patriarchs and prophets-第122章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
leader of Israel was ended。 Still he forgot himself in his interest for his
people。 In the presence of the assembled multitude Moses； in the name of
God； addressed to his successor these words of holy cheer： 〃Be strong and of
a good courage： for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land
which I sware unto them： and I will be with thee。〃 He then turned to the
elders and officers of the people； giving them a solemn charge to obey
faithfully the instructions he had communicated to them from God。
As the people gazed upon the aged man； so soon to be taken from them； they
recalled； with a new and deeper appreciation； his parental tenderness； his
wise counsels； and his untiring labors。 How often； when their sins had
invited the just judgments of God； the prayers of Moses had prevailed with
Him to spare them！ Their grief was heightened by remorse。 They bitterly
remembered that their own perversity had provoked Moses to the sin for which
he must die。
The removal of their beloved leader would be a far stronger rebuke to Israel
than any which they could have received had his life and mission been
continued。 God would lead them to feel that they were not to make the life
of their future leader as trying as they had made that of Moses。 God speaks
to His people in blessings bestowed； and when these are not appreciated； He
speaks to them in blessings removed； that they may be led to see their sins；
and return to Him with all the heart。
That very day there came to Moses the command； 〃Get thee up 。 。 。 unto Mount
Nebo； 。 。 。 and behold the land of Canaan； which I give unto the children of
Israel for a possession： and die in the mount whither thou goest up； and be
gathered unto thy people。〃 Moses had often left the camp； in obedience to
the divine summons； to commune with God； but he was now to depart on a new
and mysterious errand。 He must go forth to resign his life into the hands of
his Creator。 Moses knew that he was to die alone； no earthly friend would be
permitted to minister to him in his last hours。 There was a mystery and
awfulness about the scene before him； from which his heart shrank。 The
severest trial was his separation from the people of his care and lovethe
people with whom his interest and his life had so long
471
been united。 But he had learned to trust in God； and with unquestioning
faith he committed himself and his people to His love and mercy。
For the last time Moses stood in the assembly of his people。 Again the
Spirit of God rested upon him； and in the most sublime and touching language
he pronounced a blessing upon each of the tribes； closing with a benediction
upon them all：
〃There is none like unto God； O Jeshurun；
Who rideth upon the heaven for thy help；
And in His excellency on the skies。
The eternal God is thy dwelling place；
And underneath are the everlasting arms：
And He thrust out the enemy from before thee；
And said； Destroy。
And Israel dwelleth in safety；
The fountain of Jacob alone；
In a land of corn and wine；
Yea； His heavens drop down dew。
Happy art thou； O Israel：
Who is like unto thee； a people saved by Jehovah；
The shield of thy help。〃
Deuteronomy 33：26…29； R。V。
Moses turned from the congregation； and in silence and alone made his way up
the mountainside。 He went to 〃the mountain of Nebo； to the top of Pisgah。〃
Upon that lonely height he stood； and gazed with undimmed eye upon the scene
spread out before him。 Far away to the west lay the blue waters of the Great
Sea； in the north； Mount Hermon stood out against the sky； to the east was
the tableland of Moab； and beyond lay Bashan； the scene of Israel's triumph；
and away to the south stretched the desert of their long wanderings。
In solitude Moses reviewed his life of vicissitudes and hardships since he
turned from courtly honors and from a prospective kingdom in Egypt； to cast
in his lot with God's chosen people。 He called to mind those long years in
the desert with the flocks of Jethro； the appearance of the Angel in the
burning bush； and his own call to deliver Israel。 Again he beheld the mighty
miracles of God's power displayed in behalf of the chosen people； and His
long…suffering mercy during the years of their wandering and rebellion。
Notwithstanding all that God
472
had wrought for them； notwithstanding his own prayers and labors； only two
of all the adults in the vast army that left Egypt had been found so
faithful that they could enter the Promised Land。 As Moses reviewed the
result of his labors； his life of trial and sacrifice seemed to have been
almost in vain。
Yet he did not regret the burdens he had borne。 He knew that his mission and
work were of God's own appointing。 When first called to become the leader of
Israel from bondage； he shrank from the responsibility； but since he had
taken up the work he had not cast aside the burden。 Even when the Lord had
proposed to release him； and destroy rebellious Israel； Moses could not
consent。 Though his trials had been great； he had enjoyed special tokens of
God's favor； he had obtained a rich experience during the sojourn in the
wilderness； in witnessing the manifestations of God's power and glory； and
in the communion of His love； he felt that he had made a wise decision in
choosing to suffer affliction with the people of God； rather than to enjoy
the pleasures of sin for a season。
As he looked back upon his experience as a leader of God's people； one wrong
act marred the record。 If that transgression could be blotted out； he felt
that he would not shrink from death。 He was assured that repentance； and
faith in the promised Sacrifice； were all that God required； and again Moses
confessed his sin and implored pardon in the name of Jesus。
And now a panoramic view of the Land of Promise was presented to him。 Every
part of the country was spread out before him； not faint and uncertain in
the dim distance； but standing out clear； distinct； and beautiful to his
delighted vision。 In this scene it was presented； not as it then appeared；
but as it would become； with God's blessing upon it； in the possession of
Israel。 He seemed to be looking upon a second Eden。 There were mountains
clothed with cedars of Lebanon； hills gray with olives and fragrant with the
odor of the vine； wide green plains bright with flowers and rich in
fruitfulness； here the palm trees of the tropics； there waving fields of
wheat and barley； sunny valleys musical with the ripple of brooks and the
song of birds； goodly cities and fair gardens； lakes rich in 〃the abundance
of the seas；〃 grazing flocks upon the hillsides； and even amid the rocks the
wild bee's hoarded treasures。 It was indeed such a land as Moses； inspired
by the Spirit of God； had described to Israel： 〃Blessed
475
of the Lord 。 。 。 for the precious things of heaven； for the dew； and for
the deep that coucheth beneath； and for the precious fruits brought forth by
the sun； 。 。 。 and for the chief things of the ancient mountains； 。 。 。 and
for the precious things of the earth and fullness thereof。〃
Moses saw the chosen people established in Canaan； each of the tribes in its
own possession。 He had a view of their history after the settlement of the
Promised Land； the long； sad story of their apostasy and its punishment was
spread out before him。 He saw them； because of their sins； dispersed among
the heathen； the glory departed from Israel； her beautiful city in ruins；
and her people captives in strange lands。 He saw them restored to the land
of their fathers； and at last brought under the dominion of Rome。
He was permitted to look down the stream of time and behold the first advent
of our Saviour。 He saw Jesus as a babe in Bethlehem。 He heard the voices of
the angelic host break forth in the glad song of praise to God and peace on
earth。 He beheld in the heavens the star guiding the Wis
