Moses
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adopted mother, or upon Pharaoh, lest it should be more difficult for
him to remain free to do the will of God.
The splendor and pride displayed at the Egyptian court, and the
flattery he received, could not make him forget his despised brethren
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in slavery. He would not be induced, even with the promise of wearing
the crown of Egypt, to identify himself with the Egyptians, and en-
gage with them in their idolatrous worship. He would not forsake his
oppressed brethren, whom he knew were God’s chosen people. The
king was interested in Moses, and he commanded that he should be
instructed in the worship of the Egyptians. This work was committed
to the priests, who officiated in the idolatrous feasts observed by the
people in honor of their idol gods. But they could not by any threats,
or promises of rewards, prevail upon Moses to engage with them in
their heathenish ceremonies. He was threatened with the loss of the
crown, and that he should be disowned by Pharaoh’s daughter, unless
he renounced his Hebrew faith. But he would not renounce his faith.
He was firm to render homage to no object save God, the maker of the
heavens and of the earth, to whom alone reverence and honor was due.
He even reasoned with the priests and idolatrous worshipers upon their
superstitious ceremonial worship of senseless objects. They could not
answer him. His firmness in this respect was tolerated, because he
was the king’s adopted grandson, and was a universal favorite with the
most influential in the kingdom.
The Lord preserved Moses from being injured by the corrupting
influences around him. The principles of truth, received in his youth
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from God-fearing parents, were never forgotten by him. And when he
most needed to be shielded from the corrupting influences attending a
life at court, then the lessons in his youth bore fruit. The fear of God
was before him. And so strong was his love for his brethren, and so
great was his respect for the Hebrew faith, that he would not conceal
his parentage for the honor of being an heir of the royal family.
When Moses was forty years old “he went out unto his brethren,
and looked on their burdens, and he spied an Egyptian smiting a
Hebrew, one of his brethren. And he looked this way and that way,
and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid
him in the sand. And when he went out the second day, behold, two
men of the Hebrews strove together; and he said to him that did the
wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow? And he said, Who made