Editorial October 25, 1930 Issue

Moses

Clifford P. Smith

Christian Scientists are disposed to acknowledge indebtedness to all persons who have contributed greatly to human welfare. Naturally, therefore, we are disposed to consider what we own to the different persons who have contributed greatly to the human understanding of God. These persons include a number besides Christ Jesus, and among them is Moses. Indeed, Moses is conspicuous among the persons, besides Christ Jesus and besides Mary Baker Eddy, who are connected with our own religion. The beginning of Christianity as taught by Jesus and restated by Mrs. Eddy is to be found in the words and works of Moses. See Deuteronomy 18:15; John 5:46; John 14:25, 26.

Born of Hebrew parents in Egypt, the most civilized country of that time, Moses lived until he was forty years old as the adopted son of a daughter of the Pharaoh. Yet he did not cease to be one of Israel in thought. Having killed an Egyptian for oppressing a Hebrew, Moses fled from Egypt and lived for another forty years in a different environment. He lived with a tribe of nomads who were descendants of Abraham, though not of Jacob, and lived with a priest of this tribe. Then was Moses prepared to begin the great service to God, for the children of Israel and for all mankind, which lasted another forty years.

The time when Moses lived cannot be definitely fixed. When all data are considered, the indications are that he was born after 1300 B.C. Probably, Raamses II was the Pharaoh of the oppression and Merneptah was the Pharaoh of the exodus. The former reigned from about 1292 to about 1225 B.C. The latter reigned from about then to about 1215 B.C. For one historical point, raamses II is believed to have built the cities which are mentioned in Exodus 1:11. Merneptah left an inscription including the words, "Israel is desolated; her seed is not." These words include the earliest known use of the word "Israel" as the name of the Hebrew people. The meaning of Merneptah's statement is not clear, in view of the circumstances, but it may have been his boastful account of Israel's escape from Egypt.

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