patriarchs and prophets-第59部分

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knowledge　of　God。　They　must　be　taught　that　the　Most　High；　and　not　merely　the
man　Moses；　was　their　leader；　that　they　might　fear　His　name　and　obey　His
voice。

At　nightfall　the　camp　was　surrounded　by　vast　flocks　of　quails；　enough　to
supply　the　entire　company。　In　the　morning　there　lay　upon　the　surface　of　the
ground　〃a　small　round　thing；　as　small　as　the　hoarfrost。〃　〃It　was　like
coriander　seed；　white。〃　The　people　called　it　〃manna。〃　Moses　said；　〃This　is
the　bread　which　the　Lord　hath　given　you　to　eat。〃　The　people　gathered　the
manna；　and　found　that　there　was　an　abundant　supply　for　all。　They　〃ground　it
in　mills；　or　beat　it　in　a　mortar；　and　baked　it　in　pans；　and　made　cakes　of
it。〃　Numbers　11：8。　〃And　the　taste　of　it　was　like　wafers　made　with　honey。〃
They　were　directed　to　gather　daily　an　omer　for　every　person；　and　they　were
not　to　leave　of　it　until　the　morning。　Some　attempted　to　keep　a　supply　until
the　next　day；　but　it　was　then　found　to　be　unfit　for　food。　The　provision　for
the　day　must　be　gathered　in　the　morning；　for　all　that　remained　upon　the
ground　was　melted　by　the　sun。

In　the　gathering　of　the　manna　it　was　found　that　some　obtained　more　and　some
less　than　the　stipulated　amount；　but　〃when　they　did　mete　it　with　an　omer；　he
that　gathered　much　had　nothing　over；　and　he　that　gathered　little　had　no
lack。〃　An　explanation　of　this　scripture；　as　well　as　a　practical　lesson　from
it；　is　given　by　the　apostle　Paul　in　his　second　epistle　to　the　Corinthians。
He　says；　〃I　mean　not　that　other　men　be　eased；　and　ye　burdened：　but　by　an
equality；　that　now　at　this　time　your　abundance　may　be　a　supply　for　their
want；　that　their　abundance　also　may　be　a　supply　for　your　want：　that　there
may　be　equality：　as　it　is　written；　He　that　had　gathered　much　had　nothing
over；　and　he　that　had　gathered　little　had　no　lack。〃　2　Corinthians　8：13…15。

On　the　sixth　day　the　people　gathered　two　omers　for　every　person。　The　rulers
hastened　to　acquaint　Moses　with　what　had　been　done。　His　answer　was；　〃This　is
that　which　the　Lord　hath

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said；　Tomorrow　is　the　rest　of　the　holy　Sabbath　unto　the　Lord：　bake　that
which　ye　will　bake　today；　and　seethe　that　ye　will　seethe；　and　that　which
remaineth　over　lay　up　for　you　to　be　kept　until　the　morning。〃　They　did　so；
and　found　that　it　remained　unchanged。　〃And　Moses　said；　Eat　that　today；　for
today　is　a　Sabbath　unto　the　Lord：　today　ye　shall　not　find　it　in　the　field。
Six　days　ye　shall　gather　it；　but　on　the　seventh　day；　which　is　the　Sabbath；
in　it　there　shall　be　none。〃

God　requires　that　His　holy　day　be　as　sacredly　observed　now　as　in　the　time　of
Israel。　The　command　given　to　the　Hebrews　should　be　regarded　by　all
Christians　as　an　injunction　from　Jehovah　to　them。　The　day　before　the　Sabbath
should　be　made　a　day　of　preparation；　that　everything　may　be　in　readiness　for
its　sacred　hours。　In　no　case　should　our　own　business　be　allowed　to　encroach
upon　holy　time。　God　has　directed　that　the　sick　and　suffering　be　cared　for；
the　labor　required　to　make　them　comfortable　is　a　work　of　mercy；　and　no
violation　of　the　Sabbath；　but　all　unnecessary　work　should　be　avoided。　Many
carelessly　put　off　till　the　beginning　of　the　Sabbath　little　things　that
might　have　been　done　on　the　day　of　preparation。　This　should　not　be。　Work
that　is　neglected　until　the　beginning　of　the　Sabbath　should　remain　undone
until　it　is　past。　This　course　might　help　the　memory　of　these　thoughtless
ones；　and　make　them　careful　to　do　their　own　work　on　the　six　working　days。

