Evening star., 1907-07-27

CONTENT.-The Ten Commandment
treated in our last lesson. were delivered
by the voice of God. The form of the
revelation was moro than the people could
bear. ana they prayed Moses that he would
speak To them in the place of God lie
therefore drew near to the thick darkness
where God was. while the people stood afar
off. And he received a series of prccepts
as practical Interpretation of the DHca-
lo2ue. Part of these were civil. pertain
Ing TO the various relations of life and part
OF them covered sacred things. Punish
ments were fixed for offenses. and instruc-
tions were delivered concerning the ark.
the mercy seat. the golden candestick. the
tabernacle, the altar. the priests and their
garments, the sacrifices and ceremonies. All
this was written down by Moses, and the
Ten Commandments were craven in stone
by the finger of God. Forty days and forty
nights were thus passed in the mountains.
CEN, XXiv:1S)
DISCONTENT-At length the people
grew weary and restless. The monotony of
camp lite led to suspicious and whisper
Ihgs. Ihey could not understand the long
delay, and lost confidence in Moses as a
leader. Not knowing when he would re-
turn, they murmured as they had done be-
lore (EX.. Xiv:1n because he had induced
them to leave Egypt But knowing their
destination to be the land of their fathers
H;X., ii1O and desiring to be moving
toward 1t. they determined on another lead
ershlp. Thoroughly imbued, however with
the religious spirit, they did not think
of departing in their own strength, nor did
they propose to elect human captain
And so. after holding a public assembly
to consider the subject, they demanded of
Aaron, Moses brother. that gods should be
made TO go before them. In this they pro-
posed TO break two of the commands lust
dC!lNe red tI,E.. q A They showed bnu
unable they were to hold to the high ideal
of a monotheistic system. and subject them
selves to supreme test. Acts. XiX:26).
ADMINISTRATION was not the man
for the occasion. He did not possess the
native strength of his brother. TO whom he
was only an assistant N,x., iv:1I(. neither
had lie received such direct communications
from God as Moses had Ex.. Iii ~ to con-
firm his faith. We cannot judge his motive
whether he was timid or unbeieving-he
seems afterward to have been irresoiute
and superstitious. Yielding to the popular
clamor, he directed the earrings to be
brought to him from the entire assembly.
These ornaments had been obtained from
the Egyptians (EX., Xii:35-:I6) and were
marks OF honor (Ezek., Xvi:11-12). The
orientalists were accustomed to wear lew
elry tGen., xxiv:22-4O. and sometimes the
quantity was very great Judges, viii :24-20.
The people cheerfully complied with this
request and gave up their most precious
things, stripping themselves of ornaments
that idols might be made for them. The
spirit of self-denial was admirable.
IDOLATRf.-The people having thus
consecrated their treasure, the way was
open to speedy apostasy The craving
tools made for another purpose (Ex,
xxviii:9) were used to carve out the form
Of calf, the emblem of Osiris one OF the
national diyinities of Egypt. This figure
probably of wood, was covered with the
molten gold of the earrings. When the
workmen had completed their task. Aaron
caused the altar to be erected before It,
Then The came the, public proclamation,
These be thy gods" and on one of the
feast days. set apart for divine worship,
solemn rites were offered to the new god
This DONE with seeming satisfaction the
people rose to engage in sports. after
heather custom. Thus Israel had cast off
Jehovah and returned to the sod of Egypt.
Five centuries after the worship of the calf
was again established by Jeroboam Il
Kings, xii:2S). which sin was denounced
by the prophets Hosea viii:5-G). and fire.
quent allusions to it entered into sacred lit
erature tActs. XVii:2O.
DIsCoVERED.-Whne all this was
transpiring Moses, 'the man of Cod
Deut., xxXiii:D. was in the mount, neither
eating. drinking nor sleeping (Ex., x,,xiv:2S),
receiving Divine instruction for Israers
future. One man alone for God, millions
theocracy being builded. and at the same
time demolished, In the heights. faith In
the low grounds. unbelief! The interview be-
tween Moses and his instructor was cut
short by intelligence from the latter that
the people had gone astray Oversees 7-S).
The all-seeing eye, that penetrate into
the remotest corner and beholds the mi
nutest act prov, xv:SD. had witnessed idol
atrod&' 1sraels Wickedness through the
days of complaint. of consultation, Of con-
struction and of formal worship. What a
spectacle spread out before the searching
gaze of a beneficent God, Mans sins frus-
trate Gods plan. 0sa., lix:2) How the
weary centuries have waited for men TO
comprehend their privilege and cooperate
with God! luke, XiX:42) GO. get thee
down" was the Lords direction to Moses.
Nothing more can be done in the noun
tain, no more laws or institutions can be
set forth. until this abomination is re-
moved from the plain.
CONFERENCE.-THE lesson committee
omits verses 9-29, which the stu1ent should
read. The intercession of Moses for his
people his descent from the mountain. his
destruction OF the calf. his COMPLAINT
against Aaron, his slaughter of 5000 Of
Tenders, his reConsecration of the Levites,
that he might be assured of faithful minis
ters-all this shows how one man. loyal to
God, is mighty in good cause, what
heroic deeds are required in an hour of
peril. When all this was done Moses spoke
to the people Verse 800. He came to them
as man sent from God John, i:6) jealous
of His honor He charged them with their
sin. There was no word of apology or
doubtful import. 1t was direct, clear
cut message, "Ye have sinned q great