Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1906-11-21

|
he left that he had not gained his
point.
Well. IL you will not. I will. Surely
the honor should come to tho strong
est tribe, and Zebulun numbers
$4,000. which is second only to the
tribe Of Judah
Gaddiel knew that his purpose and
ambition would be useless unless he
could secure the ear OF Moses and win
his favor, and that afternoon he start
ed on up the mountain to rld Linn.
But Caleb was not idle. The inter
view with Gaddiel had stirred htm 10
action. This schemer should not pre-
vail upon Moses to appoint him In
place OF Joshua He would find
Joshua and warn him OF the dangers
and troubles which threatened i.,u.
Better that he should hasten at oace
to Moses side and there receive the
commission which he felt rightfully
belonged to his friend
When he had finished telling Joshua
his story, he waited for the latter to
speak:
Who am /, that | should seek so
high a place? Is the leadership OF
Gods people thing to be contended
for as one would strive for a prize
in race? Have not l served Israel
with an eye single to Gods glory, and
should | add this sin to my life that
1 should aspire to so high an Office?
Nay, | am unworthy this great trust
Rather is my heart filled with crush
ing sorrow at the thought that we
shall lose our leader, Moses. 1t can
not be, 1t cannot be-" he exclaimed.
as the full force of what it would
mean to Israel swept over him.
Surely God cannot have so pur-
posed" And overcome by his emo
tions Joshua arose and swiftly passed
out of the tent and disappeared.
Meanwhile Moses on the Eiountain
had heard God speak his solemn NESS
age, saying:
Lift up thine eyes and see the
land which ! have given unto the chill
dren of Israel. And when thou hast
seen 1t thou also shalt be gathered
unto thy people, as Aaron, thy broth.
er, was gathered. For we rebelled
against my commandment in the
desert OF Yin, in the strife Of the con-
gregation, to sanctify me at the water
before their eyes: that is the water
of Meribah, in Kadesh, in the wilder
ness of lin
And Moses spake unto the Lord,
saying:
Let the Lord, the God OF the spir-
its of all flesh. set man over the
congregation, which may go out be-
fore them, and which may lead them
| Wh Irin
that the congregation of the Lord be
not as sheep which have no shep-
| herd"
While Moses was speaking Gaddiel,
who had come up to Moses retreat
had drawn nearer, so that now only
a clump of bushes separated the two
men. AS he listened and heard Moses
beseech the Lord that he would set
a man over Israel, his vainglorious
ambition overcame all sense CT rev.
erence and modesty, and he started
| impulsiveiy forward.
At that instant the voice of the
Lord was heard, saying:
Take thee Joshua"
The words which were bursting
upon the lips of Gaddiel died away,
and his face became ashen. 1t was
God speaking. He dare not interrupt.
With feverish eage-ness he listened
while the voice went on to say:
Take thee Joshua. the son OF Mum,
man in whom is the Spirit, and lay
thine hand upon him; and set him
before Eleazar. the priest, and before
all the congregation; and give him a
charge in their sight. And thou shalt
put some of thine honor upon him,
that all the congregation OF the chill
dren of Israel may be obedient."
Moses did not know of that trem.
bling, disappointed figure crouch'Ag
behind the bushes. And if he had, he
would not have tarried. for he had
an important commission to perform,
and the aged leader and prophet
FASTENED down the mountain SIDE.
The priest and people have assem-.
bled according to the word OF Moses,
| but still no Joshua has come. Moses
passes into the Tabernacle court on
| his way TO the holy place, for he
| would inquire OF the Lord concerning
the matter. AS he turns by the great
brazen bowl and passes the altar. an
object lying PROSTATE upon the ground
| draws his attention. and stepping
thither, he finds Joshua. who in the
burden OF his heart had come and
thrown himself before the Lord's
altar.
And together they two walked out
before that great assembly and took
their place before Eleazar. the priest.
A great shout went up. that was
quickly silenced as the priest raised
his arm and began TO speak And
when he had blessed Joshua and laid
his hands upon him. he turned to the
| people and shouted
Behold, here Is the leader whom