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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。
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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
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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
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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 authority had been ignored。 Miriam and Aaron had never known
the weight of care and responsibility which had rested upon Moses； yet
because they had been chosen to aid him they regarded themselves as sharing
equally with him the burden of leadership； and they regarded the appointment
of further assistants as uncalled for。
Moses felt the importance of the great work committed to him as no other man
had ever felt it。 He realized his own weakness； and he made God his
counselor。 Aaron esteemed himself more highly； and trusted less in God。 He
had failed when entrusted with responsibility； giving evidence of the
weakness of his character by his base compliance in the matter of the
idolatrous worship at Sinai。 But Miriam and Aaron； blinded by jealousy and
ambition； lost sight of this。 Aaron had been highly honored by God in the
appointment of his family to the sacred office of the priesthood； yet even
this now added to the desire for self…exaltation。 〃And they said； Hath the
Lord indeed spoken only by Moses？ hath He not spoken a