The Tupelo journal., 1906-06-29

at is now they
will offer their sacrifices unto their
God, as they told Pharaoh it was their
purpose to do"
Then night had settled down and
they had waited until the morning ex-
pectantly, wondering just what the
next nov of the Hebrews would be
after their ceremonies had been con-
Guided. These two spies had been sent
by Pharaoh to observe the movements
OF the Hebrew people, and it a been
with-much wonder, mingled with awe,
that they had beheld the strange cloud
lowering over them and seemingly
moving before the great company of
people as they marched. By the end
of the second day, however, h fear
and apprehension which they had at
first felt at this strange manifestation
had worn away, and as darkness had
settled down they had drawn closer to
the camp than they had before dared
to come, and from their vantage point
not a hundred yards away from the
outskirts of the camp they watched in
tently the preparations which the He
brews were making.
"See," spoke up M fellow, pointing
in the direction of a group of men who
were rounding up the flocks, they are
selecting the animals even now IOr
the sacrifice"
But look!' exclaimed the other,
1.-The people are striking their tents and
lading themselves as though for the
Journey"
why so they are" excitedly an
swered the first speaker, after he had
watched intently for some minutes.
What can it mean?"
Mean? What else can it mean than
that they are about to escape in the
wilderness, whittier it will be hard for
Pharaoh 10 follow them"
Pharaoh must be informed Of this
as speedily as possible. You are the
more rapid runner Do you carry the
news back while l keep watch and fol-
low them. Thou wilt know whitner to
come after US, for the way they will
take through the wilderness is well
known. Pharaoh will not be able to
follow with his chariots and horses,
but thou wilt come with the foot SOL
diers, who will speedily overtake the
Hebrews, numbered as they are with
their little one and their f1ocks and
herds"
"Seei" broke in the other Egyp-
tian, ALREADY the cloud is moving
on"
The two men stood watching the peo-
pie, who fell into marching order. with
their little ones and focks and herds
in their midst as Don as the horns be-
gan to blow after the cloud had lifted
and was moving forward.
We'll, l must be off," exclaimed the
one whose duty it was to carry word
back to Pharaoh, suddenly rOusing
himself from the absorbed contempla-
and without further word he started
of.
He had not gone far when a startled,
surprised shout caused him to pause
and urn back, and he saw his compan-
ion pointing eXcitedly at the moving
COluulhS vi lAC 1lCDiChOy WIN, 11lGlCoo
of pursuing the usual route into the
wilderness around the head of the sea,
had turned and were following a course
which would lead them between the
mountains on their right and the sea
on their left. The two Egyptians stood
watching, hardly able to believe that
their eyes told them true.
What car it mean?" they both ejac-
ulated in the same breath. "They can
not hope to escape by that way" And
then the one who was to carry back
word to Pharoah leaped about gleeful-
ly, exclaiming:
"Now l will have good tidings for
Pharaoh. Surely they have fallen into
the kings hands again, hemmed in as
they are between the sea and the
mountains"
Their god must be a god of folly, if
god it be who is in the cloud" rejoined
the other. See, the cloud is leading
straight around into the narrow valleyi
Now will Pharaoh know that the gods
of Egypt have ONE up to his help and
have led the Hebrews into a SNARE"
and he started off in haste, eager to
carry back the news.
In the meantime, the Hebrews pur-
sued their journey, but not without
much perplexity and many misgiv-
ings. When the cloud had lifted and
had veered around, leading them back
towards Egypt, the elders and leaders
of the people had hastily sought out
Moses and asked him for explanation.
"Seest thou not that we are turned
about and are going away from the
land to which God said He would lead
us. and towards which we have been
iourneying?" they cried.
For answer Moses pointed solemnly
at the cloud, saying:
1.-The Lord is our Leader. He know
eth the. way He would have us CO."
But sec," they cried, in fierce impa-
thence, 1--WE shall be caught between
the mountains and the sea, and should
Pharaoh follow us how will it be pos
sible to escape??"
81 know not" Moses replied, simply.
Surely there is nothing we can do but
follow where the Lord by His cloud
shall lead. He who hath promised us
the land of Canaan, is able to lead us
thither. Only let us not rebel, lest He
leave us to perish in our folly and dis
obedience"
"But if we turn back and go into the
Wilderness" they persisted, Pharaoh
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