The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1913-07-11

Weakness does not imply any lack
Of aggressiYeness; it does not imply
mildness of temper. Moses, we judge
from study of this chapter, was not
as yet meek above all men,"
In last weeks lesson we considered
the birth, salvation. nursing and train
ing of Moses as child. After Jochebed
had nursed Moses ". 81 he was re-
turned to Pharaoh's daughter and be
came her son." thereby obtaining all
the rights, privileges and training of
the Egyptian court.
I. His Qualifications. (1) He had
godly parentage and an early godly
training. Do we appreciate the tre-
mendous advantage of the child who Is
well born and well trained? True, en-
vironment Is not all-sufficient, but 1t is
a great asset. The psalmist empha-
sizes this when he exclaims thou hast
given me the heritage of|them that
fear thy name" Ps 61:5.
(2) Moses had knowledge Of the
conditions. Born and nursed In a
slaves home he knew of the oppres-
sion Of Israel. Reared in Pharaoh's
court, he knew how the Egyptians
feared these same Israelites (Ch. 1:9,
l0). Moses saw ". ~ the burdens
borne by those Of his own race.
Heart Of Sympathy.
(3) Moses had heart of sympathy
". ~. Seeing an Egyptian task
master evilly entreating a kinsman
Moses heart rebelled and at once he
few to his support and defence. Our
Lord was "moved with compassion"
A like righteous Indignation impelled
the Master to drive the money
changers from the temple and to de-
nounce the hypocritical Pharisees.
Moses had not, however, learned self
restraint, and that he should express
his sympathy at the proper time and
in the most effective manner
(4) Moses was brave and Jealous,
v. IL. But he acted before God told
him to act He looked this way and
that" but he did not look upward.
90 Moses was educated. We have
already seen how he was taught by his
own mother and that he received the
training Of the Egyptians, Acts 7:22.
Being brave and mighty in deeds was
not enough; he was mighty in words
and Deeds" Thus he was prepared to
stand before Pharaoh (not the father
of his deliverer, but another Pharaoh.
v. 24), meet him on an equal footing
and intelligently combat his religion
with that of Jehovah.
(6) Moses had assurance. True, he
had not as yet received Gods. call (see
Oh. 81 for particular work and his re-
lance upon force, his tit-for-tat policy
was not Gods method of working de-
liverance. But Moses was obedient,
and as he obeyed, God honored each
step of his faith.
Moses Mistake.
CD Moses was meek, e. g., teach
able. To us this was his greatest as
set. A man may be we'll born, we'll
trained and know the needs and the
resources at his command, but If he
lack a teachable spirit he is doomed
to failure. Moses made a mistake
when he slew the Egyptian. At a later
date when he had learned Of God he
undertook the same task and no diff
fculties daunted him. The change
from a princes position at the court
to one of an humble shepherd, des-
pissed calling, was as essential as had
been those 40 years at the Egyptian
schools.
II. His error. Moses endeavored to
work relief by the strength Of his own
arm, a mistake many Christian work.
ers are constantly making. Our war
fare is not with carnal weapons.
Moses had no warrant for killing the
Egyptian. He was not obeying any
command other than that Of impulse.
The life of Moses had been miracu-
lously spared, nor had he been sub
ject to slavery. Yet he did not know
Gods method nor was it Gods oppor-
tune time to strike the blow for delivs
erance. 1t is true that the sufferings
of the Israelites increased and that no
one seemed to heed their cry. But God
remembered.
III. HIS pilgrimage some one mas
suggested that Moses entered another
school Of patience which would cause
him to exercise all of his meekness
when he married zipporah, Oh. 4:20-26.
1t is true that his father-in-law was
more generous and proved a better
friend than his daughter, Oh. 1873
81. Moses gave evidence that he rec
ognized his pilgrim character in the
names he gave to his sons, v. % and
Oh. 1873, 4. The Christian needs con-
stantly to be reminded that he Is but
a pilgrim and a stranger here below
w. A summary. Again we have
brought before US Gods wonderful
method Of preparing his chosen instru-
ment for the carrying out of his prom
ises. Not all, of course, IS recorded. A
life is saved and preserved. 1t receives
a brief period of Instruction at its
most critical stage from the hands Of
its own mother. He becomes proficient
in all of the learning of rich and
opulent court. Then comes a time
when definite crisis Of responsibility