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Patriarchs and Prophets
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 all who have been chosen to accomplish a work for God the
human element is seen. Yet they have not been men of stereotyped
habits and character, who were satisfied to remain in that condition.
They earnestly desired to obtain wisdom from God and to learn to
work for Him. Says the apostle, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him
ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it
shall be given him.”
James 1:5
. But God will not impart to men divine
light while they are content to remain in darkness. 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; he
must be aroused to earnest and persevering prayer and effort. Wrong
habits and customs must be shaken off; and it is only by determined
endeavor to correct these errors and to conform to right principles that
the victory can be gained. 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. All who are fitted for
usefulness must be trained by the severest mental and moral discipline,
and God will assist them by uniting divine power with human effort.
Shut in by the bulwarks of the mountains, Moses was alone with
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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 over-shadowed 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.
As the years rolled on, and he wandered with his flocks in solitary
places, pondering upon the oppressed condition of his people, he
recounted the dealings of God with his fathers and the promises that