6751. 'And he was a son to her' means that then first truths were attached to that affection. This is clear from the representation of Pharaoh's daughter, to whom 'to her' refers here, as an affection for factual knowledge, dealt with immediately above in 6750; and from the meaning of 'son' as truth, dealt with in 489, 491, 533, 2623, 3373, here first truth since 'being a son to her' is possessing first truths acquired through factual knowledge. For first truths are born from factual knowledge and so are like sons born from their mother, who is the affection for factual knowledge. And factual knowledge is the groundwork for truths composing the understanding and faith, see above in 6750. When a person is being regenerated matters of faith develop in him in almost the same way as things that are not matters of faith develop while he is growing up. While he is growing up sensory impressions compose the first level to be laid down, then known facts another level; and after that, grounded on these levels, the power of judgement grows, more fully with one person, less fully with another. While a person is being regenerated the general aspects of faith or the basic elements of the Church's teachings compose the level that is laid down first, then come particular aspects of that teaching and faith, and after that in successive stages things that are more and more internal. These are levels which the light of heaven shines on; and from this comes the power of understanding, and the ability to perceive the truth of faith and the good of charity.

8457. 'And behold, on the face of the wilderness' means a new will. This is clear from the meaning of 'the wilderness' here as a new will that comes through the introduction of truth. The new will received by a member of the spiritual Church is formed from good by means of truth; it manifests itself with him as conscience, a conscience consisting of truth, as is clear from what has been shown already about the regeneration of the spiritual man. Strictly speaking 'a wilderness' means that which is uncultivated and uninhabited, and in the spiritual sense means a place where there is no goodness or truth, thus also where there is no life, 1927, 2708, 3900. When therefore it says that the dew appeared on the face of the wilderness, with the manna underneath the dew, 'the wilderness' means a new will.