Beginning of the End - Ellen G. White

case--if he asked earnestly, God would spare His people.
God had implied that He had disowned His people. He had
spoken of them to Moses as "your people whom you brought out of
Egypt." But Moses disclaimed the leadership of Israel. They were
not his, but God's--"Your people whom You have brought out ...
with great power and with a mighty hand." "Why," Moses urged,
"should the Egyptians speak, and say, 'He brought them out to harm
them, to kill them in the mountains?'"
During the few months since Israel had left Egypt, the report of
their amazing deliverance had spread to all the surrounding nations.
Terrible dread rested on the heathen. All were watching to see what
the God of Israel would do for His people. If they were now to be
destroyed, their enemies would triumph. The Egyptians would claim
that their accusations were true--instead of leading His people into
the wilderness to sacrifice, He had caused them to be sacrificed. The
destruction of the people whom He had honored would bring a slur
on His name. How great is the responsibility on those whom God
has highly honored, to make His name a praise in the earth!
As Moses interceded for Israel, the Lord listened to his
pleadings and granted his unselfish prayer. God had proved his love
for that ungrateful people, and Moses had nobly endured the trial.
The well-being of God's people was more important to him than
becoming the father of a mighty nation. God was pleased with his
faithfulness and integrity, and committed to him the great
responsibility of leading Israel to the Promised Land.
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