patriarchs and prophets-第72章
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rich promises； praise Him that Jesus lives to intercede for us。
〃Whoso offereth praise；〃 says the Creator； 〃glorifieth Me。〃 Psalm 50：23。 All
the inhabitants of heaven unite in praising God。 Let us learn the song of
the angels now； that we may sing it when we join their shining ranks。 Let us
say with the psalmist； 〃While
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I live will I praise the Lord： I will sing praises unto my God while I have
any being。〃 〃Let the people praise Thee； O God； let all the people praise
Thee。〃 Psalms 146：2； 67：5。
God in His providence brought the Hebrews into the mountain fastnesses
before the sea； that He might manifest His power in their deliverance and
signally humble the pride of their oppressors。 He might have saved them in
any other way； but He chose this method in order to test their faith and
strengthen their trust in Him。 The people were weary and terrified； yet if
they had held back when Moses bade them advance； God would never have opened
the path for them。 It was 〃by faith〃 that 〃they passed through the Red Sea
as by dry land。〃 Hebrews 11：29。 In marching down to the very water； they
showed that they believed the word of God as spoken by Moses。 They did all
that was in their power to do； and then the Mighty One of Israel divided the
sea to make a path for their feet。
The great lesson here taught is for all time。 Often the Christian life is
beset by dangers； and duty seems hard to perform。 The imagination pictures
impending ruin before and bondage or death behind。 Yet the voice of God
speaks clearly； 〃Go forward。〃 We should obey this command； even though our
eyes cannot penetrate the darkness； and we feel the cold waves about our
feet。 The obstacles that hinder our progress will never disappear before a
halting； doubting spirit。 Those who defer obedience till every shadow of
uncertainty disappears and there remains no risk of failure or defeat； will
never obey at all。 Unbelief whispers； 〃Let us wait till the obstructions are
removed； and we can see our way clearly；〃 but faith courageously urges an
advance； hoping all things； believing all things。
The cloud that was a wall of darkness to the Egyptians was to the Hebrews a
great flood of light； illuminating the whole camp； and shedding brightness
upon the path before them。 So the dealings of Providence bring to the
unbelieving； darkness and despair； while to the trusting soul they are full
of light and peace。 The path where God leads the way may lie through the
desert or the sea； but it is a safe path。
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Chapter 26
From the Red Sea to Sinai
From the Red Sea the hosts of Israel again set forth on their journey； under
the guidance of the pillar of cloud。 The scene around them was most
drearybare； desolate…looking mountains； barren plains； and the sea
stretching far away； its shores strewn with the bodies of their enemies； yet
they were full of joy in the consciousness of freedom； and every thought of
discontent was hushed。
But for three days； as they journeyed； they could find no water。 The supply
which they had taken with them was exhausted。 There was nothing to quench
their burning thirst as they dragged wearily over the sun…burnt plains。
Moses； who was familiar with this region； knew what the others did not； that
at Marah； the nearest station where springs were to be found； the water was
unfit for use。 With intense anxiety he watched the guiding cloud。 With a
sinking heart he heard the glad shout。 〃Water！ water！〃 echoed along the
line。 Men； women； and children in joyous haste crowded to the fountain；
when； lo； a cry of anguish burst forth from the hostthe water was bitter。
In their horror and despair they reproached Moses for having led them in
such a way； not remembering that the divine presence in that mysterious
cloud had been leading him as well as them。 In his grief at their distress
Moses did what they had forgotten to do； he cried earnestly to God for help。
〃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 t
