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Fundamentals of Christian Education
Moses supposed that his education in the wisdom of Egypt had
fully qualified him to lead Israel from bondage. Was he not learned
in all the things necessary for a general of armies? Had he not had
the greatest advantages of the best schools in the land?—Yes; he felt
that he was able to deliver them. He first set about his work by trying
to gain the favor of his own people by redressing their wrongs. He
killed an Egyptian who was imposing upon one of his brethren. In
this he manifested the spirit of him who was a murderer from the
beginning, and proved himself unfit to represent the God of mercy,
love, and tenderness. He made a miserable failure of his first attempt.
Like many another, he then immediately lost his confidence in God,
and turned his back upon his appointed work; he fled from the wrath
of Pharaoh. He concluded that because of his mistake, his great sin in
taking the life of the cruel Egyptian, God would not permit him to have
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any part in the work of delivering His people from their cruel bondage.
But the Lord permitted these things that He might be able to teach
him the gentleness, goodness, long-suffering, which it is necessary for
every laborer for the Master to possess; for it is these characteristics
that constitute the successful workman in the Lord’s cause.
A knowledge of the attributes of the character of Christ Jesus
cannot be obtained by means of the highest education in the most
scientific schools. This wisdom is learned from the great Teacher alone.
The lessons of Christlike meekness, lowliness of heart, reverence for
sacred things, are taught nowhere effectively except in the school of
Christ. Moses had been taught to expect flattery and praise because
of his superior abilities; but now he was to learn a different lesson.
As a shepherd of sheep, Moses was taught to care for the afflicted,
to nurse the sick, to seek patiently after the straying, to bear long
with the unruly, to supply with loving solicitude the wants of the
young lambs and the necessities of the old and feeble. As these phases
of his character were developed, he was drawn nearer to his Chief
Shepherd. He became united to, submerged in, the Holy One of Israel.
He believed in the great God. He held communion with the Father
through humble prayer. He looked to the Highest for an education in
spiritual things, and for a knowledge of his duty as a faithful shepherd.
His life became so closely linked with heaven that God talked with
him face to face.