Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1907-01-10
Marah, the Place of Bitter Water
Scripture Authority Exodur Is /: 22-26.

LuS lAOA hOubu " hiOuIu uuIAA bhS
sultry air of the desert fairly culver
ed with the volume OF the sound. In
the distance away off to the left could
be clearly seen the vision of cool
springs and shady palm trees, and the
welcome sight brought wild thrill
of Joy and thankfulness to the thirsty
and tired people.
For two days now since their de-
parture from the Red Sea, after their
miraculous deliverance from Pharaoh,
the Hebrew people had been strug.
Cling across the hot, dusty reaches of
the wilderness. The water they had
brought with them, while not ex-
harsted, was warm and brackish, and
their thirsty bodies were longing for
draught from some cool spring.
Eagerly as they marched, obediently
following the Cloud which went be-
bore them, they kept clean lookout
for the signs Of water. and when the
cry was raised water Water T.
and the people saw the welcome Wis
ion in the distance, seemingly let
down out Of the very heavens for
their refreshing, they clapped their
hands and shouted for JOY, crying to
their leaders to turn and hasten thith-
er.
But apparently unmindful of the
distant vision, the Cloud still led for
ward in the direction it had been go
ing. What could it mean2 Surely
the Cloud was misleading them | Mo-
ses could not have seen
Again the people raised the cry of
water Water !" and then the ell
ders of the people fastened forward
to find Moses. But to their Inquiries
and their expostulations he could on
ly point to the cloud and say:
Whittier it goes, we must follow"
On and still on the Cloud led, and
the multitude reluctantly followed.
All afternoon the vision hanging in
the heavens seemed to follow them
with tantalizing persistence, but as
the sun set and the light failed the
vision faded from their sight. A wall
of disappointment and anger swept
over the people, and gloomily they
set about the task of pitching their
tents and settling down for the night.
Jahziel, man of considerable infu-
ence who had caused Moses trouble
on former occasions, and who had
been the first to discover the sight of
the water in the distance that day,
was loud in his denuuciation of Mo-
ses, declaring that if he had it to do
over again he would go after the wa
ter, whether any others went with
him or not.
''In fact he exclaimed, filed with
sudden determination, 81 am half
minded to go this night. 1t cannot
be far distant. >
But perhaps the march will be
taken up in that direction in the
morning" demonstrated his friends.
Cor We may find water in another
place"
And after dint of much argument,
the fellow was dissuaded from his
plan. But the next morning when
the march was resumed, and the
Cloud without deviation from it's
course Of the previous day went for
ward, the murmuring of the people
broke out afresh. Jahziel was louder
than ever in his protests, and set
about secretly to stir the people to
rebellion, and all through the morn
ing, as the journey was pursued and
they found no water, the people were
mole and more willing to listen tC
his seditious talk. After the midday
rest and the journey had been again
taken up and still no water, Jahziel
and his followers were upon the point
of turning back, when behold before
them broke the welcome sight Of
pools of water.
Forgetting their disappointment
and murmurings, and glad that they
had not departed. Jahziel and hi
followers FASTENED forward. and be
hind them came streaming the mul
titude eager to quaff their thirst a
the cool pools. Casting aside thei
burdens and stOopinelow, they scoop
ed up the water in their palms an,
sucked it into their mouths like th
dry and parched earth draws in tn
rain when it falls upon it.