Chapter 16—Moses
When this cruel decree was in full force, Moses was born. His
mother hid him as long as she could with any safety, and then prepared
a little vessel of bulrushes, making it secure with pitch, that no water
might enter the little ark, and placed it at the edge of the water, while his
sister should be lingering around the water, with apparent indifference.
She was anxiously watching to see what would become of her little
brother. Angels were also watching that no harm should come to the
helpless infant, which had been placed there by an affectionate mother,
and committed to the care of God by her earnest prayers mingled with
tears. And these angels directed the footsteps of Pharaoh’s daughter to
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the river, near the very spot where lay the innocent little stranger. Her
attention was attracted to the little strange vessel, and she sent one of
her waiting-maids to fetch it to her. And when she had removed the
cover of this singularly constructed little vessel, she saw a lovely babe,
“and, behold, the babe wept, and she had compassion on him.” She
knew that a tender Hebrew mother had taken this singular means to
preserve the life of her much loved babe, and she decided at once that it
should be her son. The sister of Moses immediately came forward and
inquired, “Shall I go, and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women,
that she may nurse the child for thee? And Pharaoh’s daughter said to
her, Go.”
Joyfully sped the sister to her mother, and related to her the happy
news, and conducted her with all haste to Pharaoh’s daughter, where
the child was committed to the mother to nurse, and she was liberally
paid for the bringing up of her own son. Thankfully did this mother
enter upon her now safe and happy task. She believed that God had
preserved his life. Faithfully did she improve the precious opportunity
of educating her son in reference to a life of usefulness. She was
more particular in his instruction than in that of her other children;
for she felt confident that he was preserved for some great work. By
her faithful teachings she instilled into his young mind the fear of
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God, and love for truthfulness and justice. She did not rest here in
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