burdens on them.
This proving ineffective, he matured "a
secret plot by which their children
should be destroyed at birth and final.
ly ordered that every male child should
be cast into the Nile.
God had suffered all these ills to
overtake them. They had too nearly
forgotten him, and fallen into evil ways.
Nothing but the most painful expert.
ence would bring them back and make
them obedient TO his will. Neverthe.
less he would not suffer them TO ke de.
stroyed. lie had for them great fu.
ture and high mission. At the very
time that chastisement was doing for
them its needed work, he was preparing
their delverance. At the very darkest
hour of their nigh the coming deliver.
er was born.
We have in this lesson the story of
the preservation and training OF Moses.
That part of it which relates TO his
preservation is as strange and delight.
full as any romance. His parents were
among the ancient heroes of faith, and,
perceiving the fairness of their child,
they somehow felt that he must be des.
tined of God for some special purpose,
and set themselves to save him alive.
1t Is not likely that they had any direct
revelation from God. They believed
in him, and resolved to do their best,
and trust in him. When longer con.
cealment of the child at home Was i'm.
possible, the same hopeful trust led the
mother TO place him in an ark of papy.
rus, OF which Nile boats used to be
made, and to deposit the ark among
the flags on the rivers brink. The
place chosen was where the kings
daughter was won't to come for her ab.
lutions. The Nile was regarded as a
sacred river, and to wash so much as
the hands in it was supposed to be an
acceptable and helpful act of worship.
1t is altogether likely that the mother
knew the custom of the princess to
come to this particular spot 1t was at
least her last loving resort; and ap.
parently little as it may have seemed
TO promise, it proved successful. Her
faith was rewarded, and the child saved
alive. More than that. the royal prin.
cess adopted the fair babe as her own,
and by a wonderful providence was led
to entrust it for care TO the mother her.
self. So rich is faiths reward witness.
ed sometimes for our encouragement in
the life that now is.
The training of Moses began with his
infancy. 1t was the custom Of those
days to keep a child with its nurse for
three years. We may be sure these
years would be we'll improved by the
mother of this child. She would faith.
fully tell him OF his own and their God
the one true God of the great prom.
ises to which they were heirs and of
their many and better wrongs. After
the expiration of these first years il is
quite likely the child would be suffer.
ed to visit his nurse, and so these les.
sons would be repeated and made last.
ing. Lasting they would be very sure
to be. Ii has been said that, even in
our northern climates, where develop.
ment is so much slower, the first three
years OF life are often the decisive ones
for all that are to come after. 1t is
then that the seeds OF lifelong pur.
poses are sown, and impressions are
made never to be lost. The practical
importance of this fact caH hardly be
oyer.estimated.
Moses must have received very great
benefit from his education in the
schools and affairs of Egypt. This edu.
cation could not have been less than
the best Egypt, then the foremost ma.
tion in the world, could afford. The
New Testament tells us that "he was
learned in all the wisdom of the Egypt.
ians, and was mighty in words and
deeds" He was taught all that was
thought needful to a statesman or sol.
dieT. OF all this, much might have
proved worthless. Some things would
have TO be learned. The best would
have TO be supplemented with much
from higher source. But Egypt was
then the best organized form of civil
society known, and to become familiar
with its laws, institutions, science and
religion, was one of the diviuely ap
pointed ways Of preparing him to be
the great leader and lawgiveT Of Israel.
So far as the record shows, the great
and decisive act of Moses life was at. or
about, the time when going out unto
his brethren and looking on their bur.
dens, "helspied an Egyptian smiting an
Hebrew" The sight stirred his indg.
nation, and "he slew the Egyptian"
II il evident that he had begun to
think Of himself as called to serve his
people, and TO be their deliverer. lie
was ready TO begin. IL is not necessary
20 suppose that his way was either just
or wise. He took the way--more in 40.
cord with ancient than modern ways
which flashed upon him. The special
point for Us to dwell upon is, that 1t
marked his decision 10 cast in his lot
with Israel his choice to suffer sfilic
ton with the people of God, rather
than to enjoy the pleasures OF sin for q
season. Ii was the opposite Of a world.
ly choice. Deliberately he turned his
back on earthly delights and glory.
But the choice was great, noble, and
wise. Great, too, hes been, and will be,
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