will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence. dred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. After this, Pharaoh, the friend of Joseph died, and a new one arose, who knew not Joseph or his family. Seeing the children of Israel were a mighty company amongst them in Egypt, he said, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, when there falleth out any war, they join unto our enemies, and fight against us, so get them up out of the land. Then they set masters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, in Pithom and Ramases, because the children of Israel multiplied in spite of their affliction. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel; and made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar and bricks, and in all manner of service in the field. But as they still multiplied, Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, every son that is born of the Hebrews ye shall cast into the river, thinking by this means to diminish their number. It came to pass in process of time that this Pharaoh died also and the children of Israel sighed being still in bondage, and they cried unto the Lord; and God heard their groanings, and remembered

So Joseph died, being an hun

his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. At this time Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. Moses led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even Horeb. There an Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush; and the bush burned with fire, but was not consumed, to the astonishment of Moses, who turned to see how it was the bush was not burnt. God noticing his enquiring look called to him out of the bush, saying, Moses, Moses? Who replied, here am I. God said, draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. The Lord said unto him, I have seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows. Mark, dear reader, God had been long watching, and saw their burdens and troubles increasing, and getting heavier; but He did not come to their help until they cried unto Him. Faith in His saving power, and remembrance of His past kindness, at last roused them to cry to Him for help. God loves His people to this day to feel and acknowledge that His saving power is

supreme.

ful of him?

Lord! what is man, that Thou art mind

God said unto Moses, I am come down to deliver my people out of the hand of the Egyptians, to bring them out of that land unto a good land flowing with milk and honey. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayst bring forth My people the children of Israel out of Egypt. Moses said unto God, who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt? But God said, certainly I will be with thee. Moses said unto God, behold when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, the God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say what is his name, what shall I say unto them? This question would imply that Moses was ignorant of God; indeed his replies throughout this first communion with God convince me that his understanding of God's loving power was feeble. God said unto him, I AM THAT I AM. Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done unto you in Egypt; and they will hearken to thy voice and thou shalt

come, thou and the elders of Israel unto the King of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, the Lord God of the Hebrews hath met us and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God. And God said, Pharaoh, the king will not let them go, no, not by a mighty hand. Then I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof; after that he will let you go. And I will give my people favour in the sight of the Egyptians and it shall come to pass that when ye go, ye shall not go empty. And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. And the Lord said unto him, who hath made man's mouth, or who maketh the dumb or deaf, or the blind, or giveth sight, have not I the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. And Moses said, O my Lord, send I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send. Then the Lord's anger was kindled against Moses, and he said, is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also behold he cometh forth to meet thee when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his

E

Who

heart. And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words into his mouth; for I will be with thy mouth and his mouth, and will teach ye what ye shall do. He shall be thy spokesman unto the people and thou shalt be to him instead of God. Meaning I suppose, Moses having received instructions from him, could direct his brother in God's stead. said further, and thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs. See that thou do those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart that he shall not let the people go. And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my first born. And I say unto thee let my son go that he may serve me if thou refuse to let him go, behold I will slay thy son, even thy first born. When Moses and Aaron appeared before Pharaoh for the first time, according to the command of the Lord, saying, thus saith the Lord God of Israel, let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. Pharaoh said, who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to [ let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go. Then the Lord hardened his heart, in order to display before Pharaoh and the Egyptians all his mighty wonders; to show that none but a Supreme powerful Jehovah could alone bring