Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-12-01

MI I'M "A iHS III the vi
M /lRNN cinity, and judg
/ HS1 ing by their darl
S-<- 1A/ looks and thu
fact that the,
were fully armed there was reason L
expect trouble. 1t was now a weel
since the massacre of the men OF
Shechem and the spelling of the city
and the awful passions OF hatred and
revenge which had stirred Simeon and
Levi and their brothers and made them
like madmen had subsidized, and with
the reaction had come forebodings OF
trouble. The holiness of unreasonine
rage and passion had been succeeded
by the weakness and fear OF an &C.
cusing consciousness of guilt and
crime, and now the alarming news of
that morning had created a panicky
desire TO flee. In this spirit they
sought out their father and appealed
to him TO strike their tents and steal
away as quickly and quietly as pos
sible.
I'VE may be attacked this very
night" Simeon exclaimed. appreheR-
sively. Let us flee at once. To-day"
But whither?" Jacob asked
Though uneasy over the disquieting
reports he maintained his self-control.
and was disposed to move with eau
ton.
"Whither?" queried Reuben, the cid
est son. in surprise. Where can we
go but back towards the land of our
mothers father? If we go forward or
fee on either hand we but plunge our
selves more surely into the power of
our enemies"
To this speech there was ready and
emphatic assent by the rest OF the
sons, and they waited for their father
to speak. 1t was plain to see that
a conflict was going on within his
heart. He sat with bowed head. but
his lips moved as though in prayer.
At last he looked up and, speaking
slowly, but with emphasis, he said
I'VE cannot go back, my sons"
And then noting the dark looks OF
and disappointment on the
faces before him, he added:
I'm obedience 20 Gods word we have
come into Canaan. He has promised
US the land. We may not depart, ex-
cept at His word. He is able to de-
liver us from the present peril"
But we cannot stay here while our
enemies are gathering to destroy u.s."
Simeon cried, impatiently. He had
been largely responsible for the attack
ipon the city of Shechem, and he now
'ealized that as the leader Of the
movement, he must do his best to find
! way Of escape.
"Ah, my sons" sobbed Jacob. over
ONE by the thought of his own fail
Tres, mine is the sin that we have
arried so long in this place. Had
We but continued on to Bethel in
tead Of pitching our tents before this
ity, all that has befallen us here
would have been avoided"
He was silent for a few moments.
nd then continued, more cheerfully:
"But If we have sinned in thus lin.
ering along the pathway God would
ave us travel. let us not commit the
reater sin of rushing headlong.
Thither He does not lead. Let us
wait Gods word in the present ex.
remity."
And as he finished speaking he arose
nd left them. 1t was evident his
'ords had had some effect, for the
rothers fingered in a dispirited man ,
er, no one seeming bold enough to
Ike the lead and counsel a move con
AIRY to their fathers will, though il
as very apparent that they were en- [
rely out of sympathy with his at |
tude.
That night the fiocks and the herds {
ere all driven In and the camp made
J secure as possible. The flashing {
gnals from the surrounding hills did
)t tend to quiet the fears of the PEG. '
e, for that they guided and directed !
e gathering of the Canaanites they G
II sure. The presence of the women
I'd children of the men slain. and the 3
en- booty they had seized were con- I
ant reminders of the danger that a
reatened them now. r
And the unexplained absence of O
cob did not tend to lessen their ap [
ehension. They had searched for S
m all through the camp, but had a
und him not, and no one seemed to h
able to tell why he was missing or V
here he was TO be found. No one $
I'd seen him since the afternoon be. Z
re, and then he was going in the c
rection of the place where he had a
ected the altar To his God. That ns =