The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-07-06

~ gr m $ nau re-
joiced when the
-fA cloud going be-
tkt,rA fore them h a
- s.: S Ssjss5l. its no ;'o"
ment and stood
still. 1t needed no second blast from
the horns to call the people to the task
Of pitching their tents and preparing
the evening meal.
The tlocks and herds, quick to ap-
preciate the chance to feed, were soon
~contentedly browsing on the green
patches of grass and foliage to be
found there, while the people, the sim
pie repast finished, busted themselves
about the camp, in putting everything
In order, or rested before the tent
doors and talked over the wonderful
events Of the past few days. The
half-grown children, set to watch over
the flocks and prevent their s~traylng
too far, INDUCED in play together, and
the very little ones romped about the
feet of their elders, and their merry
shouts Of laughter blended in rare har-
mony with the murmur of the waves
ns they rippled along the sands of the
sea lying just before them.
Such was the scene as the Hebrews
encamped oyer against Baal-Zephon on
the sea coast, on that night, the fifth
since leaving Egypt, and the second
since leaving Ethan, when the Cloud
had diverged from the course they had
been taking towards the promised
land and had led them back towards
Egypt and away from the wilderness.
The murmurings Of discomfort which
arose then had quite subsidized, and al
though the people were still in the
dark as to their course, they were re-
assured by Moses and the elders and
had ceased to worry and fret over the
matter, being content as long as the
way was easy and free from dangers.
But that night as he looked up first
at the mountains behind them and
then off towards the sea, Moses felt
troubled. To be sure the Lord had
spoken unto him and told him to en-
camp in that place and had declared
that Pharaoh would follow them but
would the people stand the test?
When Pharaoh came would they be re-
strained? Could he maintain his con-
troll over them until the danger was
past and God had demonstrated His
power and might? The cloud hover
ing we the camp treasured mis- heart
of the presence of GOO with them, but
would, the neonles be ready to recog-
nize that fact and yield themselves to
His care? And he recalled how they
had rebelled against him and the elders
when Pharaoh had increased the OPP
preston of the people, when he had
first demanded that he let them go.
And now again when they were to be
brought face to face with Pharaoh
and threatened with punishment If not
death, he feared that the old spirit of
rebellion would manifest itself and he
and the elders find that they were pow
erless to restrain the people from pre-
cipitate flight.
With a view to avoiding such a com
plication, he summoned the elders to
his presence and after encouraging
them to be ~steadfast and faithful, as
surfing them that God had pledged that
He would deliver His people with a
mighty hand, he dismissed them, with
the instructions that they were to go
into the midst of the people and when
the crisis came to seek to allay the
of the people.
Not long after they had departed
and, it seemed to the anxious leader,
before they could have gained
their posts of duty among the people,
Moses listening ear caught a distant,
rumble which his foreknowledge
instantly detected as the sound Of roll
Ing chariots and tramping horses, The
sound grew more and more distinct
and his eyes swept owe the camp to
detect the first sign that the people too
heard the ominous echo. But it was
a peaceful Gene. The quiet camp re-
assured him, and his eyes again turned
and again rested upon the cloud hover
ing above the camp.
God is able to do all that He has
promised" he unused to himself.
Though the hosts of the Egyptians
sweep down upon us. God will de-
Suddenly the loud blast of a horn
his ear, and at the far distant
end of the camp appeared signs of tu-
mutt and confusion, and not long af-
forwards, as he kept watch he saw a
young man come rushing forward
the camp shouting as he ran:
Pharaoh and his chariots are CON-
ing! Pharaoh and. his chariots are
coming!"
The camp was at once thrown into
lire confusion. People ran hither and
in wild terror, crying and beat
.ng their breasts. Then came a change.
ne people were gathering in groups
md pointing towards the cloud, and
he shouts of the elders could be heard
Is they cried:
Fear not! See, the Lord is still
With US. Pharaoh cannot come nigh
while the cloud hovers over u.s."
Thus for the time being the people
we're stilled, but as the sound of the
rampling horses and the rumble of
he chariot wheels became louder and