By Way of the Wilderness by Gilbert Morris

Abraham,” old Zuriel said, nodding his head constantly. “But he was a crafty fellow. He had twelve sons, and his twelve sons became the twelve tribes of Israel.” He looked over at Moses and smiled toothlessly. “We know you are of the tribe of Levi, one of those sons.”
    â€œHow do we know all this? It was so long ago.”
    â€œWe are not a strong people in many ways, but we Hebrews are strong on tradition,” old Zuriel said. “We guard what we have heard and repeat these stories over and over to keep them firm in our memories. We pass these along to our sons, and they pass them to their sons. Our traditions are everything to us.”
    â€œTell me about the other sons of Jacob out of which our tribes came.”
    â€œReuben was the firstborn and would have been the leader of Israel’s sons, but he forfeited his birthright by sleeping with his father’s concubine. Had he become the leader of Israel, his tribe would have been the most significant, but that never happened.”
    â€œWhich one of the sons did receive the birthright?” Moses asked.
    â€œAh, you go right to the point. It was Judah.” The old man began to chant in a voice that was weak at first, but grew stronger as he recited the ancient prophecy:
    â€œJudah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down to you.
    â€œYou are a lion’s cub, O Judah; you return from the prey, my son.
    â€œLike a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
    â€œThe scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his.”
    Moses straightened up, relieved to hear this. “Well, I do not have to worry about being the leader of Israel, for I am not of the tribe of Judah.”
    Zuriel’s old eyes blinked; then he leaned forward and whispered, “There is one coming who will be the Great Redeemer. He will be like no man we have ever known. But until the Great Redeemer comes, God will use men of flesh and blood to serve and to save His people.” Zuriel reached out his hand, and Moses took it in his strong hand. The old man’s hand felt as fragile as the bones of a tiny bird, but they suddenly tightened on Moses’ strong hand.
    â€œI think you are one whom God has chosen to be this kind of redeemer.”
    The words sent a tremor of fear through Moses. “I have no desire to be a leader.”
    â€œThat has nothing to do with it. Abraham had no desire to leave his homeland, but God commanded him, and he had no choice but to go. Others of our family have also been chosen when they did not expect it. God has reached out and touched them and put them in directions they never dreamed. You, I think, will be one of these men, Moses of the tribe of Levi!”
    ****
    Princess Kali listened as Moses repeated the story of what he had been doing. She had already been warned by her spies that the high priest had given instructions that Moses would be followed and every word he said carefully scrutinized.
    Now she leaned forward and took both his hands in hers. “Oh, son, why must you pursue this?”
    â€œI must help my people.”
    â€œPerhaps we could work together. I will speak to Pharaoh. The burden of the slaves could be lightened with one word from him.”
    â€œThat is what Aaron said, but I am not interested in lightening the load. The Hebrews came to Egypt as free men, and they have been enslaved by the pharaohs. They must be set free.”
    Fear came into Kali’s heart and was reflected in her eyes. “That can never be.”
    â€œPerhaps not, but I must go join my life to those of my brothers. If they suffer, I must suffer also.”
    Kali did all she could to persuade Moses not to follow this course. She felt frightened for him, but finally she saw there