Story 34: The Youth, Training, And Manhood Of Mo'ses l

   For forty years Mo'ses remained in the palace of Pha'raoh, enjoying all the luxury and advantages afforded by the court of one of the richest and most powerful rulers in all history. As an adopted son of the E'gyp-tian princess he was given the advantages of the best education which could be had in any land. It is said of Mo'ses, "He was instructed in all the wisdom of the E'gyp-tians, and was mighty in his words and works." We also know that he was proficient in mathematics, natural philosophy, engineering, warfare, grammar, and medicine. From such training he was well prepared to hold a place of honor among the greatest nobles and princes, and to turn at last to the great mission of his life.

   His nurse, who was really his own mother, continued to care for him until he was no longer a child. She taught him to worship the true God of the He'brews, and told him about all the customs of his people. No doubt she also secretly told him of the wonderful way in which the LORD had caused him to be saved from death, and laid upon his heart the burdens and hardships of his own people.

   During all these years of royal advantages Mo'ses never forgot the sufferings of his own people held in bondage. The luxury and exuberance of his own surroundings did not close his eyes to the poverty and hardships of his brethren, nor could he enjoy his life of ease and comfort while the children of Is'ra-el remained so miserable. His unselfish love for the down-trodden people, and his patient hope for an improvement in their condition became so strong that he decided to take some definite step toward helping them.
   One day while he was quietly passing among the workmen on one of the government projects, probably an embankment near the river Nile, he saw one of the E'gyp-tian taskmasters striking a He'brew laborer with a whip. As he watched his own kindred straining under unbearable burdens, and saw how they were mistreated by the cruel overseer, his blood boiled with righteous indignation . Looking around and seeing that no other E'gyp-tians were near, he struck the taskmaster so fierce a blow that it killed him. He then secretly covered the body in the sand, and went on his way.
   This act of the young prince was not known to any of the E'gyp-tians, but the He'brew whom Mo'ses had protected whispered the news to other workmen, and they in turn told their brethren, until the deed was finally known to most of the He'brews. The next day Mo'ses visited the workmen again, and this time saw one of the He'brews strike another during a quarrel. At once he went up to them in the hope of settling their differences, and rebuked the one who seemed to be in the wrong. He had intended merely to show them that even though they were slaves, they still were kindred, and should try to deal patiently with one another.