Citizens

The true test of civilization is not the census, nor the size of cities, nor the crops—no, but the kind of man the country turns out. (Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19th century American essayist)

When we study history, we often judge past civilizations by the size of their territory, their conquests in war, or the monuments they may have left—the pyramids, for example. Isn’t it more important, however, to know the kind of people they produced? Are they known for their evil dictators and cruel warriors or for their artists, philosophers, and teachers?

He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people. (Exodus 18:25)