patriarchs and prophets-第89部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


protect　those　who　were　not　yet　stricken。　No　murmuring　now　escaped　their
lips。　When　compared　with　the　present　suffering；　their　former　difficulties
and　trials　seemed　unworthy　of　a　thought。

The　people　now　humbled　themselves　before　God。　They　came　to　Moses　with　their
confessions　and　entreaties。　〃We　have　sinned；〃　they　said；　〃for　we　have　spoken
against　the　Lord；　and　against　thee。〃　Only　a　little　before；　they　had　accused
him　of　being　their　worst　enemy；　the　cause　of　all　their　distress　and
afflictions。　But　even　when　the　words　were　upon　their　lips；　they　knew　that
the　charge　was　false；　and　as　soon　as　real　trouble　came　they　fled　to

430

him　as　the　only　one　who　could　intercede　with　God　for　them。　〃Pray　unto　the
Lord；〃　was　their　cry；　〃that　He　take　away　the　serpents　from　us。〃

Moses　was　divinely　commanded　to　make　a　serpent　of　brass　resembling　the
living　ones；　and　to　elevate　it　among　the　people。　To　this；　all　who　had　been
bitten　were　to　look；　and　they　would　find　relief。　He　did　so；　and　the　joyful
news　was　sounded　throughout　the　encampment　that　all　who　had　been　bitten
might　look　upon　the　brazen　serpent　and　live。　Many　had　already　died；　and　when
Moses　raised　the　serpent　upon　the　pole；　some　would　not　believe　that　merely
gazing　upon　that　metallic　image　would　heal　them；　these　perished　in　their
unbelief。　Yet　there　were　many　who　had　faith　in　the　provision　which　God　had
made。　Fathers；　mothers；　brothers；　and　sisters　were　anxiously　engaged　in
helping　their　suffering；　dying　friends　to　fix　their　languid　eyes　upon　the
serpent。　If　these；　though　faint　and　dying；　could　only　once　look；　they　were
perfectly　restored。

The　people　well　knew　that　there　was　no　power　in　the　serpent　of　brass　to
cause　such　a　change　in　those　who　looked　upon　it。　The　healing　virtue　was　from
God　alone。　In　His　wisdom　He　chose　this　way　of　displaying　His　power。　By　this
simple　means　the　people　were　made　to　realize　that　this　affliction　had　been
brought　upon　them　by　their　sins。　They　were　also　assured　that　while　obeying
God　they　had　no　reason　to　fear；　for　He　would　preserve　them。

The　lifting　up　of　the　brazen　serpent　was　to　teach　Israel　an　important
lesson。　They　could　not　save　themselves　from　the　fatal　effect　of　the　poison
in　their　wounds。　God　alone　was　able　to　heal　them。　Yet　they　were　required　to
show　their　faith　in　the　provision　which　He　had　made。　They　must　look　in　order
to　live。　It　was　their　faith　that　was　acceptable　with　God；　and　by　looking
upon　the　serpent　their　faith　was　shown。　They　knew　that　there　was　no　virtue
in　the　serpent　itself；　but　it　was　a　symbol　of　Christ；　and　the　necessity　of
faith　in　His　merits　was　thus　presented　to　their　minds。　Heretofore　many　had
brought　their　offerings　to　God；　and　had　felt　that　in　so　doing　they　made
ample　atonement　for　their　sins。　They　did　not　rely　upon　the　Redeemer　to　come；
of　whom　these　offerings　were　only　a　type。　The　Lord　would　now　teach　them　that
their　sacrifices；　in　themselves；　had　no　more　power　or　virtue　than　the
serpent　of　brass；　but　were；　like　that；　to　lead　their　minds　to　Christ；　the
great　sin　offering。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　431


〃As　Moses　lifted　up　the　serpent　in　the　wilderness；〃　even　so　was　the　Son　of
man　〃lifted　up：　that　whosoever　believeth　in　Him　should　not　perish；　but　have
eternal　life。〃　John　3：14；　15。　All　who　have　ever　lived　upon　the　earth　have
felt　the　deadly　sting　of　〃that　old　serpent；　called　the　devil；　and　Satan。〃
Revelation　12：9。　The　fatal　effects　of　sin　can　be　removed　only　by　the
provision　that　God　has　made。　The　Israelites　saved　their　lives　by　looking
upon　the　uplifted　serpent。　That　look　implied　faith。　They　lived　because　they
believed　God's　word；　and　trusted　in　the　means　provided　for　their　recovery。
So　the　sinner　may　look　to　Christ；　and　live。　He　receives　pardon　through　faith
in　the　atoning　sacrifice。　Unlike　the　inert　and　lifeless　symbol；　Christ　has
power　and　virtue　in　Himself　to　heal　the　repenting　sinner。

While　the　sinner　cannot　save　himself；　he　still　has　something　to　do　to　secure
salvation。　〃Him　that　cometh　to　Me；〃　says　Christ；　〃I　will　in　no　wise　cast
out。〃　John　6：37。　But　we　must　come　to　Him；　and　when　we　repent　of　our　sins；　we
must　believe　that　He　accepts　and　pardons　us。　Faith　is　the　gift　of　God；　but
the　power　to　exercise　it　is　ours。　Faith　is　the　hand　by　which　the　soul　takes
hold　upon　the　divine　offers　of　grace　and　mercy。

