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they go from one stage of wickedness to another。 The rejection of light
darkens the mind and hardens the heart； so that it is easier for them to
take the next step in sin and to reject still clearer light； until at last
their habits of wrongdoing become fixed。 Sin ceases to appear sinful to
them。 He who faithfully preaches God's word； thereby condemning their sins；
too often incurs their hatred。 Unwilling to endure the pain and sacrifice
necessary to reform； they turn upon the Lord's servant and denounce his
reproofs as uncalled for and severe。 Like Korah； they declare that the
people are not at fault； it is the reprover that causes all the trouble。 And
soothing their consciences with this deception； the jealous and disaffected
combine to sow discord in the church and weaken the hands of those who would
build it up。
Every advance made by those whom God has called to lead in His work has
excited suspicion； every act has been misrepresented by the jealous and
faultfinding。 Thus it was in the time of Luther； of the Wesleys and other
reformers。 Thus it is today。
Korah would not have taken the course he did had he known that all the
directions and reproofs communicated to Israel were from God。 But he might
have known this。 God had given
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overwhelming evidence that He was leading Israel。 But Korah and his
companions rejected light until they became so blinded that the most
striking manifestations of His power were not sufficient to convince them；
they attributed them all to human or satanic agency。 The same thing was done
by the people； who the day after the destruction of Korah and his company
came to Moses and Aaron； saying； 〃Ye have killed the people of the Lord。〃
Notwithstanding they had had the most convincing evidence of God's
displeasure at their course； in the destruction of the men who had deceived
them； they dared to attribute His judgments to Satan； declaring that through
the power of the evil one； Moses and Aaron had caused the death of good and
holy men。 It was this act that sealed their doom。 They had committed the sin
against the Holy Spirit； a sin by which man's heart is effectually hardened
against the influence of divine grace。 〃Whosoever speaketh a word against
the Son of man；〃 said Christ； 〃it shall be forgiven him： but whosoever
speaketh against the Holy Ghost； it shall not be forgiven him。〃 Matthew
12：32。 These words were spoken by our Saviour when the gracious works which
He had performed through the power of God were attributed by the Jews to
Beelzebub。 It is through the agency of the Holy Spirit that God communicates
with man； and those who deliberately reject this agency as satanic； have cut
off the channel of communication between the soul and Heaven。
God works by the manifestation of His Spirit to reprove and convict the
sinner； and if the Spirit's work is finally rejected； there is no more that
God can do for the soul。 The last resource of divine mercy has been
employed。 The transgressor has cut himself off from God； and sin has no
remedy to cure itself。 There is no reserved power by which God can work to
convict and convert the sinner。 〃Let him alone〃 （Hosea 4：17） is the divine
command。 Then 〃there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins； but a certain
fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation； which shall devour
the adversaries。〃 Hebrews 10：26； 27。
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Chapter 36
In the Wilderness
For nearly forty years the children of Israel are lost to view in the
obscurity of the desert。 〃The space；〃 says Moses； 〃in which we came from
Kadesh…barnea； until we were come over the brook Zered； was thirty and eight
years； until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from among
the host； as the Lord sware unto them。 For indeed the hand of the Lord was
against them； to destroy them from among the host； until they were
consumed。〃 Deuteronomy 2：14； 15。
During these years the people were constantly reminded that they were under
the divine rebuke。 In the rebellion at Kadesh they had rejected God； and God
had for the time rejected them。 Since they had proved unfaithful to His
covenant； they were not to receive the sign of the covenant； the rite of
circumcision。 Their desire to return to the land of slavery had shown them
to be unworthy of freedom； and the ordinance of the Passover； instituted to
commemorate the deliverance from bondage； was not to be observed。
Yet the continuance of the tabernacle service testified that God had not
utterly forsaken His people。 And His providence still supplied their wants。
〃The Lord thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand；〃 said
Moses； in rehearsing the history of their wanderings。 〃He knoweth thy
walking through this great wilderness； these forty years the Lord thy God
hath been with thee； thou hast lacked nothing。〃 And the Levites' hymn；
recorded by Nehemiah； vividly pictures God's care for Israel； even during
these years of rejection and banishment： 〃Thou in Thy manifold mercies
forsookest them not in the wilderness： the pillar of the cloud departed not
from them by day； to lead them in the way； neither the pillar of fire by
night； to show them light； and the way wherein they should go。 Thou gavest
also Thy
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good Spirit to instruct them； and withheldest not Thy manna from their
mouth； and gavest them water for their thirst。 Yea； forty years didst Thou
sustain them in the wilderness； 。 。 。 their clothes waxed not old； and their
feet swelled not。〃 Nehemiah 9：19…21。
The wilderness wandering was not only ordained as a judgment upon the rebels
and murmurers； but it was to serve as a discipline for the rising
generation； preparatory to their entrance into the Promised Land。 Moses
declared to them； 〃As a man chasteneth his son； so the Lord thy God
chasteneth thee；〃 〃to humble thee； and to prove thee； to know what was in
thine heart； whether thou wouldest keep His commandments； or no。 And He 。 。
。 suffered thee to hunger； and fed thee with manna； which thou knewest not；
neither did thy fathers know； that He might make thee know that man doth not
live by bread only； but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of
the Lord doth man live。〃 Deuteronomy 8：5； 2； 3。
〃He found him in a desert land； and in the waste howling wilderness； He led
him about； He instructed him； He kept him as the apple of His eyes。〃 〃In all
their affliction He was afflicted； and the Angel of His presence saved them；
in His love and in His pity He redeemed them； and He bare them； and carried
them all the days of old。〃 Deuteronomy 32：10； Isaiah 63：9。
Yet the only records of their wilderness life are instances of rebellion
against the Lord。 The revolt of Korah had resulted in the destruction of
fourteen thousand of Israel。 And there were isolated cases that showed the
same spirit of contempt for the divine authority。
On one occasion the son of an Israelitish woman and of an Egyptian； one of
the mixed multitude that had come up with Israel from Eg