6月28日安息日下午
记忆经文：
“过了些日子，埃及王死了。以色列人因所受的苦就叹息哀哭，他们的哀声上达于神。神听见他们的哀声，就记念他与亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各所立的约。神看顾以色列人，怜悯他们。” KJV——出埃及记 2:23-25
“And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.” KJV — Exodus 2:23-25
埃及人民为了在饥荒期间获得粮食，将牲畜和土地卖给了王室，最终被迫永久沦为农奴。约瑟明智地为他们提供了释放；他允许他们成为王室佃户，将土地归国王所有，并每年将劳动成果的五分之一上缴。PP 241.1
但雅各的子孙无需提出这样的条件。由于约瑟对埃及民族的贡献，他们不仅被赐予一部分土地作为家园，而且还免除了赋税，并在饥荒持续期间获得丰厚的粮食供应。国王公开承认，正是由于约瑟的上帝仁慈的干预，埃及才得以在其他国家因饥荒而灭亡的同时享受丰裕。他也看到约瑟的经营之道极大地丰富了国家，他感激不尽，并赐予雅各一家以王室的恩宠。PP 241.2
“The people of Egypt, in order to supply themselves with food during the famine, had sold to the crown their cattle and lands, and had finally bound themselves to perpetual serfdom. Joseph wisely provided for their release; he permitted them to become royal tenants, holding their lands of the king, and paying an annual tribute of one fifth of the products of their labor. PP 241.1
“But the children of Jacob were not under the necessity of making such conditions. On account of the service that Joseph had rendered the Egyptian nation, they were not only granted a part of the country as a home, but were exempted from taxation, and liberally supplied with food during the continuance of the famine. The king publicly acknowledged that it was through the merciful interposition of the God of Joseph that Egypt enjoyed plenty while other nations were perishing from famine. He saw, too, that Joseph's management had greatly enriched the kingdom, and his gratitude surrounded the family of Jacob with royal favor.” PP 241.2
6月29日星期日
埃及的上帝子民
阅读出埃及记1:1-7。这里揭示了什么关键的真理？
Read Exodus 1:1-7. What crucial truth is found here?
但随着时间的流逝，这位曾使埃及受益匪浅的伟人，以及因他的劳作而蒙福的一代人，都去世了。于是“有一位不认识约瑟的新王兴起，统治埃及”。他并非不知道约瑟对国家的功绩，而是他不愿承认这些功绩，并尽可能地将他们埋葬在遗忘之中。“他对他的人民说：‘看哪，以色列人的族比我们又多又强盛。来吧，我们不如用巧计待他们，恐怕他们增多，及至发生战争，他们就联合我们的仇敌，攻击我们，离开这地。’” PP 241.3
“But as time rolled on, the great man to whom Egypt owed so much, and the generation blessed by his labors, passed to the grave. And “there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.” Not that he was ignorant of Joseph's services to the nation, but he wished to make no recognition of them, and, so far as possible, to bury them in oblivion. ‘And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.’” PP 241.3
阅读出埃及记1:8-11。以色列人出埃及时的境况如何？
Read Exodus 1:8-11. What was the situation of the Israelites at the time of the Exodus?
