Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-07

CONTEXT.-The evil report of the ter
spies was received with loud lamentations
The people murmured against Moses fol
bringing them out. and proposed TO elect
another captain and return to Egypt. They
were ready to stone Joshua and Caleb, who
insisted that with faith in God they might
advance. Numb, xiv 500 Gods anger
was kindled, but he spared the people III
answer to Moses prayer yet doomed them
to die In the wilderness. CNumb., xxVl:oo.j
The last intelligence led to penitence, ana al
attempt to enter Canaan without divine ap.
prevail proved disastrous. Numb, Xv:4o.y
The events following cannot be mentioned
in chronological order. The reoeilon Ol
Koran, the putting to death OF the Saboatf
breaker the enactment of Sabbath laws
the instruction of the Levites. the death OF
Miriam, the building Of Aaron's rod, the
bringing Of water from the rock the death
Of Aaron-these are recorded as only I'M.
portant incidents in the course of several
years, to furnish occasional insight into the
life of the people and register their moral
and social condition.
WANDERING.-After the repulse by
the Amalekites Numb, xiv :4G~45) the Is
raelites wandered in the wilderness. AT
first they vainly sought passageway tc
the promised land. Their history Is almost
blank for forty years, the events men
toned in the last paragraph being all that
Is mentioned. God was executing his Judg-
ments upon them for their disobedience.
The mystery which hangs over that long
space Of time Is painful to contemplate.
Amid terrific sufferings by men. women,
place to place. with no assignable purpose
except to spend out the allotted years and
leave their carcasses by the way. (Numb.,
xiv:29) The nagination might picture a
(Numb.. xxvi:e4) sinking away into silence.
and leaving their children, who, impresse q
by the sad lesson of failure, sin and death,
were destined under Joshua to cross the
Jordan and enter into rest.
DISCOURAGENENT in the
year 1852 B. C.. the wanderings were about
to come to an end. Having returned to
Kadish the new nation is to be taken home
Permission to cross the country of the
Edomites had been refused Numb, xx:2D,
and they will be led around It. In order
to do that they must go southwark 100
miles or more to the upper end Of an arm
northward again, they might ADVANCE to
the east side of the Edomites and proceed
until they come to the far side OF the
Jordan. To those not In command this
extremely dispiriting. In part it would be
along the way by which the journey was
made from Sinai, an apparent retreat: Be
sides, 1t was "a great and terrible wilder
ness Oeut., i:1O, through which they
passed. nearly destitute of vegetation, I'M
perfectly supplied with water. inc hearts
of the people sank within them they
toiled on day after day, weary, hungry,
thirsty, faint. hopeless.
sINNING-It is not surprising that
the people were discouraged in that terrible
march. They had no light Of the after
day to cheer them (Heb., xi:26), and the
past was one of dismal memory. But, alas,
their misfortunes became the occasions Of
sin! They cried out against Moses as their
IA done
spoke against God, while recognizing them
selves under His guidance. The substance
OF their complaint was that they had no
bread, neither water. and that the mamma,
sent from heaven. their only food. which
they called light bread" had become
loathsome. This was indeed large bill Of
grievances. All that they might have done
with some propriety. Man Is permitted to
tell his sorrows to God James va. But
they went on beyond permissible limits.
Wherefore have ye brought us up out OF
Egypt to die in the wilderness?' they in
CURED. Ungrateful words. II spoken to
Moses, their best friend! Blasphemy If
spoken to God! Supreme folly If Egyptian
bondage Is remembered eek, ni:O. Shall
physical comfort measure Divine wisdom
acts, xiv:22)? Are no sacrifices to be &C
cepted in the holy, cause q Thess., ii:3?
PUNISHMENT.-That was a sad day
in Israel. The old spirit of stubborn sell
fshness and rebellious unbelief has been
thence and fortitude and faith are de-
manded. This second generation must be
chastised as their fathers were Usa., t:5)
Like disobedient children they must be
made submissive Heb.. xii:8) II the Lords
will Is to be done by them, If they are to
become heirs of the promises and progeni-
tors OF a God-fearing people Punishment
had been inflicted upon the generation by
various methods-by instant death, by lep-
rosy. by plague, by fire. In each instance
there had been close relation befwean
the offense and the penalty. In the child
hood state Of the people it was necessary
to make them know something of retribu-
tive justice (Eccl., viii:1D. In this instance
fiery serpents were sent among the people,
named, because of their color, or pos
sibly. because Of their malignant virus,
which produced a wound of fiery appear
ance. Many were bitten and some died
Groanings from pain and bereavement were
heard throughout the camp
PENITENCE.-The afflicted people
were quick to learn the cause of the calam-
ity that had befallen them. Before the
days of science every unusual circumstance
was assigned to some supernatural influ-