The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-06-26

nm out OF the midst OF the Dush. -
Exd. ga. |
God moves in a mysterious way in
carrying out His plans. This is fully |
verified in the history of His ancient
people as nation, and in the lives
of individuals who have played their
parts in the great drama of human
experience.
The life of Moses was, indeed,
strange one. The child in the bull
rushes, the adoption by Pharaoh's
daughter, his training in the royal
schools and colleges of Egyptians,
and the life of ease in the courts of
the king.
But on the day in which he struck
down the cruel Egyptian taskmaster
for his brutal treatment of the help
less Jewish slave, marked a new
chapter in his experience.
Little did he dream that the act
would sweep him from his secure and
comfortable position, as the eagle
sweeps its young from the nest in
the cliff in order to compel them to
use their wings-compelling him to
go out into the great university Of
experience and begin his preparation
for a great life work-to become the
leader and law maker of Gods
people.
Many a man Of great ability, just
because he has made a mistake
somewhere in his career, has hidden
himself among the sheep and the
brush of this world, and instead of
making the wilderness a university,
has disappeared with an experience
that might have been a great blessing
to mankind. And many another man
has, from what seemed to be most
crushing defeat, wrung out such
glorious victories, the experience of
which have blessed society and the
world at large.
Had Moses remained in the palace
of Pharaoh, he would, no doubt, have
become a bully among the princes
and attendants; he might have been
respected by certain element at
court because of his knowledge of the
use of the sword and other means of
sport or warfare. He proved him
self more than a match for the
| Egyptian guardsman who dared to
cross swords with him.
/ Out into the wilderness he goes.
There he takes up the humble posi-
ton of sheep herder.
30, what a failure" you say. II
would have been had Moses just
"hlled time" with the sheep. But
the record says, ''Moses kept the
flock, and he led the flock" In other
words, che was on the job" from
revelie to recall, from whistle K
whistle.
| l. Whenever God calls a man t.
do a special work he always prepares
that man for the work in hand
Generally the training is carried OF
unconsciously.
While Israel was groaning unde
the burdens of their oppressors, Coz
was training a leader who should de
) liver them. It was not Moses wa,
to prepare to become a leader of
people, but he went to the task wit
all confidence that lie was filling
God-appointed place. While tn
Hebrew people were drinking eve
the dregs of their bitter cup Of ex
perience, the late prince of the hous
Of Pharaoh was seasoning and matur
ing for the great work of leading
nation from bondage.
Back behind Horeb he seeks pastur
for his sheep. Necessity drives hin
! to extremes in his investigation Q
the country; he must find the bes
pasture land even if il. requires hi
journeying to Horeb, the mountain q
God.
7 In these very journeyings til
shepherd is learning the trails, tn
4 near cuts, the condition of the cour
: try, and other information he lit
e dreams will ever become of SO gres
J. value to him. Those wonderful PHI
e nomena of land, sea and sky are her
n witnessed, perhaps, which unde
r Gods guidance, he uses in afte
a years to confound the great EgyI
d tan generals with.
o Ii. God revealed himself to Nose
E. IN the midst of his common dali
'e toll. Day by day, there in the sol
e tude of the shepherds life, and {
: he went about his ordinary dutie
he acquired the knowledge that 7
university could ever impart.
Each day new obstacles arose ar
. new knowledge came to him as eac
q of those obstacles were passed. 4
n might have gotten along very we
& by letting the sheep find their ov
i grass. It was only his duty to 81
Il that the sheep were reasonably care
: for-that they were protected fro
! the wild beast, if one should prov
: around and attempt to destroy