Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-01-03
LESSON FOR JANUARY 5
PHARAOH oPPREssEs ISRAEL.

LESSON TEXT-Exodus 1:7-2:s.
GOLDEN TEXT-He shall save the, |
children of the needy, and shall break in |
pieces the oppressor.-Psalms 72:4.
DEVOTIONAL READING-Psalms q
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Exodus ST. |
81; Hebrews u:23-N.
The book from which the next eight
lessons are taken is continuation OF |
the story of the chosen people. Its |
central theme is redemption-the de-
liverance of Israel from bondage and
their separation unto God. The ques-
ton of relationship from Egyptian
bondage is type of our own redemp-
ton from sins bondage Il Corinthians
SD. Pharaoh represents the devil
and Egypt the world.
|. The Increase of the Chosen Seed
40.
After Joseph's death Israel quickly
grew into q nation. This amazing in
crease ''is expressed as usual in He
brew by climax of verbs; were fruit
ful is taken from the vegetable world
N which increase varies from a null
iple to several hundred-fold; in
reased' (spawned, swarmed) is bor-
owed from the fnny tribes, in which
he rate of increase rises to many
nyriads; multiplied is general word
referring to number; and 'waxed ex-
ceedingly mighty is a similar phrase
alluding to the strength which num-
bers confer, composed of verb and
an adverb repeated, and therefore well
adapted to complete the climax
Murphy. This increase was the fulfill
ment of Genesis 35 II, which promise
was repeated to Jacob just before go
ing into Egypt Genesis 46 :3). II it
be the problem of how little COM
pany of seventy persons could become
an host of six hundred thousand men
in so short time, let us remember
that God promised it, and all difficult
ties will vanish. There is time COM
ing when there shall be another arnaz-
ing increase in Israel ezekiel 36:10,
IL, 81, So; 81 :26).
II. A New Dynasty Q:S-10).
Joseph's elevation in Egypt was dur
y
ing of Semitic origin they were not
hostile to the Hebrews, but when there
"arose up a new king which knew not
Joseph" ". 81 the amazing growth of
the Israelites excited his envy and
fear wv. 9, 10). This fear was two
fold: ~ In case of war they might
join the enemy and fight against them.
(2) Lest they should remove from the
land, thus cutting off vital source of
revenue and exposing to danger the
eastern border of the land.
Ill. Measures to Check the Growth
OF Israel Il :11-22).
These measures place on exhibition
the folly of worldly wisdom Il Corin-
thians 3 :19). Their fatal mistake was
that they left God out of their calcula-
tions God had promised that Israel
should be great in numbers and mighty
| In power. He who plans against God
shall miserably fail and shall be shown
| to be fool.
1. Cruel Taskmasters (vy. 11-14).
They were placed under heavy bur-
| dens. Cruel taskmasters were placed
| over them who forced them to labor
| in building treasure cities and all man.
| ner of service in the field. This meas
| ure was Intellectual, for ''the more they
afflicted them, the more they multi
piled and grew" This rapid growth
resulted in more intense burdens being
| heaped upon them.
| 2. Murder of Male Infants by the
Midwives (vv. 15-21). This measure
| also miscarried, as the midWives
feared God and chose to obey him. Be
cause they refused to destroy Gods
| people he gave them homes and chill
dren and the joys thereof.
| 8. Drowning of Male Children in the
River ". 22). In order to make this
measure effective all the people were
charged with the responsibility of cast.
| ing the Hebrew male children into the
river This mandate seems to have
been given shortly before Moses was
born. This plan likewise was foiled
and the very child who when a man
upset his throne, was sheltered and
nurtured in his own palace.
Nv. The Birth and Education oi
Moses (2:1-S).
The measure which was designed to
destroy the Hebrew menace, also
brought to Pharaoh's palace and edu
Gated there the very man who after
ward shattered the Egyptian power
and set free the enslaved people. The
| faith of Moses parents caused them tt
ignore the command of the king anG
hide him for three months (Hebrews
IL :23). Faith in God is the antidote
for fear (Psalms 27:D. His mother
discerned in him a proper child, or 6
child fair to God (Acts z :20), and be
lieved him to be the deliverer of hi!
people. She no doubt instilled thi!
truth in his mind from his childhood
Perhaps led by the story of Noah's arl
she made an ark of bulrushes ant
placed Moses in it and left it at tn,
place where Pharaoh's daughter woult
be attracted when she came down t,
bathe. Miriam, his sister, was place.
| where she could watch the affair. Sh,
! came with a suggestion at the oppor
tune moment as to a nurse for tn,
| baby. Moses was educated first at hi
mothers knee, the place where hi
character was formed. It was her
where the indomitable purpose wa
fixed to suffer affliction with the peo
pie of God (Hebrews IL :24-26). H
was also educated at the Egyptian
court where he became acquainte,
with the wisdom of Egypt (Acts 1927
Education at his mothers knee CAV
him character, and education at tn
Egyptian court qualified him to be tn
historian and lawgiver of his people.