“以色列人已经变得非常多；他们生养众多，极其繁衍增多，极其强盛，遍满了那地。”在约瑟的悉心照料和当时在位国王的恩宠下，他们迅速遍布全国。但他们始终保持着独特的族群特征，在习俗和宗教上与埃及人毫无共同之处；他们日益增长的人口数量令国王及其人民感到恐惧，唯恐一旦爆发战争，他们会与埃及的敌人联合。然而，政策却禁止将他们驱逐出境。他们中许多人都是能干又懂事的工匠，大大增加了国家的财富；国王需要这样的工人来建造他宏伟的宫殿和庙宇。因此，他将他们与那些把自己和财产卖给埃及王国的埃及人并列。不久，他们就被派去督工，彻底沦为奴隶。“埃及人严严地使以色列人服苦役，使他们的生活苦不堪言，无论是做泥、做砖，还是做田间各种劳役，都极其严酷。”“但他们越是苦待他们，他们就越是被奴役。”它们越繁殖，生长得就越多。”” PP 241.4
“The Israelites had already become very numerous; they “were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.” Under Joseph's fostering care, and the favor of the king who was then ruling, they had spread rapidly over the land. But they had kept themselves a distinct race, having nothing in common with the Egyptians in customs or religion; and their increasing numbers now excited the fears of the king and his people, lest in case of war they should join themselves with the enemies of Egypt. Yet policy forbade their banishment from the country. Many of them were able and understanding workmen, and they added greatly to the wealth of the nation; the king needed such laborers for the erection of his magnificent palaces and temples. Accordingly he ranked them with the Egyptians who had sold themselves with their possessions to the kingdom. Soon taskmasters were set over them, and their slavery became complete. ‘And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor: and they made their lives bitter 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.’” PP 241.4
6月30日星期一
历史背景
约瑟在埃及经历了如此艰难的开端后，他为什么能取得惊人的成功？（创世记 37:26-28 和 39:2, 21）
What was the key to Joseph’s amazing success in Egypt after such a rough start? (Gen. 37:26-28 and Gen. 39:2, 21)
以色列人进入埃及之前的几年，上帝出于祂的旨意（创世记 45:5）感动雅各，让他为他的小儿子约瑟做了一件彩衣。这种看似偏心的行为，加上约瑟的梦和他父亲对梦的解释（创世记 37:10），激起了雅各兄弟的嫉妒，他们把他卖为奴隶，带到埃及，以防止约瑟在影响力或地位上取代他们。然而，在埃及，耶和华按祂自己的时间，将雅各立为王国的第二个王位，然后带来了丰年和饥荒年，以此将雅各全家迁往埃及。
约瑟的兄弟们拼命想要除掉他，以免受他统治，结果却（借着激发上帝时刻关注的潜力）把他高举到埃及的统治宝座上，而他们自己则屈辱地拜倒在他的脚下。这明显地表明，凡试图破坏上帝旨意的人，最终只会破坏自己的旨意，增进上帝的旨意。
约瑟一生中所遭遇的苦难，其实是为他好，使他成为解梦者、君王，以及无疑世上最伟大的经济学家。上帝观察到约瑟所做的一切都如同亲手做的一样，而且，他始终坚信上帝是他的主宰，没有什么能够瞒过上帝。正是这种信念使约瑟明白，无论人们对他做了什么，说了什么，只有上帝才能掌管他的人生。因此，在顺境和名望中，约瑟始终保持忠诚正直；在逆境中，约瑟没有浪费时间将自己的困境归咎于他人。相反，他努力让自己的行为举止，甚至能得到王室的认可，因为如果他不是个高尚的人，以实玛利人恐怕很难把他卖给波提乏。
“约瑟住在他主人埃及人的家中，耶和华与他同在，他就百事顺利。他主人见耶和华与他同在，又见耶和华使他手里所办的尽都顺利。约瑟就在主人眼前蒙恩，服事主人，主人派他管理家务，把一切所有的都交在他手里……约瑟为人俊美，蒙恩惠。”（创世记 39:2-4, 6）然而，他的命运再次遭遇了他无法控制的逆境，他被关进了监狱，在那里，他优秀的品格和忠诚再次为他赢得了自由，而且，他还被提升到了国家的最高职位。
Years before Israel went into Egypt, God in His providence (Gen. 45:5) influenced Jacob to make a coat of many colors for his youngest son, Joseph. This seeming partiality, along with Joseph's dream and his father's interpretation of it (Gen. 37:10), provoked the jealous brothers to sell him as a slave, to be carried away into Egypt so as to prevent his supplanting them in influence or position. But there in Egypt the Lord in His own time raised him to the second throne of the realm, then brought the years of plenty, also the years of famine, as the means to remove the whole household of Jacob into Egypt.
In their desperate endeavor to be rid of Joseph so as to avoid being ruled by him, his brethren succeeded only (by stirring up the ever-attentive potential of Providence) in exalting him to the administrative throne of Egypt, and in bringing themselves down in humiliation at his feet. Here is marked evidence that he who attempts to defeat God's purposes succeeds only in defeating his own and in promoting God's.
The troubles which came to Joseph in his life were actually for his good and prepared him to become an interpreter of dreams, a king, and doubtless the greatest economist the world has ever seen. God had observed that Joseph did everything as if it were his very own, and, moreover, he was constantly sensible to the fact that God was his Master and that nothing could be hidden from Him. It was this conviction that caused Joseph to understand that regardless what men did to him or said about him, God alone had charge of his life. Therefore, in prosperity and fame Joseph maintained his loyalty and integrity; and in adversity Joseph did not waste his time ascribing to others the cause of his troubles. Instead, he set about to behave in a way that would commend himself even to royalty, for it is not likely that the Ishmaelites would have been able to sell him to Potiphar had he not been a superior person. --{12SC4 5.2}
"And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.... And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured." Gen. 39:2-4, 6. But again it was his lot to suffer reversals over which he had no control, and he landed in prison where his excellent personality and faithfulness once again won him his freedom, and, moreover, he was promoted to the highest position of the land.
