St. Tammany farmer., 1906-11-24

o0,OuOs WHICH IS SecOIO only W lAo
tribe Of Judah"
Gaddiel knew that his purpose aad
ambition would be useless unless he |
could secure the ear of Moses and win |
his favor, and that afternoon he start
ed OF up the mountain to find him.
But Caleb was not idle. The inter-
view with Gaddiel had stirred him to
action. This schemer should not pre-
vail upon Moses to appoint Mm in
place Of Joshua. He would find
Joshua and warn him of the dangers
and troubles which threatened him.
Better that he should hasten at once
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, expecting that he would ex-
citedly declare that Gaddiel would
have a hard fight upon his hands. for
Joshua was q man Of intense spirit
and deep pride. and his leadership
over the forces Of Israel on several
occasions had proved him to be a
brave and able captain. But instead
of resentment and anger that one OF
the princes of Israel should seek to
set him aside, he bowed his head hum
bly, and said:
"Who am I, that should seek SO
high a place? Is the leadership OF
Gods people a thing to be contended
for as one would strive for a prize
| in a race? Have not served Israel
| with an eye single to Gods glory. and
| should I add this sin to my life that
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. It can
not be, it cannot bel" 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 mountain
had heard God speak his solemn mess
age, saying:
Lift up thine eyes and see the
land which have given unto the chill
dren of Israel. And when thou hast
seen It thou also shalt be gathered
unto thy people, as Aaron. thy broth
er. was gathered. For ye rebelled
against my commandment in the
desert Of Zin, ir 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 Zin."
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
out. and which may bring them in;
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
clump Of bushes separated the two
men. As he listened and heard Moses
beseech the Lord that he would set
man over Israel, his vainslorious
ambition overcame all sense Of rev.
erence and modesty, and he stared
impulsively 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. It was
! God speaking. He dare not interrupt.
With feverish eagerness 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
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 crouchine
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.
II As he came into camp he was greet
, ed by the query:
t Where is Gaddiel? He went into
! the mountain seeking thee.
1--WE have naught to do with Gao
! diel this day. It is Joshua God woule
! honor" exclaimed Moses. Where !:
] he? Let him be summoned, together
I with all the congregation OF the peo
2 pie, who shall come together before
l the priest Eleazar, at the TABERNACLE
e door" But Joshua was not to be
Q found anywhere, and Caleb related
! the experience of the morning.
The priest and people. have assem-
bled according to the word OF Moses
e but still no Joshua has come. Moses
Y passes into the Tabernacle court OF
s his way to the holy place, for n
q would inquire Of the Lord concerning
e the matter. As he turns by the grea
e brazen bowl and passes the altar. a
object lying prostrate upon the groun'
t draws his attention, and steppinl
o thither, he finds Joshua. who IN tn
e burden Of his heart had come ans
g thrown himself before the Lord
altar.
{ And together they two walked on
before that great assembly and too
Q their place before EleaSar, the priest
A great shout went up. that wa
quickly silenced as the priest raise