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with hard bondage； in mortar； and in brick； and in all manner of service in
the field： all their service； wherein they made them serve； was with rigor。〃
〃But the more they afflicted them； the more they multiplied and grew。〃
The king and his counselors had hoped to subdue the Israelites with hard
labor； and thus decrease their numbers and crush out their independent
spirit。 Failing to accomplish their purpose； they proceeded to more cruel
measures。 Orders were issued to the women whose employment gave them
opportunity for executing the command； to destroy the Hebrew male children
at their birth。 Satan was the mover in this matter。 He knew that a deliverer
was to be raised up among the Israelites； and by leading the king to destroy
their children he hoped to defeat the divine purpose。 But the women feared
God； and dared not execute the cruel mandate。 The Lord approved their
course； and prospered them。 The king； angry at the failure of his design；
made the command more urgent and extensive。 The whole nation was called upon
to hunt out and slaughter his helpless victims。 〃And Pharaoh charged all his
people； saying； Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river； and
every daughter ye shall save alive。〃
While this decree was in full force a son was born to Amram and Jochebed；
devout Israelites of the tribe of Levi。 The babe was 〃a goodly child；〃 and
the parents； believing that the time of Israel's release was drawing near；
and that God would raise up a deliverer for His people； determined that
their little one should
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not be sacrificed。 Faith in God strengthened their hearts； 〃and they were
not afraid of the king's commandment。〃 Hebrews 11：23。
The mother succeeded in concealing the child for three months。 Then； finding
that she could no longer keep him safely； she prepared a little ark of
rushes； making it watertight by means of slime and pitch； and laying the
babe therein； she placed it among the flags at the river's brink。 She dared
not remain to guard it； lest the child's life and her own should be
forfeited； but his sister； Miriam； lingered near； apparently indifferent；
but anxiously watching to see what would become of her little brother。 And
there were other watchers。 The mother's earnest prayers had committed her
child to the care of God； and angels； unseen； hovered above his lowly
resting place。 Angels directed Pharaoh's daughter thither。 Her curiosity was
excited by the little basket； and as she looked upon the beautiful child
within； she read the story at a glance。 The tears of the babe awakened her
compassion； and her sympathies went out to the unknown mother who had
resorted to this means to preserve the life of her precious little one。 She
determined that he should be saved； she would adopt him as her own。
Miriam had been secretly noting every movement； perceiving that the child
was tenderly regarded； she ventured nearer； and at last said； 〃Shall I go
and call thee a nurse of the Hebrew women； that she may nurse the child for
thee？〃 And permission was given。
The sister hastened to her mother with the happy news； and without delay
returned with her to the presence of Pharaoh's daughter。 〃Take this chid
away； and nurse it for me； and I will give thee thy wages；〃 said the
princess。
God had heard the mother's prayers； her faith had been rewarded。 It was with
deep gratitude that she entered upon her now safe and happy task。 She
faithfully improved her opportunity to educate her child for God。 She felt
confident that he had been preserved for some great work； and she knew that
he must soon be given up to his royal mother； to be surrounded with
influences that would tend to lead him away from God。 All this rendered her
more diligent and careful in his instruction than in that of her other
children。 She endeavored to imbue his mind with the fear of God and the love
of truth and justice； and earnestly prayed
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that he might be preserved from every corrupting influence。 She showed him
the folly and sin of idolatry； and early taught him to bow down and pray to
the living God； who alone could hear him and help him in every emergency。
She kept the boy as long as she could； but was obliged to give him up when
he was about twelve years old。 From his humble cabin home he was taken to
the royal palace； to the daughter of Pharaoh； 〃and he became her son。〃 Yet
even here he did not lose the impressions received in childhood。 The lessons
learned at his mother's side could not be forgotten。 They were a shield from
the pride； the infidelity； and the vice that flourished amid the splendor of
the court。
How far…reaching in its results was the influence of that one Hebrew woman；
and she an exile and a slave！ The whole future life of Moses； the great
mission which he fulfilled as the leader of Israel； testifies to the
importance of the work of the Christian mother。 There is no other work that
can equal this。 To a very great extent the mother holds in her own hands the
destiny of her children。 She is dealing with developing minds and
characters； working not alone for time； but for eternity。 She is sowing seed
that will spring up and bear fruit； either for good or for evil。 She has not
to paint a form of beauty upon canvas or to chisel it from marble； but to
impress upon a human soul the image of the divine。 Especially during their
early years the responsibility rests upon her of forming the character of
her children。 The impressions now made upon their developing minds will
remain with them all through life。 Parents should direct the instruction and
training of their children while very young； to the end that they may be
Christians。 They are placed in our care to be trained； not as heirs to the
throne of an earthly empire； but as kings unto God； to reign through
unending ages。
Let every mother feel that her moments are priceless； her work will be
tested in the solemn day of accounts。 Then it will be found that many of the
failures and crimes of men and women have resulted from the ignorance and
neglect of those whose duty it was to guide their childish feet in the right
way。 Then it will be found that many who have blessed the world with the
light of genius and truth and holiness； owe the principles that were the
mainspring of their influence and success to a praying； Christian mother。
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At the court of Pharaoh； Moses received the highest civil and military
training。 The monarch had determined to make his adopted grandson his
successor on the throne； and the youth was educated for his high station。
〃And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians； and was mighty in
words and in deeds。〃 Acts 7：22。 His ability as a military leader made him a
favorite with the armies of Egypt； and he was generally regarded as a
remarkable character。 Satan had been defeated in his purpose。 The very
decree condemning the Hebrew children to death had been overruled by God for
the training and education of the future leader of His people。
The elders of Israel were taught by angels t