7 月 1 日星期二
希伯来助产士
阅读出埃及记1:9-21。忠心的收生婆扮演了什么关键角色？为什么她们被历史铭记？
Read Exodus 1:9-21. What key role did the faithful midwives play, and why are they remembered in history?
国王和他的谋士们原想用苦役制服以色列人，从而减少他们的人口，扼杀他们的独立精神。由于未能如愿，他们便采取了更为残酷的手段。他们命令那些因工作而有机会执行命令的妇女，在希伯来男孩出生时就将其杀死。撒但正是这事的幕后黑手。他知道以色列人中将要兴起一位拯救者；他希望通过引诱国王杀死他们的婴儿来挫败上帝的旨意。但妇女们敬畏上帝，不敢执行这残酷的命令。主悦纳了她们的做法，使她们兴旺发达。国王因计划失败而勃然大怒，便下达了更为紧急和广泛的命令。他号召全国人民搜捕并屠杀那些无助的受害者。“法老吩咐他的众民说：‘凡以色列人所生的男孩，你们都要丢在河里；一切女孩，你们要存留她的性命。’” PP 242.1
“但收生婆敬畏上帝，不遵埃及王的吩咐，竟存留男孩的性命。”出埃及记 1:17……“一个名叫施弗拉，一个名叫普阿。”第 15 节。这两个名字的意思是：“美丽”和“辉煌”。的确如此。两个收生婆不可能同时侍奉这么多妇女，但事实上，只有两个……
法老吩咐他的众民说：“以色列人所生的男孩，你们都要丢在河里；一切女孩，你们要存留她的性命。” 出埃及记 1:20, 22 法老计划的主要目的并非减少以色列人的数量。如果这是他的目的，他就应该杀死女性，因为当时以色列人实行一夫多妻制。如果他下令将女孩丢在河里，留下男孩，他就能达到目的，还能增加他的奴隶数量，因为砖是男人做的。我们在《先祖与先知》第242页读到：“撒但就是这件事的幕后黑手。他知道以色列人中将要兴起一位拯救者；于是他引导国王毁灭他们的儿女，希望以此挫败上帝的旨意。”
“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.’” PP 242.1
“But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.” Exodus 1:17…“The name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah.” Verse 15. The meaning of these names are: “Beauty” and “splendor.” Indeed it is. It would have been impossible for two midwives to wait on the great multitude of women, but the fact is, that there were only two…
Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.” Exodus 1:20, 22. The chief object of Pharaoh’s scheme was not to reduce the people in number. Had this been his aim, he should have killed the female, for in those days they practiced polygamy. Had he given an order to cast the female children in the river, and save the males, he could have accomplished his purpose, and also added to his slaves for it was the men who produced the bricks. We read in Patriarchs and Prophets, page 242: “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.”
7月2日星期三
摩西出生
阅读出埃及记2:1-10。上帝的护理和保护在摩西的诞生故事中扮演了什么角色？
Read Exodus 2:1-10. What role did God’s providence and protection play in Moses’ birth story?
