patriarchs and prophets-第53章

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〃And　the　Lord　showed　him　a　tree；　which　when　he　had　cast　into　the　waters；　the
waters　were　made　sweet。〃　Here　the　promise　was　given　to　Israel　through　Moses；
〃If　thou　wilt　diligently　hearken　to　the　voice　of　the　Lord　thy　God；　and　wilt
do　that　which　is　right　in　His　sight；　and　wilt　give　ear　to　His　commandments；
and　keep　all　His　statutes；　I　will　put　none　of　these　diseases　upon　thee；

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which　I　have　brought　upon　the　Egyptians：　for　I　am　the　Lord　that　healeth
thee。〃

From　Marah　the　people　journeyed　to　Elim；　where　they　found　〃twelve　wells　of
water；　and　threescore　and　ten　palm　trees。〃　Here　they　remained　several　days
before　entering　the　wilderness　of　Sin。　When　they　had　been　a　month　absent
from　Egypt；　they　made　their　first　encampment　in　the　wilderness。　Their　store
of　provisions　had　now　begun　to　fail。　There　was　scanty　herbage　in　the
wilderness；　and　their　flocks　were　diminishing。　How　was　food　to　be　supplied
for　these　vast　multitudes？　Doubts　filled　their　hearts；　and　again　they
murmured。　Even　the　rulers　and　elders　of　the　people　joined　in　complaining
against　the　leaders　of　God's　appointment：　〃Would　to　God　we　had　died　by　the
hand　of　the　Lord　in　the　land　of　Egypt；　when　we　sat　by　the　fleshpots；　and
when　we　did　eat　bread　to　the　full；　for　ye　have　brought　us　forth　into　this
wilderness；　to　kill　this　whole　assembly　with　hunger。〃

They　had　not　as　yet　suffered　from　hunger；　their　present　wants　were　supplied；
but　they　feared　for　the　future。　They　could　not　understand　how　these　vast
multitudes　were　to　subsist　in　their　travels　through　the　wilderness；　and　in
imagination　they　saw　their　children　famishing。　The　Lord　permitted
difficulties　to　surround　them；　and　their　supply　of　food　to　be　cut　short；
that　their　hearts　might　turn　to　Him　who　had　hitherto　been　their　Deliverer。
If　in　their　want　they　would　call　upon　Him；　He　would　still　grant　them
manifest　tokens　of　His　love　and　care。　He　had　promised　that　if　they　would
obey　His　commandments；　no　disease　should　come　upon　them；　and　it　was　sinful
unbelief　on　their　part　to　anticipate　that　they　or　their　children　might　die
for　hunger。

God　had　promised　to　be　their　God；　to　take　them　to　Himself　as　a　people；　and
to　lead　them　to　a　large　and　good　land；　but　they　were　ready　to　faint　at　every
obstacle　encountered　in　the　way　to　that　land。　In　a　marvelous　manner　He　had
brought　them　out　from　their　bondage　in　Egypt；　that　He　might　elevate　and
ennoble　them　and　make　them　a　praise　in　the　earth。　But　it　was　necessary　for
them　to　encounter　difficulties　and　to　endure　privations。　God　was　bringing
them　from　a　state　of　degradation　and　fitting　them　to　occupy　an　honorable
place　among　the　nations　and　to　receive　important　and　sacred　trusts。　Had　they
possessed　faith　in　Him；　in　view　of　all　that　He　had　wrought　for　them；

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they　would　cheerfully　have　borne　inconvenience；　privation；　and　even　real
suffering；　but　they　were　unwilling　to　trust　the　Lord　any　further　than　they
could　witness　the　continual　evidences　of　His　power。　They　forgot　their　bitter
service　in　Egypt。　They　forgot　the　goodness　and　power　of　God　displayed　in
their　behalf　in　their　deliverance　from　bondage。　They　forgot　how　their
children　had　been　spared　when　the　destroying　angel　slew　all　the　first…born
of　Egypt。　They　forgot　the　grand　exhibition　of　divine　power　at　the　Red　Sea。
They　forgot　that　while　they　had　crossed　safely　in　the　path　that　had　been
opened　for　them；　the　armies　of　their　enemies；　attempting　to　follow　them；　had
been　overwhelmed　by　the　waters　of　the　sea。　They　saw　and　felt　only　their
present　inconveniences　and　trials；　and　instead　of　saying；　〃God　has　done
great　things　for　us；　whereas　we　were　slaves；　He　is　making　of　us　a　great
nation；〃　they　talked　of　the　hardness　of　the　way；　and　wondered　when　their
weary　pilgrimage　would　end。

