84
The Story of Redemption
pared a little vessel of bulrushes, making it secure with pitch, that
no water might enter the little ark, and placed it at the edge of the
water, while his sister should be lingering around the water with ap-
parent indifference. She was anxiously watching to see what would
become of her little brother. Angels were also watching, that no
harm should come to the helpless infant, which had been placed
there by an affectionate mother and committed to the care of God
by her earnest prayers mingled with tears.
And these angels directed the footsteps of Pharaoh’s daughter to
the river, near the very spot where lay the innocent little stranger. Her
attention was attracted to the little strange vessel, and she sent one
[107]
of her waiting maids to fetch it to her. And when she had removed
the cover of this singularly constructed little vessel, she saw a lovely
babe, “and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on
him.” She knew that a tender Hebrew mother had taken this singular
means to preserve the life of her much-loved babe, and she decided
at once that it should be her son. The sister of Moses immediately
came forward and inquired, “Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of
the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee? And
Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go.”
Joyfully sped the sister to her mother and related to her the
happy news and conducted her with all haste to Pharaoh’s daughter,
where the child was committed to the mother to nurse, and she was
liberally paid for the bringing up of her own son. Thankfully did this
mother enter upon her now safe and happy task. She believed that
God had preserved his life. Faithfully did she improve the precious
opportunity of educating her son in reference to a life of usefulness.
She was more particular in his instruction than in that of her other
children; for she felt confident that he was preserved for some great
work. By her faithful teachings she instilled into his young mind the
fear of God and love for truthfulness and justice.
She did not rest here in her efforts but earnestly prayed to God for
her son that he might be preserved from every corrupting influence.
She taught him to bow and pray to God, the living God, for He
alone could hear him and help him in any emergency. She sought
to impress his mind with the sinfulness of idolatry. She knew that
he was to be soon separated from her influence and given up to his
adopted royal mother, to be surrounded with influences calculated
[108]