AFTER God had brought Abraham into the land of Canaan, and promised it to him for a possession, he told him that his seed should sojourn in a strange land, and that the people of this strange land should bring them into bondage, “and entreat them evil four hundred years.”
But God did not mean to leave them in this dreadful condition, so “He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant; whose feet they hurt with fetters ... ... until the time that his word came . . . . the king sent and loosed him, and let him go free.
He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance; to bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.”
Now, dear young readers, we have been going over the history of Joseph, and this brief sketch from God’s word will bring it afresh before us. Joseph was sent of God to that strange land; and, through him, his father and brothers and their households all went down to the land of Egypt. It was in this way that Abraham’s seed got into this strange land. You will remember how very kind and good King Pharaoh was to Joseph after he had interpreted his dream for him. and what great power he put in Joseph’s hand.
But Joseph died, and afterward his brothers died, and all that generation passed away— good King Pharaoh along with the rest, for death comes to all; the great and the mighty are just as surely its victims as the lowly and poor.
Although Joseph and his brothers had been taken away, God still caused the children of Israel to multiply, and to grow in power until they became stronger than their enemies; for the Egyptians had now become their enemies. After good King Pharaoh, who did so much for Joseph, was dead, a new king arose who did not know Joseph. It was another Pharaoh, for all the kings of Egypt. at that time, were called Pharaoh. This king saw that the children of Israel were more in numbers, and stronger than the Egyptians were, and he told his people that they ought to deal wisely with them for if war should arise they might join their enemies and fight against them, and put them out of the land. So they put task-masters over them to afflict them. But the more they afflicted the Israelites, the more they multiplied and grew. This grieved the Egyptians and they grew harder and harder on the children of Israel until they made their lives very bitter with hard bondage. They had to work with mortar and brick, and do all manner of service in the field; and this service was made very hard for them. But notwithstanding all this, the children of Israel still multiplied. I think most of my young readers will know so well why this was that I will not need to tell them.
The cruel king next thought of a plan that was very wicked and bad. He told the nurses, who took care of little babes, that they must kill every little boy that was born among the Hebrews, but they should allow the little girls to live. The king no doubt thought he would in this way weaken and destroy the people of whom he was so much afraid. But the nurses feared God and did not do as the king had commanded them. And God blessed these women and made houses for them because they feared Him more than they feared the king of Egypt.
Pharaoh was very angry but could do no hurt to these God-fearing women He tried then another plan. He told all his people that they should cast into the river every son that was born, but every daughter they should save alive.
It was at this time that a little boy was born to a grandson of Levi, who was one of Joseph’s brothers. When the mother of the child saw that he was fair and beautiful, she kept him hid for three months, for she did not want to have him thrown into the river. She and her husband had faith in God and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
But the time came when this devoted mother could no longer hide her darling child. She then gathered some of the rushes that grew on the brink of the river Nile. If you will look on your maps you will see this river which flows through the land of Egypt.
Out of these rushes the mother made a little ark; then she put slime and pitch on the outside of it so the water could not get through.
What tender, yearning thoughts must have filled her bosom as her hands fashioned this strange cradle! When it was ready she placed her dear child in it, then took it and laid it among the flags by the river side. We can only think her heart must have been wrung with sorrow to leave this child of her love in so perilous a place. But her faith was in God and she was sustained of Him.
It is most blessed, dear children, to have faith in God. Have you such faith?
ML 05/11/1902