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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。
（257）
Chapter 23
The Plagues of Egypt
Aaron； being instructed by angels； went forth to meet his brother； from whom
he had been so long separated； and they met amid the desert solitudes； near
Horeb。 Here they communed together； and Moses told Aaron 〃all the words of
the Lord who had sent him； and all the signs which He had commanded him。〃
Exodus 4：28。 Together they journeyed to Egypt； and having reached the land
of Goshen； they proceeded to assemble the elders of Israel。 Aaron repeated
to them all the dealings of God with Moses； and then the signs which God had
given Moses were shown before the people。 〃The people believed： and when
they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel； and that He had
looked upon their affliction； then they bowed their heads and worshiped。〃
Verse 31。
Moses had been charged also with a message for the king。 The two brothers
entered the palace of the Pharaohs as ambassadors from the King of kings；
and they spoke in His name： 〃Thus saith Jehovah； God of Israel； Let My
people go； that they may hold a feast unto Me in the wilderness。〃
〃Who is Jehovah； that I should obey His voice to let Israel go？〃 demanded
the monarch； 〃I know not Jehovah； neither will I let Israel go。〃
Their answer was； 〃The God of the Hebrews hath met with us： let us go； we
pray thee； three days' journey into the desert； and sacrifice unto the Lord
our God； lest He fall upon us with pestilence； or with the sword。〃
Tidings of them and of the interest they were exciting among the people had
already reached the king。 His anger was kindled。 〃Wherefore do ye； Moses and
Aaron； let ＇hinder＇ the people from their works？〃 he said。 〃Get you unto
your burdens。〃 Already the kingdom had suffered loss by the interference of
these strangers。 At thought of this he added； 〃Behold； the people of the
258
land now are many； and ye make them rest from their burdens。〃
In their bondage the Israelites had to some extent lost the knowledge of
God's law； and they had departed from its precepts。 The Sabbath had been
generally disregarded； and the exactions of their taskmasters made its
observance apparently impossible。 But Moses had shown his people that
obedience to God was the first condition of deliverance； and the efforts
made to restore the observance of the Sabbath had come to the notice of
their oppressors。＇* SEE APPENDIX； NOTE 1。＇
The king； thoroughly roused； suspected the Israelites of a design to revolt
from his service。 Disaffection was the result of idleness； he would see that
no time was left them for dangerous scheming。 And he at once adopted
measures to tighten their bonds and crush out their independent spirit。 The
same day orders were issued that rendered their labor still more cruel and
oppressive。 The most common building material of that country was sun…dried
brick； the walls of the finest edifices were made of this； and then faced
with stone； and the manufacture of brick employed great numbers of the
bondmen。 Cut straw being intermixed with the clay； to hold it together；
large quantities of straw were required for the work； the king now directed
that no more straw be furnished； the laborers must find it for themselves；
while the same amount of brick should be exacted。
This order produced great distress among the Israelites throughout the land。
The Egyptian taskmasters had appointed Hebrew officers to oversee the work
of the people； and these officers were responsible for the labor performed
by those under their charge。 When the requirement of the king was put in
force； the people scattered themselves throughout the land； to gather
stubble instead of straw； but they found it impossible to accomplish the
usual amount of labor。 For this failure the Hebrew officers were cruelly
beaten。
These officers supposed that their oppression came from their taskmasters；
and not from the king himself； and they went to him with their grievances。
Their remonstrance was met by Pharaoh with a taunt： 〃Ye are idle； ye are
idle： therefore ye say； Let us go and do sacrifice to the Lord。〃 They were
ordered back to their work； with the declaration that their burdens were in
no case to be lightened。 Returning； they met Moses and Aaron； and cried out
to them； 〃The Lord look upon you； and judge； because ye have made our savor
to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh； and in the eyes of his servants； to
put a sword in their hand to slay us。〃
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As Moses listened to these reproaches he was greatly distressed。 The
sufferings of the people had been much increased。 All over the land a cry of
despair went up from old and young； and all united in charging upon him the
disastrous change in their condition。 In bitterness of soul he went before
God； with the cry； 〃Lord； wherefore hast Thou so evil entreated this people？
why is it that Thou hast sent me？ For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in
Thy name； he hath done evil to this people； neither hast Thou delivered Thy
people at all。〃 The answer was； 〃Now shalt thou see what I will do to
Pharaoh： for with a strong hand shall he let them go； and with a strong hand
shall he drive them out of his land。〃 Again he was pointed back to the
covenant which God had made with the fathers； and was assured that it would
be fulfilled。
During all the years of servitude in Egypt there had been among the
Israelites some who adhered to the worship of Jehovah。 These were solely
troubled as they saw their children daily witnessing the abominations of the
heathen； and even bowing down to their false gods。 In their distress they
cried unto the Lord for deliverance from the Egyptian yoke； that they might
be freed from the corrupting influence of idolatry。 They did not conceal
their faith； but declared to the Egyptians that the object of their worship
was the Maker of heaven and earth； the only true and living God。 They
rehearsed the evidences of His existence and power； from creation down to
the days of Jacob。 The Egyptians thus had an opportunity to become
acquainted with the religion of the Hebrews； but disdaining to be instructed