The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-11-16

/
/ pect Moses TO lead us? Is there a man
| in all our company here who can
! endure more or go a farther days
. journey than he? and dast thou not
/ remember how it was Moses Keen
eye which disccrned the movements
Of our enemies, the M0abites, wher
they came out against us Let us
20 to Moses and urge him TO go for
| ward"
This plan met the approval of the
rest, and they went at once to seef
out their leader. They found hin
| busy over his parChments, as he lac
been since their arrival at that place:
| in fact he had been seldom seen
| abroad Of late. and it was known
that he was writing the history o.
| his people. As they entered he arose
and his great, sturdy form was head
| and shoulders above most Of the men
| there. No trace Of old age in the
strong lines of that form, in that
erect carriage, in that clear, piercing
eye, in that full, powerful voice, and
! if there had lurked any doubts in
the hearts of these men that Moses
was able to lead them il vanished ROW
in the presence of his commanding
personality. What if he was 100
years old, was not there the strength
of perfect manhood? Surely he would
continue to lead them.
With confidence, therefore, the
| spokesman stepped forward and eX-
planned what had brought them to
him, told of the murmurings among
the people and their desire to push
forward to the Promised Land which
lay just ahead, and ended by urging
that he, Moses, prepare at once to
| lead them.
The brow of the leader clouded as
they proceeded and within the deep
set eyes there came look of trouble
and perplexity.
Thou knowest the words of the
Lord, how he has said that ! shall
not go into the Promised Land" and
Moses bowed his head humbly. Thou
knowest, also. that Joshua has been
chosen leader in my stead. Remem-
bereSt thou not the solemn service
of conservation when Got set his ap-
| proval upon him? Thou shalt go in
and possess the land, and I-I-God
will take me-" Moses voice ended
almost in q whisper, and a deep 81.
lence followed.
But" faltered the one who had
spoken before, death is far from
thee. Thou art able to lead us And
! the people are eager to ptsh on"
81 cannot" Moses replied, without
raising his eyes. God has spoken.
We must wait"
wait! Wait for what?"
MY DEATH whispered Moses, and
silently, and sadly and solemnly the
men departed.
When these words of Moses be-
came known throughout the camp
of Israel, the Impotence Of the peo-
pie gave place to deep sorrow. Day
after day they waited. Moses cOntin-
ued busy in his tent with his manu-.
scripts, but occasionally as he moved
through the camp the eyes OF the peo-
pie followed him with sort Of rev.
erent awe. No sign Of age or weak
ness there, but waiting for death.
| ~ hn
of the people, and one day calling
them together in a great assembly
before the tabernacle, he said:
"Why should We be troubled by the
word of the Lord? Will not he deal
in love and mercy with everyone that
feareth him? Gods call brings not
sorrow, but gladness. Did not Enoch
of old walk with God and go to be
with him? Have not Abraham and
Isaac and Jacob, our fathers, found
rest with God? Why, then, should
we fear or sorrow when God hath
said to me: Behold, thy days ap-
proach that thou must die? The
Lord who will take me, will lead you.
Only trust him. ! shall not go over
this Jordan, but | shall 90 to be with
Cod who shall give to thee the land
he promised Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob. And Joshua shall lead thee"
More days of waiting followed
Busy days for Moses as he fastened
his writing. Days Of discipline for
the people as they waited No one
knew the day Moses should leave
them, and not even he knew the day
God would call.
One morning while the priests were
busy with the morning sacrifice, and
the congregation waited before the
tabernacle door, Moses appeared,
bearing in his hands the rolls OF
parchment which he delivered into
the hands of the priests. Then, turn.
ing toward the people, he read to
them the song of praise and test.
mony he had written, beginning:
Give ear, % We heavens, and ]