The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-07-03
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
GOD HEARS A PEOPLES CRY
By HIGHT {. MOORE

mighty; and the land was filled
with them"
Exodus 1870
/ THE OPPRESSOR ID his pro-
posal ignored the divine ,provl-
dence. Having overthrow the dy-
nasty of Joseph's day, he recog-
nized no debt to him d EgyPts
deliverer from famine, and thus
felt no obligation to his klnSmen.
On the contrary, he imagined IN
them a political menate: Ihey
were foreigners, being ASlatlcs;
they were situated where they
could help Asiatic invaders; their
rate of increase was far greater
than that of the Egyptians; they
were shrewd, INDUSTRIOUS progress
sive, and soon their independence
might be undertaken. The crafty
monarch in consultation with his
advisers therefore decided upon
double policy Of repression: ~
BY forced labor and infanticide
so to decimate and suppress the
Hebrew population that they
could not become a military men,
ace: and (2) so to crush rational
spirit that Israel would neyer as
pire to independence. The cruel
proposal was voted politically, Sa-
gacious and at once became law.
THE TYRANNY OF THE
| TASKMASTERS
| Exodus l:ll.l4
THE OPPRESSION in its tyr
fanny attacked the divine program.
The decree Of Pharaoh was car
Tried out with all rigor and injus-
tice. Able-bodied Hebrews by
thousands were consc"ipted, driv-
en- to hard labor by rough Egyp-
tan overseers, and compelled to
work on scanty food and without
cent of pay. Under the whlm
and whip of Pharaoh, thev built
two great military cities border
ing Goshen and fronting foes to
the east. But oppression failed in
its purpose. To the chagrin of
their oppressors, Israel prospered
under pressure. Sterner then be-
came the afflicting hand. With
added hardship the Hebrews did
bitter service in the fields. But
they were bettered by their af-
Elections and made ready for the
day of deliverance.
THE GRoANING BEFORE GOD
EXODUS 2:23-25)
THE OUTCRY in its grooming
besought the divine protection.
At length the Pharaoh of the OPP
preston (probably Rameses I'D
died and his son Meneptah (prob-
ably the Pharaoh of the Exodus)
came to the throne. But lsraePs
plight grew darker "by reason of
the bondage" (twice stated here).
So they sighed; they cried; they
groaned; and their cry came up
to God. Note his merciful re-
Spouse to the appeal of his suf-
| fering people: He heard their
grooming; he remembered his COW
enant with their fathers; he saw
them in their affliction; and he
took knowledge or had respect
unto their condition and their
cry as he planned their deliver
ance. ST "the Lord heard our
voice. and looked on our afflic-
ton ... 90.
"THE LORD SAW THE
AFFLICTION OF ISRAEL
| Cd Affliction Permitted. Israel
suffered but their oppressor was
not supreme. Jehovah saw, sym.
pathized, stood guard over ms
people. He permitted it all for a
holy purpose. And his purpose
now, as then, will prevail.
| (2) Affliction Separ t ng.
There was no danger of Israel
and Egypt coalescing while the
taskmasters were on duty. Do we
not ofen need bitter affliction TO
wean us from the world? /
| (3) Affliction Instructing. Is
lrael learned more from the Pha.
raoh who drove them out Of
Egypt than from the Pharaoh WHIP
welcomed them into Egypt. Adj
versity is better teacher thap
prosperity.
| (4l Affliction Disciplinary. The
oppression kept the Hebrews from
many Egyptian vices to which
otherwise they would have faller,
easy prey. And it sheared away
some of their own sinful folliesI
CD Affliction Developing. A
life of ease can but be life of
laziness and languor. One must
endure hardness to be a good
soldier. The burning kilns, more
than the pleasant pasture-lands,
developed strength in Israel.
| Co Affliction Revealing. Gold
and dross go together into the
fire, but the gold alone energies
tried and pure. How could we
know the gold except by the test
of fire? IsraePs superiority to the
Egyptians shone in bondage more
than blood.
| (7) Affliction Depending. With
the cry of pain went cry to God.
Beyond Pharaoh the oppressor,
Israel looked to Jehovah the de-
liverer. And their faith was
| frightened by their affliction.
(8) Affliction Achieving. In
our severest trials we may win
some of our greatest triumphs.
Witness what Israel, under the
taskmasters' lash, did in architec-
yture and agriculture.
I (9) Affliction DUAL fy ng.
More than anything else in Egypt
the oppression prepared Israel
for independence, toughened their
sinews for the wilderness, and
trained them for Canaan.
| .ItnN kffl.o1.o~ O,,o,,,. a, I N Il