THE CHOICE OF MOSES._

ii. 11-15.

God works even His miracles by means. As He fed the multitude with
barley-loaves, so He would emancipate Israel by human agency. It was
therefore necessary to educate one of the trampled race "in all the
learning of Egypt," and Moses was planted in the court of Pharaoh, like
the German Arminius in Rome. Wonderful legends may be read in Josephus
of his heroism, his wisdom, and his victories; and these have some
foundation in reality, for Stephen tells us that he was mighty in his
words and works. Might in words need not mean the fluent utterance which
he so earnestly disclaimed (iv. 10), even if forty years' disuse of the
language were not enough to explain his later diffidence. It may have
meant such power of composition as appears in the hymn by the Red Sea,
and in the magnificent valediction to his people.

The point is that among a nation originally pastoral, and now sinking
fast into the degraded animalism of slaves, which afterwards betrayed
itself in their complaining greed, their sighs for the generous Egyptian
dietary, and their impure carouse under the mountain, one man should
possess the culture and mental grasp needed by a leader and lawgiver.
"Could not the grace of God have supplied the place of endowment and
attainment?" Yes, truly; and it was quite as likely to do this for one
who came down from His immediate presence with his face intolerably
bright, as for the last impudent enthusiast who declaims against the
need of education in sentences which at least prove that for him the
want has by no substitute been completely met. But the grace of God
chose to give the qualification, rather than replace it, alike to Moses
and St. Paul. Nor is there any conspicuous example among the saints of a
man being thrust into a rank for which he was not previously made fit.

The painful contrast between his own refined tastes and habits, and the
coarser manners of his nation, was no doubt one difficulty of the choice
of Moses, and a lifelong trial to him afterwards. He is an example not
only to those whom wealth and power would entangle, but to any who are
too fastidious and sensitive for the humble company of the people of
God.

While the intellect of Moses was developing, it is plain that his
connection with his family was not entirely broken. Such a tie as often
binds a foster-child to its nurse may have been permitted to associate
him with his real parents. Some means were evide