"There is none like Me in all the earth."--_Exodus 9:14._
[Illustration]
YOU remember that when God spoke to Moses out of the burning bush, it
was to tell him that he should lead the children of Israel away from
the people in Egypt, who were so unkind to them.
But Pharaoh, the King of Egypt, said that they should not go; he could
not spare them, and he did not care for God's message to him. Then God
punished Pharaoh that he might let them go. Ten times God punished him,
and you hear about three of the punishments to-day.
First, how the sheep and cows, that the Egyptians worshipped like gods,
fell sick and died, but still Pharaoh did not care; then how the people
all had sores and boils that made them very ill, but still Pharaoh
did not care; and then how there was a terrible storm, thunder and
lightning, and rain and hail--such big hailstones as killed the men and
cattle that were out in the fields, and lightning that struck them, and
wind that broke every tree in the field.
No wonder that Pharaoh was frightened, and begged that the storm might
cease, and said that then he would let the Israelites go. So Moses
prayed to God, and the thunder left off, there was no more hail, and
it was all still again. But when the thunder was over Pharaoh grew
wicked again, and left off caring, and said the Israelites should not
go. And thus God went on being angry with him, till at last he came to
a terrible end.
[Illustration: THE PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS.--Ex. 10:12.]
I am afraid some children are a little like Pharaoh when they get
sulky, and say "I won't," and if they are punished, still they
won't--they think nobody shall force them, and they make themselves
hard that they may not do what they are told. It is very sad, for this
hardness is very wrong, and you see how angry God was with this king
for being obstinate. Pray to God to help you not to harden your heart,
but to teach you to obey. And do not forget and do the same thing
again when the punishment is over, or it will have done you no good,
and you will have to be punished worse next time.