A man will gain power and efficiency as he accepts the responsibilities that God places upon him. However humble his position or limited his ability, that man will attain true greatness who seeks to perform his work with fidelity. The fact that a man feels his weakness is at least some evidence that he realizes the magnitude of the work appointed him; he will make God his counselor and his strength. {EP 175.2} A secret dread of Pharaoh and the Egyptians, whose anger had been kindled against him forty years before, had rendered Moses reluctant to return to Egypt; but after he had set out to obey the divine command, the Lord revealed to him that his enemies were dead. {EP 175.3} On the way from Midian, an angel appeared to Moses in a threatening manner, as if he would destroy him. No explanation was given; but Moses remembered that he had disregarded one of God’s requirements. He had neglected to perform the rite of circumcision upon their youngest son. Such a neglect on the part of Israel’s chosen leader could not but lessen the force of the divine precepts upon the people. Zipporah, fearing that her husband would be slain, performed the rite herself, and the angel then permitted Moses to pursue his journey. His life could be preserved only through the protection of holy angels. But while living in neglect of a known duty, he would not be secure; for he could not be shielded by the angels of God. {EP 175.4} In the time of trouble just before the coming of Christ, the righteous will be preserved through the ministrations of angels, but there will be no security for the transgressor of God’s law. Angels cannot protect those who are disregarding one of the divine precepts. {EP 175.5}
Chapter 23—The Ten Plagues of Egypt This chapter is based on Exodus 5 to 10. Aaron, being instructed by angels, went forth to meet his brother amid the desert solitudes near Horeb. Here Moses told Aaron “all the words of the Lord who had sent him, and all the signs which He had commanded him.” Exodus 4:28. Together they journeyed to Egypt to assemble the elders of Israel. “The people believed: and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel, and that He had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped.” Exodus 4:31. {EP 176.1} With a message for the king, the two brothers entered the palace of the Pharaohs as ambassadors from the King of kings: “Thus saith Jehovah, God of Israel, Let My people go, that they may hold a feast unto Me in the wilderness.” {EP 176.2} “Who is Jehovah, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go?” demanded the monarch; “I know no Jehovah, neither will I let Israel go.” {EP 176.3} Their answer was, “The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days’ journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the Lord our God; lest He fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.” {EP 176.4} The king’s anger was kindled. “Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let [hinder] the people from their works?” he said. “Get you unto your burdens.” Already the kingdom had suffered loss by the interference of these strangers. At thought of this he added, “Behold, 102
