Stories Pictures Tell. Book 8

by Flora L. Carpenter

Elijah, Moses, Joshua. The Frieze of the Prophets

MOSES

One glance at the picture tells us that the central figure, that of Moses, is the most important among the nineteen prophets represented. Of all the prophets Moses is considered the most ideal and superhuman, and thus Mr. Sargent has tried to represent him. By using more conventional lines, and by modeling the figure in low relief so that it stands out from the rest of the picture, he has produced this distinguishing effect. The face, beard, shoulders, arms, and Tables of the Law stand out in the painting as if they were carved from stone. In fact, as we look at him we think more of a monument than of a painting. The wings crossed so stiffly make the figure seem all the more erect, while the feathers seem to send out rays of light over the entire picture. The earnest face with its deep-set eyes suggests the strength and courage of that great leader who felt that upon him lay the responsibility for the restless, ignorant idolaters whom he was to lead.

When we read the story of the prophet’s life we are filled with wonder. From the very first it was unusual. Moses was born at the time when the wicked king of Egypt commanded that all boy babies of the Israelites should be drowned. But his mother kept him hidden until he was three months old. Then she placed him in a small boat or ark which she pushed out among the flags and grasses of the river.

We all know how the daughter of Pharaoh found the child and adopted him as her own son. She named him Moses, meaning “to draw out,” for, as she said, she had drawn him out of the water. Grown to manhood among the Egyptians, his open sympathy for his own people caused him to be banished. Then, in the vision of the burning bush, which burns yet never is consumed, the Lord appeared to him and told him that he was to deliver the people of Israel out of the hands of the Egyptians. But when he was told to go to speak to Pharaoh his courage deserted him, and it was not until after several miracles had been performed and divine help promised that he was willing to go.

Aaron, brother of Moses, went with him to ask Pharaoh to permit the Israelites to go on a three days’ journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord. But Pharaoh only laughed at them. A great many dreadful things had to happen to Pharaoh’s people before he would give his consent—the water was turned to blood; the land was covered with frogs, and lice, and flies; the cattle were afflicted with a dreadful disease; man and beast were covered with running sores; hail destroyed most of the crops; locusts came to devour the rest, and the whole country, except the land in which the Israelites dwelt, was cast into darkness. During each of these scourges Pharaoh would send for Moses and beg him to ask God to deliver the land, saying he would let the Israelites go. But as soon as the danger was removed he would refuse to keep his promise.

Then came the most dreadful scourge of all—the death of the first-born in every Egyptian home. Again Pharaoh had failed to heed the warning of Moses. There was weeping and wailing in Egypt that day, for every home lost a loved one. In great haste the king sent messengers to Moses, giving the Israelites his consent to go and even urging them on their way.

So with their families and their worldly goods the Israelites started out in search of the promised land under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. They had scarcely begun their weary journey before Pharaoh regretted having allowed them to go, and sent spies and an army after them. But a “pillar of cloud” came between the two camps and hid the Israelites that night. In the morning the Red Sea, over which they must cross, divided before them and they walked across on dry land between the walls of water. When they had passed, the waters closed in again and destroyed the pursuing Egyptians.

Then comes the wonderful history of those forty years’ wanderings in the wilderness, led by clouds by day and pillars of fire by night, until the Israelites reached the promised land. During all this time, under the guidance of the Lord, Moses taught his people and directed them in all their affairs. Yet they were not capable of understanding his great spiritual convictions, for at one time, when Moses remained on Mount Sinai forty days and forty nights communing with God, he found upon his return that his people had made themselves an idol and were worshiping it. Their faith seems never to have been very strong, and they were constantly in need of the help and encouragement of their great leader.