patriarchs and prophets-第85章

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the　will　of　God。

Balaam　prophesied　that　Israel's　King　would　be　greater　and　more　powerful　than
Agag。　This　was　the　name　given　to　the　kings　of　the　Amalekites；　who　were　at
this　time　a　very　powerful　nation；　but　Israel；　if　true　to　God；　would　subdue
all　her　enemies。　The　King　of　Israel　was　the　Son　of　God；　and　His　throne　was
one　day　to　be　established　in　the　earth；　and　His　power　to　be　exalted　above
all　earthly　kingdoms。

As　he　listened　to　the　prophet's　words　Balak　was　overwhelmed　with
disappointed　hope；　with　fear　and　rage。　He　was　indignant　that　Balaam　could
have　given　him　the　least　encouragement　of　a　favorable　response；　when
everything　was　determined　against　him。　He　regarded　with　scorn　the　prophet's
compromising；　deceptive　course。　The　king　exclaimed　fiercely；　〃Therefore　now
flee　thou　to　thy　place：　I　thought　to　promote　thee　unto　great　honor；　but；　lo；
the　Lord　hath　kept　thee　back　from　honor。〃　The　answer　was

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that　the　king　had　been　forewarned　that　Balaam　could　speak　only　the　message
given　him　from　God。

Before　returning　to　his　people；　Balaam　uttered　a　most　beautiful　and　sublime
prophecy　of　the　world's　Redeemer　and　the　final　destruction　of　the　enemies　of
God：　〃I　shall　see　Him；　but　not　now：　I　shall　behold　Him；　but　not　nigh：　There
shall　come　a　Star　out　of　Jacob；　and　a　Scepter　shall　rise　out　of
　　　　Israel；
And　shall　smite　the　corners　of　Moab；　and　destroy　all　the　children　of
　　　　Sheth。〃

And　he　closed　by　predicting　the　complete　destruction　of　Moab　and　Edom；　of
Amalek　and　the　Kenites；　thus　leaving　to　the　Moabitish　king　no　ray　of　hope。

Disappointed　in　his　hopes　of　wealth　and　promotion；　in　disfavor　with　the
king；　and　conscious　that　he　had　incurred　the　displeasure　of　God；　Balaam
returned　from　his　self…chosen　mission。　After　he　had　reached　his　home　the
controlling　power　of　the　Spirit　of　God　left　him；　and　his　covetousness；　which
had　been　merely　held　in　check；　prevailed。　He　was　ready　to　resort　to　any
means　to　gain　the　reward　promised　by　Balak。　Balaam　knew　that　the　prosperity
of　Israel　depended　upon　their　obedience　to　God；　and　that　there　was　no　way　to
cause　their　overthrow　but　by　seducing　them　into　sin。　He　now　decided　to
secure　Balak's　favor　by　advising　the　Moabites　of　the　course　to　be　pursued　to
bring　a　curse　upon　Israel。

He　immediately　returned　to　the　land　of　Moab　and　laid　his　plans　before　the
king。　The　Moabites　themselves　were　convinced　that　so　long　as　Israel　remained
true　to　God；　He　would　be　their　shield。　The　plan　proposed　by　Balaam　was　to
separate　them　from　God　by　enticing　them　into　idolatry。　If　they　could　be　led
to　engage　in　the　licentious　worship　of　Baal　and　Ashtaroth；　their　omnipotent
Protector　would　become　their　enemy；　and　they　would　soon　fall　a　prey　to　the
fierce；　warlike　nations　around　them。　This　plan　was　readily　accepted　by　the
king；　and　Balaam　himself　remained　to　assist　in　carrying　it　into　effect。

Balaam　witnessed　the　success　of　his　diabolical　scheme。　He　saw　the　curse　of
God　visited　upon　His　people；　and　thousands　falling　under　His　judgments；　but
the　divine　justice　that　punished　sin　in　Israel　did　not　permit　the　tempters
to　escape。　In　the　war　of　Israel　against　the　Midianites；　Balaam　was　slain。　He
had　felt　a　presentiment　that　his　own　end　was　near　when　he　exclaimed；

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〃Let　me　die　the　death　of　the　righteous；　and　let　my　last　end　be　like　his！〃
But　he　had　not　chosen　to　live　the　life　of　the　righteous；　and　his　destiny　was
fixed　with　the　enemies　of　God。

