The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1919-01-04
LESSON FOR JANUARY 5
PHARAOH oPPREssEs ISRAEL

LESSON T~EXT-Exodua 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
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Exodus B:1-
81; Hebrews u:25-2I.
The book from which the next eight
lessons are taken is a continuation OF
the story of the chosen people. It's
central theme is redemption-the de-
l%iverance of Israel from bondage and
their separation unto God. The ques-
ton Of relationship from Egyptian
bondage is a type of our own redemp-
ton from sins bondage Il Corinthians
SGD. Pharaoh represents the devil,
and Egypt the world.
l.. The Increase Of the Chosen Seed
Q:7).
After Joseph's death Israel quickly
grew into a nation. This increase was
the fulfillment of Genesis 30 III, which
promise was repeated to Jacob just be-
fore going into Egypt Genesis 4e :3).
If it be the problem Of how a little com
pany of seventy persons could become
an host of six hundred thousand men
in so short a time, let us remember
that God promised it, and all difficult
ties will vanish. There is a time COM
ing when there shall be another amaz-
ing increase in Israel ezekiel 80 10,
IL, 81, So; 81 :26).
u. A New Dynasty Il $40.
Joseph's elevation in Egypt was dur
ing the reign of the Hyksos kings. Be-
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. 8, 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 a vital source of
revenue and exposing to danger the
eastern border of the land.
III. Measures to Check the Growth
Of Israel (~1:11-22).
These measures place On exhibition
the folly of worldly wisdom Il Corfu
thians 3 :19). Their fatal mistake was
that they left God out of their calcula-
tons. 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 a fool.
l. Cruel Taskmasters wv. 11-14).
They were placed under heavy bur-
dens. Cruel taskmasters were placed
$500. 49,, ,-ha fopaaI &har, 80 1aAa.
In building treasure cities and all man.
ner of service in the field. This meas
ure wal 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.
.. Murder of Male Infants by the
Midwives wv. 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 rave them homes and chill
dren and the Joys thereof.
3. 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.
~. The Birth and Education Of
Moses e :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 TO
ignore the command Of the king and
hide him for three months Hebrews
IL :23). Faith in God is the antidote
for fear (Psalms 27 ~. His mother
discerned In him a proper child, or a
child fair to God (Acts 1920, and be-
lieved him to be the deliverer OF his
people. She no doubt instilled this
truth in his mind from his childhood.
Perhaps led by the story Of Noah's ark
she made an ark Of bulrushes and
placed Moses in it and left 1t at the
place where Pharaoh's daughter would
be attracted when she came down to
battle. Miriam, his sister, was placed
where she could watch the affair. She
came with q suggestion at the oppor-
tune moment as to a nurse for the
baby. Education at his mothers knee
gave character, and education at the
Egyptian court qualified him to be the
historian and lawgiver Of his people.