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Learning and Unlearning, March 21
Exodus 2:15-3:1
The Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and
understanding.
Proverbs 2:6
.
In the wilds of Midian, Moses spent forty years as a keeper of sheep. Ap-
parently cut off forever from his life’s mission, he was receiving the discipline
essential for its fulfillment
Moses had been learning much that he must unlearn. The influences that
had surrounded him in Egypt—the love of his foster mother, his own high
position as the king’s grandson, the dissipation on every hand, the refinement,
the subtlety, and the mysticism of a false religion, the splendor of idolatrous
worship, the solemn grandeur of architecture and sculpture—all had left deep
impressions upon his developing mind and had molded, to some extent, his
habits and character. Time, change of surroundings, and communion with God
could remove these impressions. It would require on the part of Moses himself
a struggle as for life to renounce error and accept truth, but God would be his
helper when the conflict should be too severe for human strength....
In order to receive God’s help, man must realize his weakness and deficiency;
he must apply his own mind to the great change to be wrought in himself....
Many never attain to the position that they might occupy, because they wait for
God to do for them that which He has given them power to do for themselves....
Shut in by the bulwarks of the mountains, Moses was alone with God.
The magnificent temples of Egypt no longer impressed his mind with their
superstition and falsehood. In the solemn grandeur of the everlasting hills he
beheld the majesty of the Most High, and in contrast realized how powerless
and insignificant were the gods of Egypt. Everywhere the Creator’s name was
written. Moses seemed to stand in His presence and to be overshadowed by
His power. Here his pride and self-sufficiency were swept away. In the stern
simplicity of his wilderness life, the results of the ease and luxury of Egypt
disappeared. Moses became patient, reverent, and humble, “very meek, above
all the men which were upon the face of the earth” (
Numbers 12:3
), yet strong
in faith in the mighty God of Jacob
[87]
32
Education, 62
.
33
Patriarchs and Prophets, 248-251
.
88