Every　week　during　their　long　sojourn　in　the　wilderness　the　Israelites
witnessed　a　threefold　miracle；　designed　to　impress　their　minds　with　the
sacredness　of　the　Sabbath：　a　double　quantity　of　manna　fell　on　the　sixth　day；
none　on　the　seventh；　and　the　portion　needed　for　the　Sabbath　was　preserved
sweet　and　pure；　when　if　any　were　kept　over　at　any　other　time　it　became　unfit
for　use。

In　the　circumstances　connected　with　the　giving　of　the　manna；　we　have
conclusive　evidence　that　the　Sabbath　was　not　instituted；　as　many　claim；　when
the　law　was　given　at　Sinai。　Before　the　Israelites　came　to　Sinai　they
understood　the　Sabbath　to　be　obligatory　upon　them。　In　being　obliged　to
gather　every　Friday　a　double　portion　of　manna　in　preparation　for　the
Sabbath；　when　none　would　fall；　the　sacred　nature　of　the　day　of　rest　was
continually　impressed　upon　them。　And　when　some　of　the　people

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went　out　on　the　Sabbath　to　gather　manna；　the　Lord　asked；　〃How　long　refuse　ye
to　keep　My　commandments　and　My　laws？〃

〃The　children　of　Israel　did　eat　manna　forty　years；　until　they　came　to　a　land
inhabited：　they　did　eat　manna；　until　they　came　unto　the　borders　of　the　land
of　Canaan。〃　For　forty　years　they　were　daily　reminded　by　this　miraculous
provision；　of　God's　unfailing　care　and　tender　love。　In　the　words　of　the
psalmist；　God　gave　them　〃of　the　corn　of　heaven。　Man　did　eat　angels'　food〃
（Psalm　78：24；　25）that　is；　food　provided　for　them　by　the　angels。　Sustained
by　〃the　corn　of　heaven；〃　they　were　daily　taught　that；　having　God's　promise；
they　were　as　secure　from　want　as　if　surrounded　by　fields　of　waving　grain　on
the　fertile　plains　of　Canaan。

The　manna；　falling　from　heaven　for　the　sustenance　of　Israel；　was　a　type　of
Him　who　came　from　God　to　give　life　to　the　world。　Said　Jesus；　〃I　am　that
Bread　of　life。　Your　fathers　did　eat　manna　in　the　wilderness；　and　are　dead。
This　is　the　bread　which　cometh　down　from　heaven。　。　。　。　If　any　man　eat　of
this　bread；　he　shall　live　forever：　and　the　bread　that　I　will　give　is　My
flesh；　which　I　will　give　for　the　life　of　the　world。〃　John　6：48…51。　And　among
the　promises　of　blessing　to　God's　people　in　the　future　life　it　is　written；
〃To　him　that　overcometh　will　I　give　to　eat　of　the　hidden　manna。〃　Revelation
2：17。

After　leaving　the　wilderness　of　Sin；　the　Israelites　encamped　in　Rephidim。
Here　there　was　no　water；　and　again　they　distrusted　the　providence　of　God。　In
their　blindness　and　presumption　the　people　came　to　Moses　with　the　demand；
〃Give　us　water　that　we　may　drink。〃　But　his　patience　failed　not。　〃Why　chide
ye　with　me？〃　he　said；　〃wherefore　do　ye　tempt　the　Lord？〃　They　cried　in　anger；
〃Wherefore　is　this；　that　thou　hast　brought　us　up　out　of　Egypt；　to　kill　us
and　our　children　and　our　cattle　with　thirst？〃　When　they　had　been　so
abundantly　supplied　with　food；　they　remembered　with　shame　their　unbelief　and
murmurings；　and　promised　to　trust　the　Lord　in　the　future；　but　they　soon
forgot　their　promise；　and　failed　at　the　first　trial　of　their　faith。　The
pillar　of　cloud　that　was　leading　them　seemed　to　veil　a　fearful　mystery。　And
Moseswho　was　he？　they　questioned；　and　what　could　be　his　object　in　bringing
them　from　Egypt？　Suspicion　and　distrust　filled　their　hearts；　and　they　boldly
accused　him　of　designing　to　kill　them　and　their　children　by

