Moses
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Moses returned to his father-in-law and expressed his desire to visit
his brethren in Egypt. Jethro’s consent was given, with his blessing,
“Go in peace.” With his wife and children, Moses set forth on the
journey. He had not dared to make known the object of his mission,
lest they should not be allowed to accompany him. Before reaching
Egypt, however, he himself thought it best for their own safety to send
them back to the home in Midian.
A secret dread of Pharaoh and the Egyptians, whose anger had
been kindled against him forty years before, had rendered Moses still
more reluctant to return to Egypt; but after he had set out to obey the
divine command, the Lord revealed to him that his enemies were dead.
On the way from Midian, Moses received a startling and terrible
warning of the Lord’s displeasure. An angel appeared to him in a
threatening manner, as if he would immediately destroy him. No
explanation was given; but Moses remembered that he had disregarded
one of God’s requirements; yielding to the persuasion of his wife, he
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had neglected to perform the rite of circumcision upon their youngest
son. He had failed to comply with the condition by which his child
could be entitled to the blessings of God’s covenant with Israel; and
such a neglect on the part of their chosen leader could not but lessen
the force of the divine precepts upon the people. Zipporah, fearing
that her husband would be slain, performed the rite herself, and the
angel then permitted Moses to pursue his journey. In his mission to
Pharaoh, Moses was to be placed in a position of great peril; his life
could be preserved only through the protection of holy angels. But
while living in neglect of a known duty, he would not be secure; for he
could not be shielded by the angels of God.
In the time of trouble just before the coming of Christ, the righteous
will be preserved through the ministration of heavenly angels; but there
will be no security for the transgressor of God’s law. Angels cannot
then protect those who are disregarding one of the divine precepts.
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