Having finished Moses his Self-Denial, namely, what he refused, together with the circumstance of time, and the principle by which he was enabled thereunto: Now what it was that he chose, we are to consider; his appearing for, and the joyning himself with the afflicted people of God, although he knew he must needs partake with them in their afflictions; he saw that God would rather be honored by him in an afflicted estate, then in the enjoyment of all his glory that he might have had; he was willing to submit to God in that way.
Yet he might have had many reasonings in himself, that might have drawn his heart another way; he might have thought, that in his keeping of the honor and power he had in the Court, he might have done a great deal of service for God, in the improving of his favor with Pharaoh and his Nobles for the people of God; he might have been of great use for them, that it was a thing of great consequence, for them to have a friend in the Court, that might do them so much good, as it was probable he might have done: Yea, he might have thought with himself, Surely God intends to use me here in some great service for his people, for how wonderful hath his Providence been towards me, in bringing me to, in raising of me up, and continuing me in this honor? what a strange and extraordinary Providence of God was it, to dispose of my Parents hearts, to hide me in such a maner as they did amongst the rushes? and that the Daughter of Pharaoh must come at that time to the River, and that I must be found by her, and no body else, and that God should dispose of her heart so, as to commiserate my condition, and to be so enclined towards me as she was, that she should not onely preserve my life, but have me brought up as her own Son; that she should have care, that my education might be such, as I might be meet for honor and advancement in her Fathers house, whereas she might have brought me up in some base and servile maner, according to the quality of a Bondslaves childe, of an Hebrew childe, so much abhorred and hated by the Egyptians; and that God should give me that understanding and capacity, that I should come to be learned in all the learning of the Egyptians; and that God should encline the heart of Pharaoh to me likewise, that he should countenance me, and prefer me; and that the favor of Pharaohs daughter, and of Pharaoh himself, should continue so long as it does, even to my growth up to forty years; that I should have favor in the eyes of his Nobles, and of all the Court, none of them seeking to undermine me, to alienate Pharaohs heart from me? surely God intended to use me in some great service here in the Court; if I should now do any thing to provoke Pharaoh against me, to lose that favor, that honor, that power I have, what a loss would this be to the people of God? what would become of them? little hope then of any good to them: yea, if Pharaoh and the Court should frown upon me, it is like they will be more enraged against them, and rather make their burthen heavier, and their bondage sorer: Now then what a grievous thing would it be, that such an opportunity as I have in my hands should be lost?
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