patriarchs and prophets-第97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！
food provided for them by their Creator。 Yet they had constant evidence that
it was adapted to their wants； for notwithstanding the hardships they
endured； there was not a feeble one in all their tribes。
The heart of Moses sank。 He had pleaded that Israel should not be destroyed；
even though his own posterity might then become a great nation。 In his love
for them he had prayed that his
380
name might be blotted from the book of life rather than that they should be
left to perish。 He had imperiled all for them； and this was their response。
All their hardships； even their imaginary sufferings； they charged upon him；
and their wicked murmurings made doubly heavy the burden of care and
responsibility under which he staggered。 In his distress he was tempted even
to distrust God。 His prayer was almost a complaint。 〃Wherefore hast Thou
afflicted Thy servant？ and wherefore have I not found favor in Thy sight；
that Thou layest the burden of all this people upon me？ 。 。 。 Whence should
I have flesh to give unto all this people？ for they weep unto me； saying；
Give us flesh； that we may eat。 I am not able to bear all this people alone；
because it is too heavy for me。〃
The Lord hearkened to his prayer； and directed him to summon seventy men of
the elders of Israelmen not only advanced in years； but possessing
dignity； sound judgment； and experience。 〃And bring them unto the tabernacle
of the congregation；〃 He said； 〃that they may stand there with thee。 And I
will come down and talk with thee there： and I will take of the spirit which
is upon thee； and will put it upon them； and they shall bear the burden of
the people with thee； that thou bear it not thyself alone。〃
The Lord permitted Moses to choose for himself the most faithful and
efficient men to share the responsibility with him。 Their influence would
assist in holding in check the violence of the people； and quelling
insurrection； yet serious evils would eventually result from their
promotion。 They would never have been chosen had Moses manifested faith
corresponding to the evidences he had witnessed of God's power and goodness。
But he had magnified his own burdens and services； almost losing sight of
the fact that he was only the instrument by which God had wrought。 He was
not excusable in indulging； in the slightest degree； the spirit of murmuring
that was the curse of Israel。 Had he relied fully upon God； the Lord would
have guided him continually and would have given him strength for every
emergency。
Moses was directed to prepare the people for what God was about to do for
them。 〃Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow； and ye shall eat flesh： for ye
have wept in the ears of the Lord； saying； Who shall give us flesh to eat？
for it was well with us in Egypt： therefore the Lord will give you flesh；
and ye shall eat。
381
Ye shall not eat one day； nor two days； nor five days； neither ten days； nor
twenty days； but even a whole month； until it come out at your nostrils； and
it be loathsome unto you： because that ye have despised the Lord which is
among you； and have wept before Him； saying； Why came we forth out of
Egypt？〃
〃The people； among whom I am；〃 exclaimed Moses； 〃are six hundred thousand
footmen； and Thou has said； I will give them flesh； that they may eat a
whole month。 Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them； to suffice
them？ or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them？〃
He was reproved for his distrust： 〃Is the Lord's hand waxed short？ thou
shalt see now whether My word shall come to pass unto thee or not。〃
Moses repeated to the congregation the words of the Lord； and announced the
appointment of the seventy elders。 The great leader's charge to these chosen
men might well serve as a model of judicial integrity for the judges and
legislators of modern times： 〃Hear the causes between your brethren； and
judge righteously between every man and his brother； and the stranger that
is with him。 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment； but ye shall hear the
small as well as the great； ye shall not be afraid of the face of man； for
the judgment is God's。〃 Deuteronomy 1：16； 17。
Moses now summoned the seventy to the tabernacle。 〃And the Lord came down in
a cloud； and spake unto him； and took of the spirit that was upon him； and
gave it unto the seventy elders： and it came to pass； that； when the spirit
rested upon them； they prophesied； and did not cease。〃 Like the disciples on
the Day of Pentecost； they were endued with 〃power from on high。〃 It pleased
the Lord thus to prepare them for their work； and to honor them in the
presence of the congregation； that confidence might be established in them
as men divinely chosen to unite with Moses in the government of Israel。
Again evidence was given of the lofty； unselfish spirit of the great leader。
Two of the seventy； humbly counting themselves unworthy of so responsible a
position； had not joined their brethren at the tabernacle； but the Spirit of
God came upon them where they were； and they； too； exercised the prophetic
gift。 On being informed of this； Joshua desired to check such irregularity；
fearing that it might tend to division。 Jealous for the honor of
382
his master； 〃My lord Moses；〃 he said； 〃forbid them。〃 The answer was；
〃Enviest thou for my sake？ would God that all the Lord's people were
prophets； and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them。〃
A strong wind blowing from the sea now brought flocks of quails； 〃about a
day's journey on this side； and a day's journey on the other side； round
about the camp； and about two cubits above the face of the earth。〃 Numbers
11：31； R。V。 All that day and night； and the following day； the people
labored in gathering the food miraculously provided。 Immense quantities were
secured。 〃He that gathered least gathered ten homers。〃 All that was not
needed for present use was preserved by drying； so that the supply； as
promised； was sufficient for a whole month。
God gave the people that which was not for their highest good； because they
persisted in desiring it； they would not be satisfied with those things that
would prove a benefit to them。 Their rebellious desires were gratified； but
they were left to suffer the result。 They feasted without restraint； and
their excesses were speedily punished。 〃The Lord smote the people with a
very great plague。〃 Large numbers were cut down by burning fevers； while the
most guilty among them were smitten as soon as they tasted the food for
which they had lusted。
At Hazeroth； the next encampment after leaving Taberah； a still more bitter
trial awaited Moses。 Aaron and Miriam had occupied a position of high honor
and leadership in Israel。 Both were endowed with the prophetic gift； and
both had been divinely associated with Moses in the deliverance of the
Hebrews。 〃I sent before thee Moses； Aaron； and Miriam〃 （Micah 6：4）； are the
words of the Lord by the prophet Micah。 Miriam's force of character had been
early displayed when as a child she watched beside the Nile the little
basket in which was hidden the infant Moses。 Her self…control and tact God
had made instrumental in preserving the deliverer of His people。 Richly
endowed with the gifts of poetry and music； Miriam had led the women of
Israel in song and dance on the shore of the Red Sea。 In the affections of
the people and the honor of Heaven she stood second only to Moses and Aaron。
But the same evil that first brought discord in heaven sprang up in the
heart of this woman of Israel； and she did not fail to find a sympathizer in
her dissatisfaction。
In the appointment of the seventy elders Miriam and Aaron
383
had not been consulted； and their jealousy was excited against Moses。 At the
time of Jethro's visit； while the Israelites were on the way to Sinai； the
ready acceptance by Moses of the counsel of his father…in…law had aroused in
Aaron and Miriam a fear that his influence with the great leader exceeded
theirs。 In the organization of the council of elders they felt that their
position and autho