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privations　and　hardships　that　he　might　enrich　himself　with　their
possessions。　In　the　tumult　of　rage　and　indignation　they　were　about　to　stone
him。

In　distress　Moses　cried　to　the　Lord；　〃What　shall　I　do　unto　this　people？〃　He
was　directed　to　take　the　elders　of　Israel　and　the　rod　wherewith　he　had
wrought　wonders　in　Egypt；　and　to　go　on　before　the　people。　And　the　Lord　said
unto　him；　〃Behold；　I　will　stand　before　thee　there　upon　the　rock　in　Horeb；
and　thou　shalt　smite　the　rock；　and　there　shall　come　water　out　of　it；　that
the　people　may　drink。〃　He　obeyed；　and　the　waters　burst　forth　in　a　living
stream　that　abundantly　supplied　the　encampment。　Instead　of　commanding　Moses
to　lift　up　his　rod　and　call　down　some　terrible　plague；　like　those　on　Egypt；
upon　the　leaders　in　this　wicked　murmuring；　the　Lord　in　His　great　mercy　made
the　rod　His　instrument　to　work　their　deliverance。

〃He　clave　the　rocks　in　the　wilderness；　and　gave　them　drink　as　out　of　the
great　depths。　He　brought　streams　also　out　of　the　rock；　and　caused　waters　to
run　down　like　rivers。〃　Psalm　78：15；　16。　Moses　smote　the　rock；　but　it　was　the
Son　of　God　who；　veiled　in　the　cloudy　pillar；　stood　beside　Moses；　and　caused
the　life…giving　water　to　flow。　Not　only　Moses　and　the　elders；　but　all　the
congregation　who　stood　at　a　distance；　beheld　the　glory　of　the　Lord；　but　had
the　cloud　been　removed；　they　would　have　been　slain　by　the　terrible
brightness　of　Him　who　abode　therein。

In　their　thirst　the　people　had　tempted　God；　saying；　〃Is　the　Lord　among　us；
or　not？〃〃If　God　has　brought　us　here；　why　does　He　not　give　us　water　as　well
as　bread？〃　The　unbelief　thus　manifested　was　criminal；　and　Moses　feared　that
the　judgments　of　God　would　rest　upon　them。　And　he　called　the　name　of　the
place　Massah；　〃temptation；〃　and　Meribah；　〃chiding；〃　as　a　memorial　of　their
sin。

A　new　danger　now　threatened　them。　Because　of　their　murmuring　against　Him；
the　Lord　suffered　them　to　be　attacked　by　their　enemies。　The　Amalekites；　a
fierce；　warlike　tribe　inhabiting　that　region；　came　out　against　them　and
smote　those　who；　faint　and　weary；　had　fallen　into　the　rear。　Moses；　knowing
that　the　masses　of　the　people　were　unprepared　for　battle；　directed　Joshua　to
choose　from　the　different　tribes　a　body　of　soldiers；　and　lead　them　on　the
morrow　against　the　enemy；　while　he

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himself　would　stand　on　an　eminence　near　by　with　the　rod　of　God　in　his　hand。
Accordingly　the　next　day　Joshua　and　his　company　attacked　the　foe；　while
Moses　and　Aaron　and　Hur　were　stationed　on　a　hill　overlooking　the
battlefield。　With　arms　outstretched　toward　heaven；　and　holding　the　rod　of
God　in　his　right　hand；　Moses　prayed　for　the　success　of　the　armies　of　Israel。
As　the　battle　progressed；　it　was　observed　that　so　long　as　his　hands　were
reaching　upward；　Israel　prevailed；　but　when　they　were　lowered；　the　enemy　was
victorious。　As　Moses　became　weary；　Aaron　and　Hur　stayed　up　his　hands　until
the　going　down　of　the　sun；　when　the　enemy　was　put　to　flight。

As　Aaron　and　Hur　supported　the　hands　of　Moses；　they　showed　the　people　their
duty　to　sustain　him　in　his　arduous　work　while　he　should　receive　the　word
from　God　to　speak　to　them。　And　the　act　of　Moses　also　was　significant；
showing　that　God　held　their　destiny　in　His　hands；　while　they　made　Him　their
trust；　He　would　fight　for　them　and　subdue　their　enemies；　but　when　they
should　let　go　their　hol