Moses’s Training in Midian
view his military skill would be especially valued by him. Going to his brethren as he did, and beginning his mission as he did, prepared even to smite with carnal weapons, shows his self-confidence, his trust in his own wisdom and skill. While he had faith in the righteousness of his cause—the freedom of God's people—he adopted the method of physical force. That his method was wrong was shown by the sudden fear that came over him when he was confronted with the probability of losing his life. When he returned to the task forty years later, he was not afraid to go right into the presence of the king. The reason of this change is a lesson of itself, to be studied by the reader at his leisure. ARRIVING in Midian, Moses entered practically upon the second forty years' period of his life. Concerning position in this life, he went to the bottom and began anew. He hired out as a shepherd, and afterward married the daughter of his employer. Like Jacob, he tended the flocks of his father-in-law; but there is no record of his getting rich in this world's wealth. That he acquired a new spirit, however, is evident, for it is said of him that he was "very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth." This was the result of his "industrial school" training under the hand of the Lord in the land of Midian. Thus was he fitted for that great work for which the Lord designed him from his birth, and for which "all the wisdom of the Egyptians"—scientific, social, political, and military—could not fit him. AT the end of this long term of instruction and humble experience in spiritual things, the record proceeds: "Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the back side of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed." WHEN the Lord saw that Moses turned aside to examine the bush more closely, He called to him and said, "Draw not nigh hither; put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground." Then He added, "I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Then Moses "hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God." Then the Lord spoke to Moses concerning the afflictions of His people in Egypt, and declared that He was now ready to deliver them, saying, "Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth My people the children of Israel out of Egypt." MOSES was not so confident of his ability now as he was in his younger days, and especially as he remembered how the people of Israel themselves did not recognize him as their deliverer. Now he asks, "Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?" It was not until God had assured him of all needed assistance that Moses would consent to undertake the great work that had so long waited for his personal preparation. Is it not possible that the work of deliverance "the second time" (Isa. 11:10-16) is being delayed because those who are appointed to the service have not yet the personal preparation,—the meekness, the humility, the self-denial, the self-distrust, and the implicit confidence in God's leadership,—that is essential to successful effort? THE burning bush practically began the third period of forty years in the life of Moses; and here is illustrated the notable difference between the world's education and the wisdom which God imparts to the meek and humble mind, as a preparation for successful work in His cause.