Evening star., 1924-01-19

Several hundred years intervened
between the death of Joseph, with
which Genesis Closes and the events
assigned for our consideration this
week. During that period Israel was
steadily increasing and multiplying
in numbers until their numerical
strength and clannish spirit brought
change Of attitude toward them
from the Egyptians. The Roman en-
perors viewed with alarm the spread
of Christianity. They saw a menace
in the desertion of the temples of the
beathen gods and the new morality
of the Christians condemning the
practices of the pagan civilization.
The blood of the martyrs resulted in
part from their fear of a political
revolution. Our Americanization pro-
grams grow out of the fact that mil
lions OF the residents of our cities
have failed to absorb our national
ideals. Their attitude toward the
principles of our civilization threatens
our political institutions just as much
as the Israelites alarmed Pharaoh,
who knew not the debt due Joseph
for saving Egypt from starvation and
extinction.
Men differ as to the number OF
gears that intervened, due to different
methods of calculation. One esti-
mates that the 400 years started viii
Gods promise to Abraham. Accord,
ing to another method, 1t commenced
with Jacobs arrival In Goshen, which
occurred about 215 years after Jeho-
vah entered into a covenant with
Abraham. Although the weight OF
scholarship fayors the latter estimate
it is not essential, as the fact remains
that new era opens for Israel with
=
madic shepherds had filled the land.
They were the leading agriculturist
in Goshen. They engaged also in
gardening, fishing, and were skilled
in all the arts OF civilization. Some
of them were W. weaverS, carpenters and
potters in the royal service. Workers
in iron and brass. as well as silver
and gold. were found among them.
Information obtained from the eX-
ploration of Egyptian tombs reveals
the traces of the influences and color
ing of their sojourn In Egypt. Three
things kept them from being apos-
taciZsd-the influence of the family
ties, shown in the practice Of circum-
cision. sacrificial services. and the
observance of the Sabbath. Oppres-
sion failed to break their spirit or de-
stroy their hope in Jehovah in the
darkest hours of their trials.
In every crisis God has always
raised I'D q man whom He has provi-
dcnttally prepared for leadership. He
calls them from the obsCurlty where
He has been training them when the
moment arises,for them to change the
current of history. Moses ranks as
the greatest human personality No
one would have dreamt that the child
Of adversely, born when every male
child was doomed to die by law, would
become the outstanding figure OF his
tory The descendant of an immi-
nf r>,a n nj OnDrpSSed
pie. the son of a peasant and the
adopted child of royalty, he became
the "earlicst OF labor leaders, the
founder oe ronstit,; tional government
and the most eminent character IN
the worlds hall Of fame.
Back of every man who mas
achieved greatness is the life or
great mother. The mother CT Moses
demonstrated her faith in Gods pro
tecting care when she prepared a
floating cradle to hold the exceedingly
fair, goodly ard proper child In the
hour when she could no longer con-
&C AL his presence. The curiosity ard
compassion of :. Pharaoh's daughter
were the provide ntial ways that God
provided for thevwenderful deliver
ance ard unexpected education OF the
Hebrew child that was destined to
prepare Moses for his work as
people While the record is silent
concerning the education of ISraeIs
ereat leader there is no doubt that
his mother impressed upon his MIND
the g1 eat religious precepts ana rrfn-
ciples that made him realize his ohlt-
cations to his people and to God. Al
though learned In all the wisdom of
the Egyptians and mighty in words
nd deeds" 1t was his faith In Jeho-
vah that made him a forward look
ing man and a patriot
1t Is quite prof able that Moses NAV
have tried to remove the heavy OPP
preston that the government had
adopted in an effort to destroy the
Isranli.es. who were approaching the
numerical strength that would enable
them to return to Palestine and be.
come a nation. He was not ashamed
Of his family or race. He. sympa-
thized with them and proved his pa
triotism and faith when he cham
pioned their cause and in moment OF
anger killed the insolent Egyptian
and then fed from Egypt to the soli-
-ude of the desert. where he came tS
know God. There he found employ
ment with a. priest Of the Midianites.
who had carried Joseph into Egypt
snd married his daughter. During his
forty years III the wilderness Moses
be came a changed man. HIS educa-
ton was completed during the long,
lonely hours he spent watching the
focks There he hrooded over the
condition of his countrymen. The
education of the court, the culture of
silence. tte power of godly me6;ta-
ton, all combined to prepare this