正当这道旨意生效之际，利未支派虔诚的以色列人暗兰和约基别生了一个儿子。这孩子“俊美无比”。他们的父母相信以色列获得解放的日子近了，上帝必兴起一位拯救者来拯救祂的子民，所以决意不牺牲他们的孩子。他们对上帝的信心坚固了他们的心，“他们不怕王命。”（希伯来书11:23）PP 242.2
母亲成功地将孩子藏了三个月。后来，她发现自己再也无法安全地保管他了，便用蒲草编了一个小方舟，用石漆和沥青涂成不漏水的方舟，把婴儿放在里面，然后把方舟安放在河边的石板堆里。她不敢留下来看守方舟，唯恐孩子和她自己的性命都会葬身海底；但孩子的姐姐米里暗却在附近徘徊，表面上漠不关心，实则焦急地注视着弟弟的下落。还有其他人在注视着。母亲恳切的祈祷已将她的孩子托付给上帝照顾；隐形的天使在他简陋的安息之所上方盘旋。天使指引法老的女儿去了那里。小方舟激起了她的好奇心，当她看到里面美丽的婴儿时，她一眼就读懂了故事。婴儿的眼泪唤起了她的怜悯，她对这位求助于他的陌生母亲表达了同情。这样做是为了保全她宝贝儿子的生命。她决心要救他；她要收养他为自己的孩子。PP 243.1
米里暗一直暗暗地注意着孩子的一举一动；她见孩子正受到温柔的照料，便走近她，最后说道：“我去为你从希伯来妇人中叫一个奶妈来，为你奶这孩子，可以吗？”她便答应了。PP 243.2
“姐姐赶紧把这喜讯告诉了母亲，她立刻就带着母亲回到了法老的女儿面前。公主说：“把这孩子抱走，替我奶他，我就给你工钱。” PP 243.3
上帝垂听了母亲的祷告；她的信心得到了奖赏。她怀着深深的感激之情，开始了如今安全快乐的工作。她忠心耿耿地利用机会，为上帝教育她的孩子。她确信他已被保守，将要完成一项伟大的工作，也知道他很快就要被交给他的母亲，让他被各种可能使他远离上帝的影响所包围。这一切使她在教育他方面比教育其他孩子时更加勤勉细心。她努力使他的心灵充满对上帝的敬畏、对真理和正义的热爱，并恳切地祷告，求上帝保守他免受一切败坏的影响。她向他指出偶像崇拜的愚昧和罪恶，并从小就教导他俯伏向永生上帝祷告，唯有祂能垂听他的祷告，并在任何危难时刻帮助他。 PP 243.4
“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 not be sacrificed. Faith in God strengthened their hearts, “and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.” Hebrews 11:23. PP 242.2
“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. PP 243.1
“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. PP 243.2
“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 child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages,” said the princess. PP 243.3
“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 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.” PP 243.4
7月3日星期四
计划有变
阅读出埃及记2:11-25。哪些事件迅速发生，彻底改变了摩西的人生方向？我们可以从这个故事中学到什么教训？
Read Exodus 2:11-25. What events quickly transpired to change the entire direction of Moses’ life? What lessons can we learn from this story?
他（摩西）在法老的宫廷中长大，接受了当时世界上最高的教育。他明白自己是将弟兄从埃及奴役中解救出来的人，并自认为完全有能力胜任这项工作……尽管当时还没有得到命令，他还是出发去解救他们。他杀死了一个埃及人，又与一个希伯来人发生争执，然后逃命。就这样，他在米甸找到了一份工作，成为了一名牧羊人，并娶了雇主的女儿。在四十年的牧羊生涯中，他忘记了埃及语言，也忘记了埃及的学问。然而，他学会了如何更好地照料羊群。因此，他打消了将上帝的子民从埃及奴役中解救出来的念头。后来，上帝见他刚强能干，便吩咐他返回埃及，将他呻吟呻吟的子民从那里解救出来。
摩西击杀埃及人，犯了祖先们常犯的错误，将上帝应许要成就的事工揽在自己手中。上帝的旨意并非像摩西所想的那样，要用战争来拯救祂的子民，而是要靠祂自己大能的能力，好将荣耀归于祂一人。然而，即使是这种鲁莽的举动，上帝也为了成就祂的旨意而制止了。摩西还没有为他的伟大事工做好准备。他还没有学会亚伯拉罕和雅各所学到的信心功课——不要倚靠人的力量或智慧，而要倚靠上帝的能力来实现祂的应许。此外，在孤寂的山间，摩西还要接受其他的功课。在克己和苦难的磨练中，他要学习忍耐，克制自己的情绪。在他能够明智地治理国家之前，他必须先学会顺服。他必须先与上帝完全合一，才能将上帝的旨意教导以色列人。他必须通过自身的经验，准备好像父亲一样关怀所有需要帮助的人。他的帮助。PP 247.3
人类本会认为那漫长的辛劳和默默无闻是极大的浪费，而不愿接受。但无限智慧的上帝呼召那位即将成为他子民领袖的人，用四十年的时间从事卑微的牧羊工作。由此养成的照顾羊群、忘我和温柔关怀的习惯，将使他成为以色列慈悲忍耐的牧人。任何人类的训练或文化所能赋予的优势都无法取代这种经验。PP 247.4
Reared in the courts of Pharaoh, he [Moses] received the highest education the world then offered. And having understood that he was the one to free his brethren from Egyptian bondage, he felt quite capable for the job…He started out to deliver them although he was not yet told to do so. He killed an Egyptian, fell into a quarrel with one of the Hebrews, and then fled for his life. So it was that in Midian he obtained a job, became a shepherd, and married his employer’s daughter. During those forty years of shepherd’s life, he forgot the Egyptian language, and with it the Egyptian learning. In its place, though, he learned to tend well to sheep. He therefore dismissed from his mind the idea of ever delivering the people of God from their Egyptian bondage. Then it was that God saw him strong and well able and commanded him to go back to Egypt and to bring out of it His groaning people.
