Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-25
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MA Bp Reb. !Rugb o. Stfnenson.

tice in the scriptural story-in fact, it is
compressed in the brief section assigned
for this weeks lesson. The effect of the
nomadic life influenced the history of Is
rael. so that 1t has survived the cen
turtles. Geilde has pointed out how 1.-The
men who had come from Egypt gradual
ly died out, and their sons had grown,
under the influence of Moses and those
associated with him, into a strong and
vigorous nation. He had given them a
constitution which was democratic in the
noblest sense, for every Israelite. whether
poor or rich was equal before the law
and was a free man. They had been
taught to feel themselves the people of
God
Nor were their manly virtues less
strengthened and developed t.ian their
religious ideas. The energies called forth
by the necessities and per1ls of desert
life: the quickened breath of the pure air
of the wilderness: a love of freedom kim
died into a passion by its enjoyment for
generation: the communion with nature,
its silent vastness and subllmity, bringing
them tace to face with God and their
own thoughts; the in.erdependence
fostered by common action as a people:
the free constitution that they en-
joyed, united with their religious teach
ings, had effaced the taints of slavery.
aroused the dormant powers of the
people and restored to Israel the master
ful spirit of their ancestors.
The tribes, which had been increased
numerically by the absorption OF un-
known numbers of non-lSraelites into
their ranks. mad been mustered at
kadeSh- Barnca. their headquarters dur
ing the nearly twoscore years OF wander
ing, to make the final preparation for
the invasion and tongues. of Canaan,
when Moses was called upon to mourn
the loss of Miriam, whose devotion to
the interest of Israel and her brother
had led 10 the great error of her life
which we considered two weeks ago,
which must nave filled the heart of Israe- $
leader with great grief. She had aided.
development of the nations life Amidst
the burdens of age and sorrow the
peoples persistent provocation called for
the continuous supply of grace.
= Z = x
Peoples Persistent Provocation.
The assembling of the people at
Kadesh- Barnea with their stock at a
dry season of the year caused water
famine. that resulted in the reduplica-
ton of the rebellion that marked the
early strife at Meribah. History repeated
itself, proving that the new generation
when put to a dispensational test, was
not superior to the fathers. They could
not stand being without water. SO they
assembled themselves together against
the leaders, holding Moses and Aaron
personally responsible for the fact that
there was mo water
We will cease condemning the lack of
faith and stupidity of their blaming
Moses If we would stop to think how
,yrone we are to place the blame upon
tbe servants OF God for what they are
not in any way responsible for at all.
We can sympathize with their feelings.
when they saw their families, friends
and focks suffering because of an in
sufficient water supply even when We
condemn the spirit of criticism and COM
nlain that followed the intense suffer
ing of the people. Foolishly like Elijah
in his dependency the multitude cried
out for death.
In the darkest hours we should show
our trust in sustaining grace of the low
ing God Human nature has not changed
in one respect from that hour to the
present.
We still seek, like the poor Israelites
If the lesson, to saddle off the sorrows
resulting from the sins of our fathers and
ourselves upon the ministers OF the gos-
pei as We read the charges OF YOUNG
Israel accusing Moses and Aaron OF
false pretenses and broken promises De-
cause the desert did not produce tb~
fruits of Canaan or have natural water
supply sufficient to supply the weeds OF
the great congregation of Israel gather
ed at KadishBarnea, where their own
fathers had failed to accept the advice or
Caleb and Joshua to go In and possess
the land. we realize that they lost sight
IF the fact that the wilderness was not
the promised land and forgot the reason
for their wanderings.
They failed in the hour of testing TO
trust God, but Moses did not hesitate to
return TO the place. OF meeting TO get
helm to meet this new trial. Certainly IN
this Moses did the wise thing. for he re-
newed his strength by waiting upon the
lord Frustrated before God the
hr,thcrs Moses and Aaron received ex-
nlicit directions as to what they should
do TO relieve the distress of the people.
The commands showed the unfailing
grace and forbearance of Jehovah, Yet
Il, carrying out the orders of the long
suffering God occurred the mistakes OF