Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-06

INTRODUCTION.-Be beginning
The study of our lesson one should read the
two preceding chapters of Exodus. After
escaping from Egypt. where they had so
long been In bondage. the Israelites began
their journey, by divine direction, toward
Mount Siani where God had promised to
meet Moses (Ex., HID. The progress was
necessarily slow, inasmuch as the people
were poorly prepared for travel and in no
sense acquainted with the way Their
course lay southerly along the eastern side
of the Red sea, in the wilderness or plain
OF Shur (EX., xv:2O. Their first mating
place was Marah, where the water was
bitter and unfit for drinking, and their
next Elm. where were twelve wells of
water and three score and ten palm trees
CE2x.. xv:2O. a delightful place of rest for
men and their flocks. 1t was probable that
at Elm all WEAKNESS of the way was for
gotten, and that all hearts were thankful
for the beautiful environment and for the
safety and repose that came to them.
ADVANCED Verse D.-But Elm was
only a halting place for Israel. Their
destination was far In the distance. Sinai
first and Canaan afterward. However en-
toyablc, the wells and the palm trees must
be left behind. like most of the good things
enjoyed in our days. and the people must
go forward. For months and years to
come. indeed for the remainder of lifetime
OF most. they must be on the march. Out
Of the present into the future, out of the
near into the remote, out of the certain
into the untried so the journey must be
Heb., xiii:14, and Israel shall become an
hinerant nation, wandering and seeking
host We shall not say what regrets and
hopes sprang up in the hearts of the null
titude as the tents were struck, the process
sion formed and the migration began. If
any were reluctant all were obedient to the
lpD dor hn haI re-
ceived instructions before leaving Egypt.
He needed only to behold the indications of
the Divine will in the moving cloud Ex
xiv:l0, which was the tabernacle of the
Almighty
MURMURED CVerses 2 and 3).-After
leaving Elm. Israel entered the wilderness
OF SIN. which, with varying breadth, ex-
tended almost to the southern extremity of
the Sanaiuc peninsula. There they had a
new and distressing experience not a lack
or water, as at Marah, but of food. There
were no fruits to be gathered and no game
TO be killed. The supplies taken from
Egypt were exhausted in the month that
elapsed since the departure. Six hundred
thousand men (Ex.. xi:3O, besides women
and children, hungry and ready to starve
II Is not surprising that under such cir
cumstances the hearts of the people the
masses who think most of Immediate naces-
stiles and less concerning the ends to be
accomplished by sacrifice, should turn back
TO other days. Slaves once they had never
flesh pots. II they were to die 1t seemed
better to die by the Lords hand in the
house of their bondage than to perish in
the wilderness They turned, therefore.
with complaint to the men who had brought
them forth, charging the promised liberia
tion meant nothing but death. 1t was the
time of murmuring
PROMISED (Verses 4, 8 and 6)-The
people complained to Moses, and he. though
the text does not say SO, probably pre-
scented the matter to Cod That was in the
day OF intercession, when one man repre-
sented many at the throne of the INFINITE
The Almighty cared for His people, though
they scarcely knew the fact 0sa, ~i:3) He
never calls into way that brings trouble
but He offers deliverance u Cor, xI3). In
this instance there came to Moses a prom
Use OF bread. daily portion to be sent from
heaven-a miracle should be performed to
feed the hungry thousands miracle.
moreover, unlike any wrought before or
since. There was a condition prescribed
so on the seventh day, which was the
SABBATH, there need be no gathering This
requirement. made before the moral law
was promulgated (Ex., xx:10), is a strong
indication that a day OF rest had been
known in the early history Of the chosen
people, or else II was designated as a test
OF obedience, an intimation Of subsequent
law.
INFORMED Oversees g. and S)-This
message, received directly from God, was
delivered by Moses and Aaron, representing
INC JuuLCIdI CHu prieStly functions to the
people, but Norded in somewhat different
form, accompanied with reproofs. 1t was
said that In the morning bread would be
given Matt. Wild. and in the evening
hesh, a furnishing of a mixed diet Of ami
NAL and vegetable matter. but with one
:tem at meal. 1t was said that in the
morning the glory of the Lord should be
seen Isa., Xi:5), perhaps visible effulgence
SUCH as had been seen in the clouds which.
occurring by daylight. would attest the
Divine presence. 1t was said that this
would be the proof to all that God and not
Moses had conducted the exodus from
Egypt 1t was said that the Lord had
heard the murmuring, which. although
directed against Moses, was in reality
against the Almighty. Such instructions so
plainly and faithfully delivered were well
suited to prepare these ignorant people for
what afterward occurred and to give them
spiritual quickening
APPEARED Oversees and 1O).-In-
struction is sufficient for all who are so ad-