148
From Eternity Past
Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.”
Hebrews
11:24-26
. Moses was fitted to take pre-eminence among the great of
the earth, to shine in the courts of its most glorious kingdom, and to
sway the scepter of its power. As historian, poet, philosopher, general
of armies, and legislator, he stands without a peer. Yet with the world
before him, he had the moral strength to refuse wealth, greatness, and
fame, “choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God.”
[170]
The magnificent palace of Pharaoh and the throne were held out
as an inducement to Moses; but he knew that the sinful pleasures that
make men forget God were in its lordly courts. He looked beyond
the palace, beyond a monarch’s crown, to the high honors that will be
bestowed on the saints of the Most High in a kingdom untainted by
sin. He saw by faith an imperishable crown that the King of heaven
would place on the brow of the overcomer. This faith led him to join
the humble, poor, despised nation that had chosen to obey God rather
than to serve sin.
Moses remained at court until he was forty. He visited his brethren
in their servitude and encouraged them with the assurance that God
would work for their deliverance. One day, seeing an Egyptian smiting
an Israelite, he sprang forward and slew the Egyptian. Except the
Israelite, there had been no witness to the deed, and Moses immediately
buried the body in the sand. He had now shown himself ready to
maintain the cause of his people, and he hoped to see them rise to
recover their liberty. “He supposed his brethren would have understood
how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood
not.”
Acts 7:25
. They were not yet prepared for freedom.
On the following day Moses saw two Hebrews striving together,
one of them evidently at fault. Moses reproved the offender, who at
once retaliated upon the reprover, denying his right to interfere and
basely accusing him of crime: “Who made thee a prince and a judge
over us?” he said. “Intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the
Egyptian?”
The whole matter soon reached the ears of Pharaoh. It was repre-
sented to the king that this act meant much, that Moses designed to
lead his people against the Egyptians, to overthrow the government,
and to seat himself upon the throne. It was at once determined by the
monarch that he should die, but becoming aware of his danger, Moses
fled toward Arabia.