The　history　of　the　wilderness　life　of　Israel　was　chronicled　for　the　benefit
of　the　Israel　of　God　to　the　close　of　time。　The　record　of　God's　dealings　with
the　wanderers　of　the　desert　in　all　their　marchings　to　and　fro；　in　their
exposure　to　hunger；　thirst；　and　weariness；　and　in　the　striking
manifestations　of　His　power　for　their　relief；　is　fraught　with　warning　and
instruction　for　His　people　in　all　ages。　The　varied　experience　of　the　Hebrews
was　a　school　of　preparation　for　their　promised　home　in　Canaan。　God　would
have　His　people　in　these　days　review　with　a　humble　heart　and　teachable
spirit　the　trials　through　which　ancient　Israel　passed；　that　they　may　be
instructed　in　their　preparation　for　the　heavenly　Canaan。

Many　look　back　to　the　Israelites；　and　marvel　at　their　unbelief　and
murmuring；　feeling　that　they　themselves　would　not　have　been　so　ungrateful；
but　when　their　faith　is　tested；　even　by　little　trials；　they　manifest　no　more
faith　or　patience　than　did　ancient　Israel。　When　brought　into　strait　places；
they　murmur　at　the　process　by　which　God　has　chosen　to　purify　them。　Though
their　present　needs　are　supplied；　many　are　unwilling　to　trust　God　for　the
future；　and　they　are　in　constant　anxiety　lest　poverty　shall　come　upon　them；
and　their　children　shall　be　left　to　suffer。　Some　are　always　anticipating
evil　or　magnifying　the　difficulties　that　really　exist；　so　that　their　eyes
are　blinded　to　the　many　blessings　which　demand　their　gratitude。　The
obstacles　they　encounter；

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instead　of　leading　them　to　seek　help　from　God；　the　only　Source　of　strength；
separate　them　from　Him；　because　they　awaken　unrest　and　repining。

Do　we　well　to　be　thus　unbelieving？　Why　should　we　be　ungrateful　and
distrustful？　Jesus　is　our　friend；　all　heaven　is　interested　in　our　welfare；
and　our　anxiety　and　fear　grieve　the　Holy　Spirit　of　God。　We　should　not
indulge　in　a　solicitude　that　only　frets　and　wears　us；　but　does　not　help　us
to　bear　trials。　No　place　should　be　given　to　that　distrust　of　God　which　leads
us　to　make　a　preparation　against　future　want　the　chief　pursuit　of　life；　as
though　our　happiness　consisted　in　these　earthly　things。　It　is　not　the　will
of　God　that　His　people　should　be　weighed　down　with　care。　But　our　Lord　does
not　tell　us　that　there　are　no　dangers　in　our　path。　He　does　not　propose　to
take　His　people　out　of　the　world　of　sin　and　evil；　but　He　points　us　to　a
never…failing　refuge。　He　invites　the　weary　and　care…laden；　〃Come　unto　Me；
all　ye　that　labor　and　are　heavy…laden；　and　I　will　give　you　rest。〃　Lay　off
the　yoke　of　anxiety　and　worldly　care　that　you　have　placed　on　your　own　neck；
and　〃take　My　yoke　upon　you；　and　learn　of　Me；　for　I　am　meek　and　lowly　in
heart：　and　ye　shall　find　rest　unto　your　souls。〃　Matthew　11：28；　29。　We　may
find　rest　and　peace　in　God；　casting　all　our　care　upon　Him；　for　He　careth　for
us。　See　1　Peter　5：7。

Says　the　apostle　Paul；　〃Take　heed；　brethren；　lest　there　be　in　any　of　you　an
evil　heart　of　unbelief；　in　departing　from　the　living　God。〃　Hebrews　3：12。　In
view　of　all　that　God　has　wrought　for　us；　our　faith　should　be　strong；　active；
and　enduring。　Instead　of　murmuring　and　complaining；　the　language　of　our
hearts　should　be；　〃Bless　the　Lord；　O　my　soul：　and　all　that　is　within　me；
bless　His　holy　name。　Bless　the　Lord；　O　my　soul；　and　forget　not　all　His
benefits。〃　Psalm　103：1；　2。

God　was　not　unmindful　of　the　wants　of　Israel。　He　said　to　their　leader；　〃I
will　rain　bread　from　heaven　for　you。〃　And　directions　were　given　that　the
people　gather　a　daily　supply；　with　a　double　amount　on　the　sixth　day；　that
the　sacred　observance　of　the　Sabbath　might　be　maintained。

Moses　assured　the　congregation　that　their　wants　were　to　be　supplied：　〃The
Lord　shall　give　you　in　the　evening　flesh　to　eat；　and　in　the　morning　bread　to
the　full。〃　And　he　added；　〃What　are　we？　your　murmurings　are　not　against　us；
but　against　the

