Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-05-06
BY Rev. D. g. wyne.
Exodus XIV, %, a. -.


people plunged, with their tlocks and
herds, into the wilderness with It's new
and strange experiences. They pressed
forward, but. at the end of three days,
found their supply of water exhausted.
Animals and people Were driven al
most mad. They burned with thirst.
their eyes became blo6dshot, they
painted with fever under the sun, ard
longed for water. Their condition was
not simply uncomfortable. but posi-
lively dangerous.
Wh1 "A this sad plight good news
came to them. The cry was heard,
Wells of water ahead: fountains
where they might quench their
thirst and cool their fever. Fast
er and faster they pressed forward,
only TO find disappointment. For when
they came TO Marah, they could not
drink of the waters of Marah, for they
were bitter
What does all this mean? That their
Journey was a type of ours; that we
have experiences similar TO theirs. Is
1t not a fact that TO most of us life is
Il wilderness, desert, often Gisap-
pointment. Marah. bitterness? All have
Marah experiences, though there is
mae OF joy then sorrow in life more
Of sunshine than shadow.
Most of life is TO most men made up
of much disappointment. Men crave
happiness, and expect it here and seek
1t through some earthly. some temporal
means. wealth, or power. OF fame, or Il
peaceful domestic life, or social sue
cess, or literary eminence-and no
sooner do they obtain their desire and
hold it in their grasp than they find its
SAVIOR gone, its taste bitter, that they do
not care to drink"
Under such circumstances we feel
that God is unkind and we complain
against him. Has he no plan in all
this for us? Yes. The hard expert
ences of life are Gods discipline by
which he tests US and purges out the
drOss that the pure gold may appear.
v do not know what inpatience, re
benion, sin turks in our heart until we
pass through Gods fiery tests.
The incident we are considering ex-
hibits to rs the fact that in times o.
triad and disappointment Gods people
act in different ways.
We see how the people murmured,
What shall we drink" They COM
plaile> ainst their best friend,
Nc SEES. They acted as if they thought
him God Had he not acted unselfish-
ly? Did he not, for their sakes, step
down from a place of eminence and
power? 1t was for them. that they
might become free men and free wom-
en-, that he became an oltcast and So
journed forty years in the solitudes
of the desert, keeping sheep instead of
ruling men.
At Marah the people mades Moses
their scapegoat; they threw all the
blame of their misfortunes upon him.
In so doing they reveal base trait in
human haracter-men's willingness
to blame others for their misfortunes
instead of calmly and patiently assum-
ing the responsibility themselves. The
people murmured against Moses in
stead of counting their experiences as
a valuable part of their wilderness dis
cipline.
With Moses it was different: Though
under a fearful strain and in danger,
he was patient and prayed TO God.
He did not rebuke the people, but SYM
pathize1 with them in their distress.
He sought Gods guidance and found it,
In, IN D1f
God healed the bitter waters The
prayer of Moses brought sweetness out
of bitterness joy out of sorrow. and
light out af darkness. The Gethsemanes
OF life always turn out to the Chris
tian'S advantage. Agonizing prayer
that brings drops of blood is generally
answered When all else fails God ac-
cOmpIishes many things by the prayers
of his people Learn to pray. Walk
I'm the footsteps of the great and good
OF the ages.
We have an instance of Gods gra-
cious kindenss TO his people. He led
them out of their trials. They did not
stop and perish at Marah, but went on
to Elm, with its palm groves and wells
OF WATER
In life Elm often follows Marah.
God opens up for us broad way out
of our difficulties. There are. in the
providence of God. many sweet rest
ing places after our times of bitterness.
We are wise when we learn in life to
take the bitter with the sweet.
God led his people out of bondage
end gave them liberty. In their dark
est and most discOuraging hours God
never forsoOk them. They had the
presence of Moses as friend and guide.
They went through many hard and try
Ing experiences. but at last they ar
rived at the end Of their destination
and entered Canaan.
SO it IS with us. Now we are on our
hard and dangerous journey. There
are enemies on every side. Often We
nre discouraged. We faint under our
heavy loads. We murmur against the
prUyidences of God.
This is not what God desires US TO do.
We are to learn patience, TO trust God.
to 20 forward under the guidance of the
great leader. Jesus Christ until at last
the end Of the journey will come aud
we shall enter our heavenly Canaan
and : forever with our God
TALKS OF LARGE FAMILIES.
BY Rev. n. -. SaHgasariaH.
T. ,,1z1~+ A4brv,S Tho r,af,r,o " a ion Of