The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1913-07-10

Meekness does not imply any lack
or aggressivencss; it does not imply a
mildness OF temper. Moses, We judge
from q 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 %Jochcbed
had nurscd Moses ". 81 he was re-
turned to Pharaoh's daughter and BE
came her SON." thereby obtaining all
tho rights, privileges and training Of
the Egyptian court.
!. His Qualifications. Cd He had a
godly ~parentage and an early godly
training. DO we appreciate the ire
mendous advantage Of the child who Is
we'll born and well trained? True, en-
vironment Is not all-sufficient, but it is
q great asset. The psalmist empha-
sizes this when he exclaims thou hast
given me tho heritage Of them that
fear thy name" Ps. 61:5.
(2) Moses had a 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
''e hiSSS piI ltlCtllSS VIII. i -,
100. Moses saw (v. ~ the burdens
borne by those Of his own race.
Heart Of Sympathy.
(3) Moses had a heart Of sympathy
". ~. Seeing all Egyptian task.
master evilly entreating a kinsman
Moses heart rebclled and at once he
flew to his support and defence. Our
Lord was moved with compassion"
a like righteous indignation impelled
the Master to drive tho money
changers from the temple. and to de.
nounce the hypocrltical 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.
GD Moses was bravo and jealous,
V. IL. Bat he acted before God told
him to act. lie locke this way and
! That but he did not look upward.
t5) Moses was educated. We have
already seen how he was taught by his
W mother and that he received the
training Of the Egyptians, Acts 1929.
Being brave and mighty in deeds was
not enough: he was mighty III words
and deeds" Thus he was prepared to
stand before Pharaoh (not the father
Of his deliverer, but another Pharaoh,
V. 24l, meet him on an equal footing,
and intelligently combat his religion
with that OF Jehovah.
CO. 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:
iiverancc. But Moses was obedient,
and as lie obeyed, God honored each
step of his faith.
Moses Mistake.
CD Moses was meek, Q. e., teach.
able. To us this was his greatest as.
set. a man may be we'll born, well
trained and know the needs and the
resources at his command, but IL he
lack a %teachable spirit he is doomed
to failure. Moses made a mistake
when ho slew the Egyptian. At q later
date when he had learned of God he
undertook the same task and no dit.
ticultics daunted him. The change
from n princes position at tho court
TO one Of an humble shepherd, q des.
pissed calling, was as essential as had
been those 10 years at the Egyptian
schools.
II. His error. Moses endcavored 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
Moses had no warrant for killing the
Egyptian. He was not obcying any
command other than that Of impulse.
The life Of Moses had been miracu.
lousy 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 deliv.
erance. 1t is true that the sufrcrings
OF the Israclites increased and that no
n seemed to heed their cry. But God
remembered.
lll. Ills pilgrimage. Some one has
suggested that Moses entered another
school Of patience which would cause
him to exercise all Of his m%eekness
when he married %Zipporah, Oh. 4:20-2G.
1t is true that his fathcrin-law was
more generous and proved a better
friend than his daughter, Oh. 1913
~. Moses gave evidence that he rec.
ognizcd his pilgrim character in tho
names he gave to his sons, v. % and
Oh. 1873, 4. Tho Christian needs con.
stantly to be reminded that he Is but
q pilgrim and n stranger here below.
~. A summary. Again we have
brought before us Gods wonderful
method Of preparing his chosen instru.
ment for tho carrying out OF his prom
isoS. 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
It's own mother. lie becomes proficient
III all Of the learning Of a rich and
oru.cnt court. Then comes a time
NlA q definite crisis Of responsibility,
Of persons relation to the poor
I'd Of his own blood, forces
ic a choice. He is con.