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Lord。〃　He　further　bade　Aaron　say　to　them；　〃Come　near　before　the　Lord：　for　He
hath　heard　your　murmurings。〃　While　Aaron　was　speaking；　〃they　looked　toward
the　wilderness；　and；　behold；　the　glory　of　the　Lord　appeared　in　the　cloud。〃　A
splendor　such　as　they　had　never　witnessed　symbolized　the　divine　Presence。
Through　manifestations　addressed　to　their　senses；　they　were　to　obtain　a
knowledge　of　God。　They　must　be　taught　that　the　Most　High；　and　not　merely　the
man　Moses；　was　their　leader；　that　they　might　fear　His　name　and　obey　His
voice。

At　nightfall　the　camp　was　surrounded　by　vast　flocks　of　quails；　enough　to
supply　the　entire　company。　In　the　morning　there　lay　upon　the　surface　of　the
ground　〃a　small　round　thing；　as　small　as　the　hoarfrost。〃　〃It　was　like
coriander　seed；　white。〃　The　people　called　it　〃manna。〃　Moses　said；　〃This　is
the　bread　which　the　Lord　hath　given　you　to　eat。〃　The　people　gathered　the
manna；　and　found　that　there　was　an　abundant　supply　for　all。　They　〃ground　it
in　mills；　or　beat　it　in　a　mortar；　and　baked　it　in　pans；　and　made　cakes　of
it。〃　Numbers　11：8。　〃And　the　taste　of　it　was　like　wafers　made　with　honey。〃
They　were　directed　to　gather　daily　an　omer　for　every　person；　and　they　were
not　to　leave　of　it　until　the　morning。　Some　attempted　to　keep　a　supply　until
the　next　day；　but　it　was　then　found　to　be　unfit　for　food。　The　provision　for
the　day　must　be　gathered　in　the　morning；　for　all　that　remained　upon　the
ground　was　melted　by　the　sun。

In　the　gathering　of　the　manna　it　was　found　that　some　obtained　more　and　some
less　than　the　stipulated　amount；　but　〃when　they　did　mete　it　with　an　omer；　he
that　gathered　much　had　nothing　over；　and　he　that　gathered　little　had　no
lack。〃　An　explanation　of　this　scripture；　as　well　as　a　practical　lesson　from
it；　is　given　by　the　apostle　Paul　in　his　second　epistle　to　the　Corinthians。
He　says；　〃I　mean　not　that　other　men　be　eased；　and　ye　burdened：　but　by　an
equality；　that　now　at　this　time　your　abundance　may　be　a　supply　for　their
want；　that　their　abundance　also　may　be　a　supply　for　your　want：　that　there
may　be　equality：　as　it　is　written；　He　that　had　gathered　much　had　nothing
over；　and　he　that　had　gathered　little　had　no　lack。〃　2　Corinthians　8：13…15。

On　the　sixth　day　the　people　gathered　two　omers　for　every　person。　The　rulers
hastened　to　acquaint　Moses　with　what　had　been　done。　His　answer　was；　〃This　is
that　which　the　Lord　hath

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said；　Tomorrow　is　the　rest　of　the　holy　Sabbath　unto　the　Lord：　bake　that
which　ye　will　bake　today；　and　seethe　that　ye　will　seethe；　and　that　which
remaineth　over　lay　up　for　you　to　be　kept　until　the　morning。〃　They　did　so；
and　found　that　it　remained　unchanged。　〃And　Moses　said；　Eat　that　today；　for
today　is　a　Sabbath　unto　the　Lord：　today　ye　shall　not　find　it　in　the　field。
Six　days　ye　shall　gather　it；　but　on　the　seventh　day；　which　is　the　Sabbath；
in　it　there　shall　be　none。〃

God　requires　that　His　holy　day　be　as　sacredly　observed　now　as　in　the　time　of
Israel。　The　command　given　to　the　Hebrews　should　be　regarded　by　all
Christians　as　an　injunction　from　Jehovah　to　them。　The　day　before　the　Sabbath
should　be　made　a　day　of　preparation；　that　everything　may　be　in　readiness　for
its　sacred　hours。　In　no　case　should　our　own　business　be　allowed　to　encroach
upon　holy　time。　God　has　directed　that　the　sick　and　suffering　be　cared　for；
the　labor　required　to　make　them　comfortable　is　a　work　of　mercy；　and　no
violation　of　the　Sabbath；　but　all　unnecessary　work　should　be　avoided。　Many
carelessly　put　off　till　the　begin