Article November 17, 1934 Issue

Expression

ALICE GARDINER KNAPP

When he received the order to go to Egypt and bid Pharaoh free the captive Israelites, Moses, being slow of speech and diffident about expressing himself, felt that he was not the one to undertake such a task. Therefore, God gave him signs which led him to see that he would be guided along the way, and would be able to carry conviction to those to whom he was being sent. When Moses cast down his rod at God's bidding and saw it become a serpent, fear was aroused in his thought. At God's command, Moses handled the serpent or error, thus destroying fear of it; and so the nothingness of error was brought home to him.

Nevertheless, Moses, still believing in his lack of ability to express himself, said, "O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue." But the answer came: "Who hath made man's mouth? ... have not I the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say." As we study the remainder of Moses' career we find him always possessing sufficient power to do whatever was needful. What brought about this great change in his thinking? What gave him this confidence? What removed the fear and gave him courage and ability to act freely? It was the understanding that ability was not a personal quality of his own, but a divinely bestowed gift from God, which he always possessed by reflection and always had at his command.

Why was it that Daniel and Joseph were able to express their thoughts so clearly—to interpret dreams and give right advice when needed? It was because they lived close to God and listened for His voice speaking to their inner consciousness. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy writes (p. 89), "Spirit, God, is heard when the senses are silent."

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