The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1913-07-23
Sunday School Notes
Side Lights on Next Sundays Lesson
70, Teachers and Pupil,.
Edited By Charles K. Meyers
+, July 27-Moses' Request Refused.

1, July 27-Moses' Request Refused
Exod. 4, 2.29 to 6, 1.
With the lesson of last week We
left Moses just about to start for
Egypt to lead his people out of captiv.
ity. He was to have his brother Aaron
as a helper and spokesman. At first
things went well. Aaron was ready
to help and when the Jewish elders
were called to council they praised
Jehovah that at last their prayers and
petitions were to see an answer.
In due time Moses and Aaron ap-
peared before the august Pharaoh.
They they did not then ask liberty for
their people, but only that opportun-
ity be given to 90. out for religious
feast in the wilderness. 1t is more
than probable that Pharaoh had. heard
before this time of the coming of
Moses to his country and what he pro-
posed to do. In his heart he had the
answer to all reqaesia.Aeses might
make, determined. 70 his mind his
duty was clear. 1t was to suppress
this rebellion with a firm hand. The
audacity indeed of slaves to ask for
a great holiday to worship God 9TH
er than those of their master.
The reply of the ruler to the request
of Moses and Aaron brings out the
great lesson for US to be found in the
bible verses under study at this time.
Therefore, note well what he says:
"Who is the Lord, that should
obey his voice to let Israel go?
know not the Lord, neither will
let Israel 60"
There we have it-haughty defiance
|of God, and refusal to obey His re-
quests. Pharaoh thought he was do
ing the superior thing, one showing
his greatness and power, free will to
do as he pleased. Looking back We
see he was wrong, that in contest of
power between himself and the mighty
God he was bound to be crushed. Fool
ish Pharaoh, but what shall We say of
men and women today who, when told
of the will of God as to their conduct,
laugh Him to scorn, harden their
hearts, saying almost the words of the
Egyptian ruler "Who is God that l
should obey His voice." Well, here
We have again the old, old situation,
to obey God or not to obey, and what
answer will the reader of these notes
make?
Surrounded by evidences of power
it seemed to Pharaoh the right and
manly thing to defy the living God.
Men and women in our day there are
who feel just as conscious in their
own minds of their power to defy God
as did the Egyptian ruler of old. He
found in the end that destruction
came to him and his people when he
and they arrogantly turned deaf ear
to the one who held their lives and
destinies in His hand.
We do not need to 60 back into the
days of old Egypt to see the truth of
the lesson so plain to be gained from
the answer of Pharaoh. There are
men and women, you and l can
name some, who have tried living in
defiance of Gods physical and spirit
Iual laws, and ruin to them and their
loved ones came with terrible certain
ity and effect. BE not deceived. God
lis not Knocked" applied in the case of
Pharaoh and to you and me. The de-
cision of Joshua "As for me and for
my house we will serve the Lord" is
the only safe one to make, and the
quicker it is done the better.
Pharaoh acted perfectly natural
from the standpoint of one defying
God. He decided to show the Jews
who was master in the land; he would
make their burdens so great they
would have little time or inclination
to ask for holidays and release from
their condition. So he ordered harder
tasks and their overseers demanded
as much work done as ever, and no
material to do with. The reply of
President Baer of the Reading system
to the coal miners who asked fair
wages, better conditions and called
for some means of arbitration, 81 have
nothing to arbtrate," spoke forth the