The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-07-24

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that mourn Tor they shall be comforted.'
Matt ga
Only one incident IL mentioned with
reference TO that long Journey Moses
had to take I'm returning from indian
to Egypt The Lord met him and
sought to kill him. geo. Moses is
about TO pronounce n fearful penalty,
see i:23, and 1t was necessary that he
compromised the terrible meaning OF
his threat Also he had neglected TO
observe the sign OF covenant peace
circumcision with his youngest son,
and that was serious delinquency
for the future leader OF Israel 1t
was necessary at this stage of his eX-
pcriencc that he should learn that God
is In earnest when he speaks. and will
assuredly perform all that he has
threatened tMurphyD
showing himself with Aaron. the
elders Of Israel are soon convinced
that God had sent them and was about
TO work out through Moses and Aaron
the long promised delverance.
Issue Plainly Stated.
I. Moses Message, w. 10. Moses
and Aaron plainly stated the issue at
the very outset, Thus saith the Lord
God OF Israel " - This was at,
once a challenge as to the boosted SUI
perior greatness Of the Egyptian gods
4 II also touched Phauoh's pride for be
was an absolute monarch and can he
allow these representatives OF an OPP
pressed people any liberties? Lastly
IL was a question Of economic impor.
lance
Pharaoh looked upon these Israel.
+ ties as his own property. now they
are claimed for another. Let my peo-
pie go" In contempt Pharaoh ex-
claims. who is jehovah Il was In
answer TO that very question Moses
had been sent and right well was Pha.
raoh to learn the answer ere the &c
count is settled Men are nippantly
asking that same question today. both
I by word and conduct Who will find
I out To their final sorrow who Jehovah
Is. and why they should obey his
voice Phar.oh spoke the truth when
he said Il know not the Lord" but
though he seems 20 boast OF that he
1 little knew what II means for man
to set up his will against that OF God
Il will not" was the proud boast OF
weak. wilful. ignorant worm OF the
dust. for all his exalted position among
men. Read Thess Is and Rom.
l:2S
In reply. ". ~ Moses and Aaron
did not seek to argue the case. Very
little is ever gained by such a meth.
cd. much better for us to deliver Gods
message verbatim and trust to the
holy spirit TO bring conviction Moses
and Aaron were far more afraid OF
the pestilence and sword OF Jehovah
than the boosted power OF Pharaoh
God does punish disobedience whether
We like II or not. see Deut 2S:2l
Zech. l4:16-i9 etc This fearlessness
angered Pharaoh ". - and he com
mands them and their brethren at
once to resume their burdens. The
world Is constantly accusing the ser
wants OF God Of uniting people fer
their work. see Amos 7 10. Luke 23:2
and Acts l7:6
Truth Confirmed.
~ hAAAAA VI AAAAN i1A AhAANt - WIN
firmed by the bricks found in the
ruins OF cities built during this period
Of Egyptian history The bricks were
made Of clay mixed with stubble. rath-
or than the ordinary straw and baked
In the sun rather than in a fire kiln.
II. Pharaoh's Method, w. 1915. II
must have been "A severe test Of faith
for the lsraelites to have had their
hopes thus dashed and more grievous
burdens thrust upon them. Before,
the government furnished the neces-
sary straw. now they must get II
themselves and az the same time keep
up the usual toll OF bricks.
Those who were beaten ". 40 were
OF their own number who were held
accountable under the Egyptian task
masters for the conduct OF the whole.
Is this not suggestive OF one other
than ourselves who bore our sins in
his own body on the tree" and by
whose stripes we are healed?"
How little we comprehend, even
with centuries OF Christian history as
our guide and the inspired word as
our teacher, the full meaning OF Paul's
words, For | reckon that the suffer-
ings OF this present time are not
worthy to be compared with the glory
which shall be revealed in US" Rom.
Sis. But God Is mindful OF his own
and as soon as Moses and Aaron turn
ed to him he gives them a most gra-
cious renewal OF his promise and OF
the ultimate blessing. see Chapter
CHS.
III. The Summary. Gods ways OF
deliyerance are never easy. His peo-
pie are always slow to believe and his
enemies have a hard hearted and ter
rible persistence In their opposition
to him and his plans. But God does
not permit this defeat. nor prevent the
accomplishment Of his purposes. When
pain has done Its work he makes Il TO
cease. When the fire has burned out
the dross he will extinguAh II. Pha,
raoh esteemed human life cheaply,
how about the sweat shop OF todayH