The　fate　of　Balaam　was　similar　to　that　of　Judas；　and　their　characters　bear　a
marked　resemblance　to　each　other。　Both　these　men　tried　to　unite　the　service
of　God　and　mammon；　and　met　with　signal　failure。　Balaam　acknowledged　the　true
God；　and　professed　to　serve　Him；　Judas　believed　in　Jesus　as　the　Messiah；　and
united　with　His　followers。　But　Balaam　hoped　to　make　the　service　of　Jehovah
the　steppingstone　to　the　acquirement　of　riches　and　worldly　honor；　and
failing　in　this　he　stumbled　and　fell　and　was　broken。　Judas　expected　by　his
connection　with　Christ　to　secure　wealth　and　promotion　in　that　worldly
kingdom　which；　as　he　believed；　the　Messiah　was　about　to　set　up。　The　failure
of　his　hopes　drove　him　to　apostasy　and　ruin。　Both　Balaam　and　Judas　had
received　great　light　and　enjoyed　special　privileges；　but　a　single　cherished
sin　poisoned　the　entire　character　and　caused　their　destruction。

It　is　a　perilous　thing　to　allow　an　unchristian　trait　to　live　in　the　heart。
One　cherished　sin　will；　little　by　little；　debase　the　character；　bringing　all
its　nobler　powers　into　subjection　to　the　evil　desire。　The　removal　of　one
safeguard　from　the　conscience；　the　indulgence　of　one　evil　habit；　one　neglect
of　the　high　claims　of　duty；　breaks　down　the　defenses　of　the　soul　and　opens
the　way　for　Satan　to　come　in　and　lead　us　astray。　The　only　safe　course　is　to
let　our　prayers　go　forth　daily　from　a　sincere　heart；　as　did　David；　〃Hold　up
my　goings　in　Thy　paths；　that　my　footsteps　slip　not。〃　Psalm　17：5。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　41

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Apostasy　at　the　Jordan


With　joyful　hearts　and　renewed　faith　in　God；　the　victorious　armies　of　Israel
had　returned　from　Bashan。　They　had　already　gained　possession　of　a　valuable
territory；　and　they　were　confident　of　the　immediate　conquest　of　Canaan。　Only
the　river　Jordan　lay　between　them　and　the　Promised　Land。　Just　across　the
river　was　a　rich　plain；　covered　with　verdure；　watered　with　streams　from
copious　fountains；　and　shaded　by　luxuriant　palm　trees。　On　the　western　border
of　the　plain　rose　the　towers　and　palaces　of　Jericho；　so　embosomed　in　its
palm…tree　groves　that　it　was　called　〃the　city　of　palm　trees。〃

On　the　eastern　side　of　Jordan；　between　the　river　and　the　high　tableland
which　they　had　been　traversing；　was　also　a　plain；　several　miles　in　width　and
extending　some　distance　along　the　river。　This　sheltered　valley　had　the
climate　of　the　tropics；　here　flourished　the　shittim；　or　acacia；　tree；　giving
to　the　plain　the　name；　〃Vale　of　Shittim。〃　It　was　here　that　the　Israelites
encamped；　and　in　the　acacia　groves　by　the　riverside　they　found　an　agreeable
retreat。

But　amid　these　attractive　surroundings　they　were　to　encounter　an　evil　more
deadly　than　mighty　hosts　of　armed　men　or　the　wild　beasts　of　the　wilderness。
That　country；　so　rich　in　natural　advantages；　had　been　defiled　by　the
inhabitants。　In　the　public　worship　of　Baal；　the　leading　deity；　the　most
degrading　and　iniquitous　scenes　were　constantly　enacted。　On　every　side　were
places　noted　for　idolatry　and　licentiousness；　the　very　names　being
suggestive　of　the　vileness　and　corruption　of　the　people。

These　surroundings　exerted　a　polluting　influence　upon　the　Israelites。　Their
minds　became　familiar　with　the　vile　thoughts　constantly　suggested；　their
life　of　ease　and　inaction　produced　its　demoralizing　effect；　and　almost
unconsciously　to　themselves　they

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were　departing　from　God　and　coming　into　a　condition　where　they　would　fall　an
easy　prey　to　temptation。

During　the　time　of　their　encampment　beside　Jordan；　Moses　was　preparing　for
the　occupation　of　Canaan。　In　this　work　the　great　leader　was　fully　employed；
but　to　the　people　this　time　of　suspense　and　expectation　was　most　trying；　and
before　many　weeks　had　elapsed　their　history　was　marred　by　the　most　frightful
departures　from　virtue　and　integrity。

