(~cts vii. 22). Wealth, refinement, ease, pleasure, power, were within his reach. He might have become a greRt statesman-perhaps Pharaoh's grand vizier. Josephus eayN that he was destined for the throne itself; and in those days Egypt was the most powerful of kingdoms. Yet, without any misgiving, he forsook the court, and renounced for ever these dazzling pro~pects. 2. His choice ezposed him to sore affiictions. (Ver. 25.) It involved his irlentifying himself with a nation of wretched slaves who were oppre~ by a grind!ng tyranny. It brought him i!1to close contact and ~ompanion- sh1p with hordes of ignorant bondmen. It called him to undergo persecution as the leader of the movement for their emancipation. Moses made his choice at the risk of his life; for, when he had avowed it in act, by killing the Egyptian slave-driver, "Pharaoh sought to slay'' him (Exod. ii. 15). 3. It was a heavenly-minded clioi~. (Vers. 25, 26.) It wns not patriotism alone that dictated it, although Moses was passionately patriotic. Neither was it mere sympathy with his distressed countrymen, although he had a tender and feeling heart. His choice was determined by his faith in Christ, in the future of his people, and in lhe realities of t;he unseen and eternal world. Moses chose (l) "reproach on account of Ohrist." He was, so to speak, 11 Christian before Christianity. He knew about the promised Messiah, although he might not know him by that name. He believed on him as the Deliverer that was to come; es the "Prophet" who was to be "raised up;" as the seed of Abraham, in whom all nations were to be blessed. And he resolved, through grace, to adhere to the cause of Christ, however greatly it might be despised. He chose (2) to join "the people of God." Moses had learned from his mother-nurse of the glorious destiny of tho lsraelitish nation ; and had become persuaded that t-0 belong to that nation, even ill its miserable exile, was a greater honour than to stand upon the topmost step of the Egyptian throne. So, when he took God for his Portion, he allied himself with the people of God, whose were "the adoption" and "the promises." He chose (3) "tits rerompense of ,-eward." :Moses' faith looked beyond the grave. His eye searched the eternal future until it rested upon the heavenly Canaan. Realizing that "better and abidin!! possession," he felt that he could not remain a prioce of the house of J>baraoh. To him even those pleasures of the court which wore in themselves innocent would be "the pleasures of sin;" and these, such as they were, he could enjoy only for n few ehort-lived years. So, after comparing the best of the world with the worst of religion, Moses decisively resolved to choose Jehovah as his God and heaven as his final home. And this life-choice, from whatever point of view we regard it, is thus seen to have been determined by bis faith. III. THE FAITH OF MosEs AS BEEN IN ms LIFE-wons:. (Vers. 27-29.) For he not only took Jehovah for his Portion; he served him courageously, and to the end. 1. Bu faith inspired the Exod'IJ,S. (Ver; 27.) "He forsook Egypt," the reference being, ns we judge, to his final departure at the head of the Hebrew nation. Moses believed the Divine promise regarding Israel's redemption. His confidence in God 11erved him for the unparalleled enterprise. He felt that he could not seriously be afraid ot Pharaoh, for his faith saw always the approving smile of the invisible Lord. Had it not been, however, for his trust in Jehovah, the great leader could not for forty years have sustained .so nobly his onerous offices. It was this humble confidence in the I AM who had sent him, that kept Moses from either developing into a despot or deaenerating into a demagogue. 2. His faith prompted to tlie celebration of the Pass- ov;,.. (Ver. 28.) Moses believed the Divine threatening respecting the destruction of the firsthorn of the Egyptians, and the promise of exemption for every blood- besprinkled Hebrew dwelling. His trust in God was the ~oot of his fearless courage in observiuu the Passover feast amidst the bustle and excitement of that last eventful niuht in "Euypt. 3. His faith, together with that of the Israelites, led to the passage of t}(: Red s':a. (Ver. 29.) There was much unbelief, doubtless, mixed with the faith of the mass of the host, when they stood before the waters through which they were to march. Still, the fact of their obedieoce to the comma.lid to "go forward" did evince &Orne faith on their part. '.!.'he confidence of Moses, however, never wavered. And it .... as his faith and theirs that moved the arm of the Almighty to prepare·a pathway for them throngh the bed of the sea. The Egyptians, pursuing them, sank in the sands aod waves; fur Pharaoh had recriv<'d no revelation and no promise, and his pursu.i~ wa.s uc,t 1W net c,f faith, but of presumvtiun. tllt. :lt!, 1-40.] THE EPISTLE TO THE IlEBREWS.
CoN0LtJBION. 'l'he chief lesson of this section centres in the choice of Moses. It requires fnith still to enable one to ma.ke the right life-choice; for worldly advantag:e does not e.hve.ys seem to be on the side of godlines~. The question is sometimes asked "Is it possible to make the best of both worlds?" And from the point of view of 11ense the answer is--No. Moses certainly did not make the best of this world, accordin"' to a worldly estimate of his life. He did not follow the principle of self-help, in th: secular way in which un~piritual men do. Rather, his choice led him "to be evil- entreated," e.nd to endnro "reproach." But from faith's point of view the unhesitatin"' answer to the same question is-Yes. "Godliness is profitable for all things;" a.lthongh the benefit of it in "the life which now is" consists almost certainly in the profit of affliction and tribulation, the profit of taking up the cross, and of treading in the foot- steps of the Me.n of sorrows.