“In slaying the Egyptian, Moses had fallen into the same error so often committed by his fathers, of taking into their own hands the work that God had promised to do. It was not God's will to deliver His people by warfare, as Moses thought, but by His own mighty power, that the glory might be ascribed to Him alone. Yet even this rash act was overruled by God to accomplish His purposes. Moses was not prepared for his great work. He had yet to learn the same lesson of faith that Abraham and Jacob had been taught—not to rely upon human strength or wisdom, but upon the power of God for the fulfillment of His promises. And there were other lessons that, amid the solitude of the mountains, Moses was to receive. In the school of self-denial and hardship he was to learn patience, to temper his passions. Before he could govern wisely, he must be trained to obey. His own heart must be fully in harmony with God before he could teach the knowledge of His will to Israel. By his own experience he must be prepared to exercise a fatherly care over all who needed his help. PP 247.3
“Man would have dispensed with that long period of toil and obscurity, deeming it a great loss of time. But Infinite Wisdom called him who was to become the leader of his people to spend forty years in the humble work of a shepherd. The habits of caretaking, of self-forgetfulness and tender solicitude for his flock, thus developed, would prepare him to become the compassionate, longsuffering shepherd of Israel. No advantage that human training or culture could bestow, could be a substitute for this experience.” PP 247.4
7月4日星期五
进一步思考
在法老的宫廷里，摩西接受了最高级别的民事和军事训练。法老决心立他的义孙为王位继承人，因此这少年人接受了高位所需的教育。“摩西学了埃及人一切的学问，说话行事都有才能。”（使徒行传7:22）他作为军事领袖的才能使他深受埃及军队的喜爱，一般人也认为他是一位杰出的人物。撒但的阴谋失败了。上帝曾否决了那判处希伯来儿童死刑的法令，为要训练和教育他子民未来的领袖。PP 245.1
“以色列的长老们蒙天使指示，他们得救的时候近了，而摩西正是上帝所要差遣来完成这工的人。天使也指示摩西，耶和华已拣选他来解除他子民的奴役。他以为他们要用武力获得自由，便要率领希伯来大军攻打埃及的军队。为此，他谨守自己的感情，唯恐因依恋他的养母或法老，以致不能自由地遵行上帝的旨意。” PP 245.2
“摩西因着信，长大了就不肯称为法老女儿之子。他宁可和神的百姓同受苦害，也不愿暂时享受罪中之乐。他看为基督受的凌辱比埃及的财物更宝贵，因他想望所要得的赏赐。” 希伯来书11:24-26。摩西本应在世上伟人中居于首位，在至荣国度的宫廷中发光发热，并掌管国度的权杖。他卓越的智慧使他超越历代伟人。作为历史学家、诗人、哲学家、军队统帅和立法者，他无与伦比。然而，面对眼前的世界，他拥有道德的力量，拒绝财富、权势和名望带来的诱惑，“他宁可和神的百姓同受苦害，也不愿暂时享受罪中之乐。”季节。”” PP 245.4
“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. PP 245.1
“The elders of Israel were taught by angels that the time for their deliverance was near, and that Moses was the man whom God would employ to accomplish this work. Angels instructed Moses also that Jehovah had chosen him to break the bondage of His people. He, supposing that they were to obtain their freedom by force of arms, expected to lead the Hebrew host against the armies of Egypt, and having this in view, he guarded his affections, lest in his attachment to his foster mother or to Pharaoh he would not be free to do the will of God.” PP 245.2
“‘By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.’ Hebrews 11:24-26. Moses was fitted to take pre-eminence among the great of the earth, to shine in the courts of its most glorious kingdom, and to sway the scepter of its power. His intellectual greatness distinguishes him above the great men of all ages. As historian, poet, philosopher, general of armies, and legislator, he stands without a peer. Yet with the world before him, he had the moral strength to refuse the flattering prospects of wealth and greatness and fame, ‘choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.’” PP 245.4