patriarchs and prophets-第60章
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Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees。〃 He witnessed the increase and
prosperity of his people； and through all the years his faith in God's
restoration of Israel to the Land of Promise was unshaken。
When he saw that his end was near； he summoned his kinsmen about him。
Honored as he had been in the land of the Pharaohs； Egypt was to him but the
place of his exile； his last act was to signify that his lot was cast with
Israel。 His last words were； 〃God will surely visit you； and bring you out
of this land unto the land which He sware to Abraham； to Isaac； and to
Jacob。〃 And he took a solemn oath of the children of Israel that they would
carry up his bones with them to the land of Canaan。 〃So Joseph died； being
an hundred and ten years old： and they embalmed him； and he was put in a
coffin in Egypt。〃 And through the centuries of toil which followed； the
coffin； a reminder of the dying words of Joseph； testified to Israel that
they were only sojourners in Egypt； and bade them keep their hopes fixed
upon the Land of Promise； for the time of deliverance would surely come。
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Chapter 22
Moses
The people of Egypt； in order to supply themselves with food during the
famine； had sold to the crown their cattle and lands； and had finally bound
themselves to perpetual serfdom。 Joseph wisely provided for their release；
he permitted them to become royal tenants； holding their lands of the king；
and paying an annual tribute of one fifth of the products of their labor。
But the children of Jacob were not under the necessity of making such
conditions。 On account of the service that Joseph had rendered the Egyptian
nation； they were not only granted a part of the country as a home； but were
exempted from taxation； and liberally supplied with food during the
continuance of the famine。 The king publicly acknowledged that it was
through the merciful interposition of the God of Joseph that Egypt enjoyed
plenty while other nations were perishing from famine。 He saw； too； that
Joseph's management had greatly enriched the kingdom； and his gratitude
surrounded the family of Jacob with royal favor。
But as time rolled on； the great man to whom Egypt owed so much； and the
generation blessed by his labors； passed to the grave。 And 〃there arose up a
new king over Egypt； which knew not Joseph。〃 Not that he was ignorant of
Joseph's services to the nation； but he wished to make no recognition of
them； and； so far as possible； to bury them in oblivion。 〃And he said unto
his people； Behold； the people of the children of Israel are more and
mightier than we： come on； let us deal wisely with them； lest they multiply；
and it come to pass； that； when there falleth out any war； they join also
unto our enemies； and fight against us； and so get them up out of the land。〃
The Israelites had already become very numerous； they 〃were fruitful； and
increased abundantly； and multiplied； and waxed
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exceeding mighty； and the land was filled with them。〃 Under Joseph's
fostering care； and the favor of the king who was then ruling； they had
spread rapidly over the land。 But they had kept themselves a distinct race；
having nothing in common with the Egyptians in customs or religion； and
their increasing numbers now excited the fears of the king and his people；
lest in case of war they should join themselves with the enemies of Egypt。
Yet policy forbade their banishment from the country。 Many of them were able
and understanding workmen； and they added greatly to the wealth of the
nation； the king needed such laborers for the erection of his magnificent
palaces and temples。 Accordingly he ranked them with the Egyptians who had
sold themselves with their possessions to the kingdom。 Soon taskmasters were
set over them； and their slavery became complete。 〃And the Egyptians made
the children of Israel to serve with rigor： and they made their lives bitter
with hard bondage； in mortar； and in brick； and in all manner of service in
the field： all their service； wherein they made them serve； was with rigor。〃
〃But the more they afflicted them； the more they multiplied and grew。〃
The king and his counselors had hoped to subdue the Israelites with hard
labor； and thus decrease their numbers and crush out their independent
spirit。 Failing to accomplish their purpose； they proceeded to more cruel
measures。 Orders were issued to the women whose employment gave them
opportunity for executing the command； to destroy the Hebrew male children
at their birth。 Satan was the mover in this matter。 He knew that a deliverer
was to be raised up among the Israelites； and by leading the king to destroy
their children he hoped to defeat the divine purpose。 But the women feared
God； and dared not execute the cruel mandate。 The Lord approved their
course； and prospered them。 The king； angry at the failure of his design；
made the command more urgent and extensive。 The whole nation was called upon
to hunt out and slaughter his helpless victims。 〃And Pharaoh charged all his
people； saying； Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river； and
every daughter ye shall save alive。〃
While this decree was in full force a son was born to Amram and Jochebed；
devout Israelites of the tribe of Levi。 The babe was 〃a goodly child；〃 and
the parents； believing that the time of Israel's release was drawing near；
and that God would raise up a deliverer for His people； determined that
their little one should
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not be sacrificed。 Faith in God strengthened their hearts； 〃and they were
not afraid of the king's commandment。〃 Hebrews 11：23。
The mother succeeded in concealing the child for three months。 Then； finding
that she could no longer keep him safely； she prepared a little ark of
rushes； making it watertight by means of slime and pitch； and laying the
babe therein； she placed it among the flags at the river's brink。 She dared
not remain to guard it； lest the child's life and her own should be
forfeited； but his sister； Miriam； lingered near； apparently indifferent；
but anxiously watching to see what would become of her little brother。 And
there were other watchers。 The mother's earnest prayers had committed her
child to the care of God； and angels； unseen； hovered above his lowly
resting place。 Angels directed Pharaoh's daughter thither。 Her curiosity was
excited by the little basket； and as she looked upon the beautiful child
within； she read the story at a glance。 The tears of the babe awakened her
compassion； and her sympathies went out to the unknown mother who had
resorted to this means to preserve the life of her precious little one。 She
determined that he should be saved； she would adopt him as her own。
Miriam had been secretly noting every movement； perceiving that the child
was tenderly regarded； she ventured nearer； and at last said； 〃Shall I go
and call thee a nurse of the Hebrew women； that she may nurse the child for
thee？〃 And permission was given。
The sister hastened to her mother with the happy news； and without delay
returned with her to the presence of Pharaoh's daughter。 〃Take this chid
away； and nurse it for me； and I will give thee thy wages；〃 said the
princess。
God had heard the mother's prayers； her faith had been rewarded。 It was with
deep gratitude that she entered upon her now safe and happy task。 She
faithfully improved her opportunity to educate her child for God。 She felt
confident that he had been preserved for some great work； and she knew that
he must soon be given up to his royal mother； to be surrounded with
influences that would tend to lead him away from God。 All this rendered her
more diligent and careful in his instruction than in that of her other
children。 She endeavored to imbue his mind with the fear of God and the love
of truth and justice； and earnestly prayed
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that he might be preserved from every corrupting influence。 She showed him
the folly and sin of idolatry； and early taught him to bow down and pray to
the livin
