Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1906-05-03


the leadership OF Moses and Aaron.
There was a long. painful pause. dur
ing which each seemed afraid 10 be the
first to speak. They were face to face
with a critical question. Dare they re-
pudiate the leadership OF Moses and
Aarony Could they forget that meet
ing OF the officials and people when
Moses had performed his wonders and
shown that the Lord was with him?
Could they ignore the message which
God had given TO him for them? These
and other similar questions flashed
through their minds. And at last one
faitering voice spoke up and asked:
But we have seen the signs and
know that Moses has been sent to US
from God"
"Signs7- quickly replied Jahriel,
what Of the signsy Do not the Exyp-
tian priests do similar wonders, Could
II not be as readily claimed that they
had authority from God, Who knows
but these signs Of Moses arc but the
skill he learned while under the tutel-
age OF the priests when living at the
palacef"
"True," one of the officials assent
ed. and thus encouraged. Jahz.el con-
tinued:
There Is no better time than now
to choose new leadership. Let us look
about among ourselves and elect one
whom We can trust and who will seek
to save us from further suffering at
Pharaoh's hands"
that they would declare for him, then
said. encouragingly:
Who shall 1t be-"
"Jahziel." called a voice away at the
outskirts OF the group. Another and
another repeated the name. and then.
encouraged by each other. and carried
away by the enthusiasm of the mo-
ment. they all took up the cry: "Jah-
ziel, Jahziel," until it rang upon the
air.
So intently were they engaged in the
discussion that they had not noticed
the approach Of two men. who now came
and stood silent in their midst while
the cry for Jahziel WAS taken up. But
first one and then another. as his eyes
fell upon the newcomers. let the words
die away upon his lips. until at last
only one voice repeated the wsrtl
"Jahziel.' The eIation Of the latter
ebbed as the cry grew more and more
feeble and he looked around in con-
sternation to discover the reason for
the sudden change in the temper OF the
people. and his eyes fell upon the stern
visage OF Moses. who was beholding
him with flashing eyes.
What meaneth this demonstra-
ton" he demanded. after 4 painful
silence.
The men before him shifted their po-
sitions uneasily. and one after another
withdrew behind Jahziel. who nervous
ly. but deiantly. held his ground, and
tried to look boldly into the face OF the
man before him. Again Moses spoke
''Jahziel. IS thy hand IN this? Fear
est thou not God! Carest thou not for
His PROMISES"
Yea. but we will not have thy Lead
we mem" he added. turning about. and
to which question there came but a
half-frightened and feeble No
-Considerest thou what thou art
saying? Rememberest thou not the
signs which God gave me to show thee
that He had sent me unto thee" And
Moses held the rod before him rs
though he would again cast IT upon the
ground. Every eye was watching him
intently. expectantly, but Moses
checked the impulse They had al
ready witnessed the signs God had
given him. They had solemnly accepted
him as their leader. OF what avaIl TO
repeat the signs. Nay. it would be
wrong.
Jahziel noted the hesitation. and a
half-sneeriEg smile crept over his face
as be said:
We need none of thy Egyptian
magic The cries of the Hebrew people
rise up 10 condemn thee The Lord
look upon you. and judge: for ye have
made our God TO be abhorred in the
eyes of Pharaoh. and in the eyes OF his
servants Did not the priests taunt Us
as we came forth from Pharaoh. saying
that our God was no god AZ a,is Thou
hast. by thy actions. put sword in the
hands OF the Egyptians 10 stay US.
We will zot listen TO thee more" saw
ing which. Jahziei turned and strobe
away. Moses watched the rest to see
what they would do. They seemed to
be wavering- Again he appealed to
them.reminding them deliverance could
only come by obeying God But nrst
one and then another turned and fol-
lowed Jahziel. until at last Moses and
Aaron stood alone. Crushed with the
sorrow and disappointment of the mo-
ment. Moses waited with bowed head.
Whittier should he turn To wnom
should he go? His brain was In a
whirl. Slowly. mechanically. as in a
dream, he turned. saying to Aaron:
Come. let US go back"
No word was spoken. Still Moses
was pondering the question: What
could he do?" Looking up he noted
that they were drawing near 10 the
place where Joseph's bones lay en-
tombed. and moved by sudden i'm
pulse he said:
Il will remain here. Return thou
without me-"
A food of memories crowded in up
on him as he entered the rocky cavern.
and throwing himself upon his face he
cried out in the anguish of his soul.
'oh. Lord. wherefore hast thou so
evil entreated this people? Why is 1t
that Thou hast sent me, For since I
came to Pharaoh to speak in Thy name
he hath done evil to this people;
neither hast Thou delivered Thy peo-
pie at all"
Quiet filled the place. and as he
waited in silence his troubled heart be-
came still and he heard a Voice sneak