At　first　there　was　little　intercourse　between　the　Israelites　and　their
heathen　neighbors；　but　after　a　time　Midianitish　women　began　to　steal　into
the　camp。　Their　appearance　excited　no　alarm；　and　so　quietly　were　their　plans
conducted　that　the　attention　of　Moses　was　not　called　to　the　matter。　It　was
the　object　of　these　women；　in　their　association　with　the　Hebrews；　to　seduce
them　into　transgression　of　the　law　of　God；　to　draw　their　attention　to
heathen　rites　and　customs；　and　lead　them　into　idolatry。　These　motives　were
studiously　concealed　under　the　garb　of　friendship；　so　that　they　were　not
suspected；　even　by　the　guardians　of　the　people。

At　Balaam's　suggestion；　a　grand　festival　in　honor　of　their　gods　was
appointed　by　the　king　of　Moab；　and　it　was　secretly　arranged　that　Balaam
should　induce　the　Israelites　to　attend。　He　was　regarded　by　them　as　a　prophet
of　God；　and　hence　had　little　difficulty　in　accomplishing　his　purpose。　Great
numbers　of　the　people　joined　him　in　witnessing　the　festivities。　They
ventured　upon　the　forbidden　ground；　and　were　entangled　in　the　snare　of
Satan。　Beguiled　with　music　and　dancing；　and　allured　by　the　beauty　of　heathen
vestals；　they　cast　off　their　fealty　to　Jehovah。　As　they　united　in　mirth　and
feasting；　indulgence　in　wine　beclouded　their　senses　and　broke　down　the
barriers　of　self…control。　Passion　had　full　sway；　and　having　defiled　their
consciences　by　lewdness；　they　were　persuaded　to　bow　down　to　idols。　They
offered　sacrifice　upon　heathen　altars　and　participated　in　the　most　degrading
rites。

It　was　not　long　before　the　poison　had　spread；　like　a　deadly　infection；
through　the　camp　of　Israel。　Those　who　would　have　conquered　their　enemies　in
battle　were　overcome　by　the　wiles　of　heathen　women。　The　people　seemed　to　be
infatuated。　The　rulers　and　the　leading　men　were　among　the　first　to
transgress；　and　so　many　of　the　people　were　guilty　that　the　apostasy　became
national。　〃Israel　joined　himself　unto　Baalpeor。〃　When　Moses　was

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aroused　to　perceive　the　evil；　the　plots　of　their　enemies　had　been　so
successful　that　not　only　were　the　Israelites　participating　in　the　licentious
worship　at　Mount　Peor；　but　the　heathen　rites　were　coming　to　be　observed　in
the　camp　of　Israel。　The　aged　leader　was　filled　with　indignation；　and　the
wrath　of　God　was　kindled。

Their　iniquitous　practices　did　that　for　Israel　which　all　the　enchantments　of
Balaam　could　not　dothey　separated　them　from　God。　By　swift…coming　judgments
the　people　were　awakened　to　the　enormity　of　their　sin。　A　terrible　pestilence
broke　out　in　the　camp；　to　which　tens　of　thousands　speedily　fell　a　prey。　God
commanded　that　the　leaders　in　this　apostasy　be　put　to　death　by　the
magistrates。　This　order　was　promptly　obeyed。　The　offenders　were　slain；　then
their　bodies　were　hung　up　in　sight　of　all　Israel　that　the　congregation；
seeing　the　leaders　so　severely　dealt　with；　might　have　a　deep　sense　of　God's
abhorrence　of　their　sin　and　the　terror　of　His　wrath　against　them。

All　felt　that　the　punishment　was　just；　and　the　people　hastened　to　the
tabernacle；　and　with　tears　and　deep　humiliation　confessed　their　sin。　While
they　were　thus　weeping　before　God；　at　the　door　of　the　tabernacle；　while　the
plague　was　still　doing　its　work　of　death；　and　the　magistrates　were　executing
their　terrible　commission；　Zimri；　one　of　the　nobles　of　Israel；　came　boldly
into　the　camp；　accompanied　by　a　Midianitish　harlot；　a　princess　〃of　a　chief
house　in　Midian；〃　whom　he　escorted　to　his　tent。　Never　was　vice　bolder　or
more　stubborn。　Inflamed　with　wine；　Zimri　declared　his　〃sin　as　Sodom；〃　and
gloried　in　his　shame。　The　priests　and　leaders　had　prostrated　themselves　in
grief　and　humiliation；　weeping　〃between　the　porch　and　the　altar；〃　and
entreating　the　Lord　to　spare　His　pe