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！
purpose again to test His people。 He would prove whether they would trust
His providence or imitate the unbelief of their fathers。
They were now in sight of the hills of Canaan。 A few days'
414
march would bring them to the borders of the Promised Land。 They were but a
little distance from Edom； which belonged to the descendants of Esau； and
through which lay the appointed route to Canaan。 The direction had been
given to Moses； 〃Turn you northward。 And command thou the people； saying； Ye
are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau； which
dwell in Seir； and they shall be afraid of you。 。 。 。 Ye shall buy meat of
them for money； that ye may eat； and ye shall also buy water of them for
money； that ye may drink。〃 Deuteronomy 2：3…6。 These directions should have
been sufficient to explain why their supply of water had been cut off； they
were about to pass through a well…watered； fertile country； in a direct
course to the land of Canaan。 God had promised them an unmolested passage
through Edom； and an opportunity to purchase food； and also water sufficient
to supply the host。 The cessation of the miraculous flow of water should
therefore have been a cause of rejoicing； a token that the wilderness
wandering was ended。 Had they not been blinded by their unbelief； they would
have understood this。 But that which should have been an evidence of the
fulfillment of God's promise was made the occasion of doubt and murmuring。
The people seemed to have given up all hope that God would bring them into
possession of Canaan； and they clamored for the blessings of the wilderness。
Before God permitted them to enter Canaan； they must show that they believed
His promise。 The water ceased before they had reached Edom。 Here was an
opportunity for them； for a little time； to walk by faith instead of sight。
But the first trial developed the same turbulent； unthankful spirit that had
been manifested by their fathers。 No sooner was the cry for water heard in
the encampment than they forgot the hand that had for so many years supplied
their wants； and instead of turning to God for help； they murmured against
Him； in their desperation exclaiming； 〃Would God that we had died when our
brethren died before the Lord！〃 （Numbers 20：1…13）； that is； they wished they
had been of the number who were destroyed in the rebellion of Korah。
Their cries were directed against Moses and Aaron： 〃Why have ye brought up
the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness； that we and our cattle
should die there？ And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt； to
bring us in unto
417
this evil place？ it is no place of seed； or of figs； or of vines； or of
pomegranates； neither is there any water to drink。〃
The leaders went to the door of the tabernacle and fell upon their faces。
Again 〃the glory of the Lord appeared；〃 and Moses was directed； 〃Take the
rod； and gather thou the assembly together； thou and Aaron thy brother； and
speak ye unto the rock before their eyes； and it shall give forth his water；
and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock。〃
The two brothers went on before the multitude； Moses with the rod of God in
his hand。 They were now aged men。 Long had they borne with the rebellion and
obstinacy of Israel； but now； at last； even the patience of Moses gave way。
〃Hear now； ye rebels；〃 he cried； 〃must we fetch you water out of this rock？〃
and instead of speaking to the rock； as God had commanded him； he smote it
twice with the rod。
The water gushed forth in abundance to satisfy the host。 But a great wrong
had been done。 Moses had spoken from irritated feeling； his words were an
expression of human passion rather than of holy indignation because God had
been dishonored。 〃Hear now； ye rebels；〃 he said。 This accusation was true；
but even truth is not to be spoken in passion or impatience。 When God had
bidden Moses to charge upon Israel their rebellion； the words had been
painful to him； and hard for them to bear； yet God had sustained him in
delivering the message。 But when he took it upon himself to accuse them； he
grieved the Spirit of God and wrought only harm to the people。 His lack of
patience and self…control was evident。 Thus the people were given occasion
to question whether his past course had been under the direction of God； and
to excuse their own sins。 Moses； as well as they； had offended God。 His
course； they said； had from the first been open to criticism and censure。
They had now found the pretext which they desired for rejecting all the
reproofs that God had sent them through His servant。
Moses manifested distrust of God。 〃Shall we bring water？〃 he questioned； as
if the Lord would not do what He promised。 〃Ye believed Me not；〃 the Lord
declared to the two brothers； 〃to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of
Israel。〃 At the time when the water failed； their own faith in the
fulfillment of God's promise had been shaken by the murmuring and rebellion
of the people。 The first generation had been condemned to perish
418
in the wilderness because of their unbelief； yet the same spirit appeared in
their children。 Would these also fail of receiving the promise？ Wearied and
disheartened； Moses and Aaron had made no effort to stem the current of
popular feeling。 Had they themselves manifested unwavering faith in God；
they might have set the matter before the people in such a light as would
have enabled them to bear this test。 By prompt； decisive exercise of the
authority vested in them as magistrates； they might have quelled the
murmuring。 It was their duty to put forth every effort in their power to
bring about a better state of things before asking God to do the work for
them。 Had the murmuring at Kadesh been promptly checked； what a train of
evil might have been prevented！
By his rash act Moses took away the force of the lesson that God purposed to
teach。 The rock； being a symbol of Christ； had been once smitten； as Christ
was to be once offered。 The second time it was needful only to speak to the
rock； as we have only to ask for blessings in the name of Jesus。 By the
second smiting of the rock the significance of this beautiful figure of
Christ was destroyed。
More than this； Moses and Aaron had assumed power that belongs only to God。
The necessity for divine interposition made the occasion one of great
solemnity； and the leaders of Israel should have improved it to impress the
people with reverence for God and to strengthen their faith in His power and
goodness。 When they angrily cried； 〃Must we fetch you water out of this
rock？〃 they put themselves in God's place； as though the power lay with
themselves； men possessing human frailties and passions。 Wearied with the
continual murmuring and rebellion of the people； Moses had lost sight of his
Almighty Helper； and without the divine strength he had been left to mar his
record by an exhibition of human weakness。 The man who might have stood
pure； firm； and unselfish to the close of his work had been overcome at
last。 God had been dishonored before the congregation of Israel； when