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Education
Moses was offered the palace of the Pharaohs and the monarch’s
throne; but the sinful pleasures that make men forget God were in
those lordly courts, and he chose instead the “durable riches and
[69]
righteousness.”
Proverbs 8:18
. Instead of linking himself with the
greatness of Egypt, he chose to bind up his life with God’s purpose.
Instead of giving laws to Egypt, he by divine direction enacted laws
for the world. He became God’s instrument in giving to men those
principles that are the safeguard alike of the home and of society, that
are the cornerstone of the prosperity of nations—principles recognized
today by the world’s greatest men as the foundation of all that is best
in human governments.
The greatness of Egypt is in the dust. Its power and civilization
have passed away. But the work of Moses can never perish. The great
principles of righteousness which he lived to establish are eternal.
Moses’ life of toil and heart-burdening care was irradiated with
the presence of Him who is “the chiefest among ten thousand,” and
the One “altogether lovely.”
Song of Solomon 5:10, 16
. With Christ in
the wilderness wandering, with Christ on the mount of transfiguration,
with Christ in the heavenly courts—his was a life on earth blessing
and blessed, and in heaven honored.
Paul also in his manifold labors was upheld by the sustaining power
of His presence. “I can do all things,” he said, “through Christ which
strengtheneth me.” “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or
peril, or sword? ... Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors
through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death,
nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present,
nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing
(Rotherham’s translation), shall be able to separate us from the love
[70]
of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Philippians 4:13
;
Romans
8:35-39
.
Yet there is a future joy to which Paul looked forward as the recom-
pense of his labors—the same joy for the sake of which Christ endured
the cross and despised the shame—the joy of seeing the fruition of his
work. “What is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?” he wrote to
the Thessalonian converts. “Are not even ye in the presence of our
Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For ye are our glory and joy.”
1
Thessalonians 2:19, 20
.