patriarchs and prophets-第74章
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the law was given at Sinai。 Before the Israelites came to Sinai they
understood the Sabbath to be obligatory upon them。 In being obliged to
gather every Friday a double portion of manna in preparation for the
Sabbath； when none would fall； the sacred nature of the day of rest was
continually impressed upon them。 And when some of the people
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went out on the Sabbath to gather manna； the Lord asked； 〃How long refuse ye
to keep My commandments and My laws？〃
〃The children of Israel did eat manna forty years； until they came to a land
inhabited： they did eat manna； until they came unto the borders of the land
of Canaan。〃 For forty years they were daily reminded by this miraculous
provision； of God's unfailing care and tender love。 In the words of the
psalmist； God gave them 〃of the corn of heaven。 Man did eat angels' food〃
（Psalm 78：24； 25）that is； food provided for them by the angels。 Sustained
by 〃the corn of heaven；〃 they were daily taught that； having God's promise；
they were as secure from want as if surrounded by fields of waving grain on
the fertile plains of Canaan。
The manna； falling from heaven for the sustenance of Israel； was a type of
Him who came from God to give life to the world。 Said Jesus； 〃I am that
Bread of life。 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness； and are dead。
This is the bread which cometh down from heaven。 。 。 。 If any man eat of
this bread； he shall live forever： and the bread that I will give is My
flesh； which I will give for the life of the world。〃 John 6：48…51。 And among
the promises of blessing to God's people in the future life it is written；
〃To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna。〃 Revelation
2：17。
After leaving the wilderness of Sin； the Israelites encamped in Rephidim。
Here there was no water； and again they distrusted the providence of God。 In
their blindness and presumption the people came to Moses with the demand；
〃Give us water that we may drink。〃 But his patience failed not。 〃Why chide
ye with me？〃 he said； 〃wherefore do ye tempt the Lord？〃 They cried in anger；
〃Wherefore is this； that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt； to kill us
and our children and our cattle with thirst？〃 When they had been so
abundantly supplied with food； they remembered with shame their unbelief and
murmurings； and promised to trust the Lord in the future； but they soon
forgot their promise； and failed at the first trial of their faith。 The
pillar of cloud that was leading them seemed to veil a fearful mystery。 And
Moseswho was he？ they questioned； and what could be his object in bringing
them from Egypt？ Suspicion and distrust filled their hearts； and they boldly
accused him of designing to kill them and their children by
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privations and hardships that he might enrich himself with their
possessions。 In the tumult of rage and indignation they were about to stone
him。
In distress Moses cried to the Lord； 〃What shall I do unto this people？〃 He
was directed to take the elders of Israel and the rod wherewith he had
wrought wonders in Egypt； and to go on before the people。 And the Lord said
unto him； 〃Behold； I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb；
and thou shalt smite the rock； and there shall come water out of it； that
the people may drink。〃 He obeyed； and the waters burst forth in a living
stream that abundantly supplied the encampment。 Instead of commanding Moses
to lift up his rod and call down some terrible plague； like those on Egypt；
upon the leaders in this wicked murmuring； the Lord in His great mercy made
the rod His instrument to work their deliverance。
〃He clave the rocks in the wilderness； and gave them drink as out of the
great depths。 He brought streams also out of the rock； and caused waters to
run down like rivers。〃 Psalm 78：15； 16。 Moses smote the rock； but it was the
Son of God who； veiled in the cloudy pillar； stood beside Moses； and caused
the life…giving water to flow。 Not only Moses and the elders； but all the
congregation who stood at a distance； beheld the glory of the Lord； but had
the cloud been removed； they would have been slain by the terrible
brightness of Him who abode therein。
In their thirst the people had tempted God； saying； 〃Is the Lord among us；
or not？〃〃If God has brought us here； why does He not give us water as well
as bread？〃 The unbelief thus manifested was criminal； and Moses feared that
the judgments of God would rest upon them。 And he called the name of the
place Massah； 〃temptation；〃 and Meribah； 〃chiding；〃 as a memorial of their
sin。
A new danger now threatened them。 Because of their murmuring against Him；
the Lord suffered them to be attacked by their enemies。 The Amalekites； a
fierce； warlike tribe inhabiting that region； came out against them and
smote those who； faint and weary； had fallen into the rear。 Moses； knowing
that the masses of the people were unprepared for battle； directed Joshua to
choose from the different tribes a body of soldiers； and lead them on the
morrow against the enemy； while he
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himself would stand on an eminence near by with the rod of God in his hand。
Accordingly the next day Joshua and his company attacked the foe； while
Moses and Aaron and Hur were stationed on a hill overlooking the
battlefield。 With arms outstretched toward heaven； and holding the rod of
God in his right hand； Moses prayed for the success of the armies of Israel。
As the battle progressed； it was observed that so long as his hands were
reaching upward； Israel prevailed； but when they were lowered； the enemy was
victorious。 As Moses became weary； Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands until
the going down of the sun； when the enemy was put to flight。
As Aaron and Hur supported the hands of Moses； they showed the people their
duty to sustain him in his arduous work while he should receive the word
from God to speak to them。 And the act of Moses also was significant；
showing that God held their destiny in His hands； while they made Him their
trust； He would fight for them and subdue their enemies； but when they
should let go their hold upon Him； and trust in their own power； they would
be even weaker than those who had not the knowledge of God； and their foes
would prevail against them。
As the Hebrews triumphed when Moses was reaching his hands toward heaven and
interceding in their behalf； so the Israel of God prevail when they by faith
take hold upon the strength of their mighty Helper。 Yet divine strength is
to be combined with human effort。 Moses did not believe that God would
overcome their foes while Israel remained inactive。 While the great leader
was pleading with the Lord； Joshua and his brave followers were putting
forth their utmost efforts to repulse the enemies of Israel and of God。
After the defeat of the Amalekites； God directed Moses； 〃Write this for a
memorial in a book； and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua： for I will
utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven。〃 Just before
his death the great leader delivered to his people the solemn charge：
〃Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way； when ye were come forth out
of Egypt； how he met thee by the way； and smote the hindmost of thee； even
all that were feeble behind thee； when thou wast faint and weary； and he
feared not God。 。 。 。 Thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from
under
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heaven； thou shalt not forget it。〃 Deuteronomy 25：17…19。 Concerning this
wicked people the Lord declared； 〃The hand of Amalek is against the throne
of Jehovah。〃 Exodus 17：16； margin。
The Amalekites were not ignorant of God's character or of His sovereignty；
but instead of fearing before Him； they had set themselves to defy His
power。 The wonders wrought by Moses before the Egyptians were made a subject
of mockery by the people of Amalek； and the fears of surrounding nations
were ridiculed。 They had taken oath by their gods that they would destroy
the Hebrews； so that not one should escape； and they boasted that Israel's
God would be powerless to resist them。 They had n
