Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/172

 be  the  child  of  the  Most  High  King. “Behold, what  manner  of love  the  Father  hath  bestowed  on  us”  (1  John  3,  1). You are, therefore, another  Moses. Serve God,  then,  as  faithfully  as  Moses served Him.

OSES was  reared  at  the  court  of  Pharao,  and  instructed in all  the  learning  of  Egypt. But when  he  was  grown up and  saw  the  misery  of  his  people,  the  Hebrews,  he  resolved to help  them. For he  would  rather  be  afflicted  and  despised with the  people  of  God,  than  live  in  the  palace  of  a wicked  king. He left the  splendour  of  the  court,  and  openly  declared  himself a friend of  the  Israelites. He even  slew  an  Egyptian  when  he saw  him  illtreating  a Hebrew.

The king,  hearing  this,  sought  to  kill  him;  but  Moses  fled to the  land  of  Madian. On his  way  he  sat  down  by  a well, and behold,  the  seven  daughters  of  Jethro,  a priest,  came  to  draw water for  their  flocks. But when  the  sheep  stood  near  the  troughs, some shepherds  rushed  in  and  rudely  drove  away  the  flocks. Thereupon Moses  arose,  defended  the  maidens,  and  watered their sheep.

Then the  sisters  went  home,  and  their  father  asked:  “Why have ye  returned  sooner  than  usual?”  They  answered:  “A  man of Egypt  drove  away  the  shepherds,  and  gave  our  sheep  to  drink.” Jethro asked  again:  “Where  is  he? Call him  that  he  may  eat bread.” So  Moses  entered  the  house  and  swore  to  dwell  with Jethro to  keep  his  sheep,  and  remained  for  forty  years,  and married Sephora,  one  of  the  daughters  of  Jethro.