The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-09-08

| Dol of the Divine presence 10, or at the Tab.
ernacle was witnessed, or that the real pres
ence and glory of GoD were recognized in
what afterwards occurred, in the manner in
which the wants of the people we're abund-
antly supplied with water (see last STUDY.
What natural means, if any, we're employed
to cause sufficient supply Of alter to flow
from the rocky mountain we may not know.
ALI that transpired in the history Of this peo-
pie is not recorded in the Bible. For the
purpose of the historian, it was sufficient to
record the fact that Cop, who had led his
people out of Egypt, had protected and sup
piled them in the journey to their destination.
Moses was divinely authorized to assemble
the people, or their representatives, at a rock
or mountain cliff, in front of them, from
which they might be supplied with water.
By the commend of Moses the water was
made to flow. The rod or sceptre was the
common badge of his authority as the rulero of
the people. BY bis official command and
he always spoke in the name of GoD, whom
he represented in his government of Israel
water was supplied from the adjacent mount
ain; how, we may not know. Once before
the camp of Israel bad been similarly sup
piled Exodus xvii), and afterwards at Beer
xxi. 1913, where it is plain that a well was
dug, though, as here, the sceptre was en-
ployed.
The M1RAoLE.-There is reason to believe
that the most marvellous portion of the trans
action only is set down in the record. Doubt
less there we're many things connected with
the wonderful miracles recorded in this part
of the Bible that would modify the OCCUR
rences materially If they ad been given to
u. May we not reasonably presume that
some things occurred that are not put down
that would give the event an appearance that
does not now belong to it? We do not be-
lieve 1t would cease to be miracle, though
we do suspect it would lose some of its mar
velous features. The use of Moses rod, on
that occasion, had the same significance as
on other occasions. 1t did I OF open the rock,
but 1t connected him with the miracle in
such way as to establish his claims to
divine mission in the presence of the elders
of Israel who witnessed it. We need not
suppose that the rock was one single rock
that was cleft asunder, and from the center of
which the water proceeded. 1t was more prop
erly ledge of rocks. or a rocky mountain,
from some crevice of which the water pro-
ceeded, precisely as it did IN other localities.
The inference is, that there was water in the
mountain waiting for an opening to give 1t
exit, which up to that time had escaped
through some other pass age into the low
land below, and been mingled with the soil.
1t now bursts forth from a crevice in the
rocky side of the mount, and becomes sup
ply tor the wants of the furnishing multitude.
We should not transcend the proper bounds
of legiti mate Interpretation, If we should sup
pose that some artificial means were resorted
to 10 find water, and open for it a passage.
1t Is sufficiently miraculous, if we make
Moses dlvineIy informed, that water could
there be obtained, and to have supplied the
people from IL, at this particular juncture,
when they so much needed it. There are
three instances in which the people were
miraculously furnis he'd with water - at
Horeb, Meribah and Beer. In neither in
stance are we expressly told that any natural
means were resorted TO to obtain the water.
Still the very name Beer (welD, given to the
latter place would imply as much as this.
And besides, in connection with the supply
at this place a song is reported in which it is
said
"The princes digged the well,
The mobiles of the people digged it;
BY the direction of the law glver,
With their staves."
And yet at this place, as well as at the
others, he supply is regarded as almost mirac
ulous. That is the we'll whereof the LORD
spoke unto Moses, "Gather the people to-
gether snd / will give them water" COP
gave them water though they had to dig for
It. If we suppose the same of Horeb and
Meribah we do not at all do away with the
miraculous character of that event.-W. e.
MunIey, ID, Egypt and the Wilderness"
Vol ii. of :" Biblical Review"
HE Furnishes THE SIN OF HIS SER
VANTS.-In the matter of supplying the wa
ter from the rock, Moses and Aaron were
declared guilty of some offence of unbelief
or unfaithfulness in which they appear not
not to have sufficiently acknowledged COP
or honored (sanctifed) him in their charac-
ter or conduct as his repre- sentatives before
the people, for which they were not permit
ted to enter the Promised Land. Aaron
died few months afterward on Mt. Hor
Xxx. 28), and six months later Moses died
at Pisgah, near the ford of the Jordan oppo-
site Jericho. Our next Less on will describe
the death and burial of Moses. What the
particular offense was for which Moses and
Aaron are said to have been punished is not
quite clear. 1t may have beer an exhibition
of impotence and ill-temper manifested in
the words, Here ye rebels, shall we fetch
you water out of this rock?" Such conduct
and language we're unworthy the representa-
tives of COP. The Psalmist declares "that
it went ill with Moses because he spoke un-
advisedly with his lips'' (prated) psalm cvi.
49,. The conduct of his servants did not
glorify (honor or sanctify) hin but GoD
glorified himself by satisfying the peoples
thirst and Furnishing the unfaithfulness of
his servants. The glory of GoD may be rec
ognized in the punishm emit of sin as well as
in the rewards of righteousness. The account
of the punishment of Moses and Aaron may
be an addition to the original record, to ex-
plain the fact that these leaders of the Exc
dus died before the Promised Land was
reached. The fountain of water which flowed
from the rocky ledge by the command of
COP at the hand of Moses was named Meri-
bah ('strifewater from the circumstance
that the people strove with Moses and COP
who gave them the water in response to their
murmuriDgs.
CHRIST, THE ROCK"
THE WATER OF LIFE.-The apostle Paul,
abiding to the Israelites during the Exodus,
declares that they all drank the same spir