Nothing　but　the　righteousness　of　Christ　can　entitle　us　to　one　of　the
blessings　of　the　covenant　of　grace。　There　are　many　who　have　long　desired　and
tried　to　obtain　these　blessings；　but　have　not　received　them；　because　they
have　cherished　the　idea　that　they　could　do　something　to　make　themselves
worthy　of　them。　They　have　not　looked　away　from　self；　believing　that　Jesus　is
an　all…sufficient　Saviour。　We　must　not　think　that　our　own　merits　will　save
us；　Christ　is　our　only　hope　of　salvation。　〃For　there　is　none　other　name
under　heaven　given　among　men；　whereby　we　must　be　saved。〃　Acts　4：12。

When　we　trust　God　fully；　when　we　rely　upon　the　merits　of　Jesus　as　a
sin…pardoning　Saviour；　we　shall　receive　all　the　help　that　we　can　desire。　Let
none　look　to　self；　as　though　they　had　power　to　save　themselves。　Jesus　died
for　us　because　we　were　helpless　to　do　this。　In　Him　is　our　hope；　our
justification；　our　righteousness。　When　we　see　our　sinfulness　we　should　not
despond　and　fear　that　we　have　no　Saviour；　or　that　He　has　no　thoughts　of
mercy　toward　us。　At　this　very　time　He　is　inviting　us　to　come　to　Him　in　our
helplessness　and　be　saved。

432


Many　of　the　Israelites　saw　no　help　in　the　remedy　which　Heaven　had　appointed。
The　dead　and　dying　were　all　around　them；　and　they　knew　that；　without　divine
aid；　their　own　fate　was　certain；　but　they　continued　to　lament　their　wounds；
their　pains；　their　sure　death；　until　their　strength　was　gone；　and　their　eyes
were　glazed；　when　they　might　have　had　instant　healing。　If　we　are　conscious
of　our　needs；　we　should　not　devote　all　our　powers　to　mourning　over　them。
While　we　realize　our　helpless　condition　without　Christ；　we　are　not　to　yield
to　discouragement；　but　rely　upon　the　merits　of　a　crucified　and　risen
Saviour。　Look　and　live。　Jesus　has　pledged　His　word；　He　will　save　all　who
come　unto　Him。　Though　millions　who　need　to　be　healed　will　reject　His　offered
mercy；　not　one　who　trusts　in　His　merits　will　be　left　to　perish。

Many　are　unwilling　to　accept　of　Christ　until　the　whole　mystery　of　the　plan
of　salvation　shall　be　made　plain　to　them。　They　refuse　the　look　of　faith；
although　they　see　that　thousands　have　looked；　and　have　felt　the　efficacy　of
looking；　to　the　cross　of　Christ。　Many　wander　in　the　mazes　of　philosophy；　in
search　of　reasons　and　evidence　which　they　will　never　find；　while　they　reject
the　evidence　which　God　has　been　pleased　to　give。　They　refuse　to　walk　in　the
light　of　the　Sun　of　Righteousness；　until　the　reason　of　its　shining　shall　be
explained。　All　who　persist　in　this　course　will　fail　to　come　to　a　knowledge
of　the　truth。　God　will　never　remove　every　occasion　for　doubt。　He　gives
sufficient　evidence　on　which　to　base　faith；　and　if　this　is　not　accepted；　the
mind　is　left　in　darkness。　If　those　who　were　bitten　by　the　serpents　had
stopped　to　doubt　and　question　before　they　would　consent　to　look；　they　would
have　perished。　It　is　our　duty；　first；　to　look；　and　the　look　of　faith　will
give　us　life。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（433）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　39

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Conquest　of　Bashan


After　passing　to　the　south　of　Edom；　the　Israelites　turned　northward；　and
again　set　their　faces　toward　the　Promised　Land。　Their　route　now　lay　over　a
vast；　elevated　plain；　swept　by　cool；　fresh　breezes　from　the　hills。　It　was　a
welcome　change　from　the　parched　valley　through　which　they　had　been
traveling；　and　they　pressed　forward；　buoyant　and　hopeful。　Having　crossed　the
brook　Zered；　they　passed　to　the　east　of　the　land　of　Moab；　for　the　command
had　been　given；　〃Distress　not　the　Moabites；　neither　contend　with　them　in
battle：　for　I　will　not　give　thee　of　their　land　for　a　possession；　because　I
have　given　Ar　unto　the　children　of　Lot。〃　And　the　same　direction　was　repeated
concerning　the　Ammonites；　who　were　also　descendants　of　Lot。

Still　pushing　northward；　the　hosts　of　Israel　soon　reached　the　country　of　the
Amorites。　This　strong　and　warlike　people　originally　occupied　the　southern
part　of　the　land　of　Canaan；　but；　increasing　in　numbers；　they　crossed　the
Jordan；　made　war　upon　the　Moabites；　and　gained　possession　of　a　portion　of
their　territory。　Here　they　had　settled；　holding　undisputed　sway　over　all　the
land　from　the　Arnon　as　far　north　as　the　Jabbok。　The　route　to　the　Jordan
which　the　Israelites　desired　to　pursue　lay　directly　through　this　territory；
and　Moses　sent　a　friendly　message　to　Sihon；　the　Amorite　king；　at　his
capital：　〃Let　me　pass　through　thy　land：　I　will　go　along　by　the　highway；　I
will　neither　turn　unto　the　right　hand　nor　to　the　left。　Thou　shalt　sell　me
meat　for　money；　that　I　may　eat；　and　give　me　water　for　money；　that　I　may
drink：　only　I　will　pass　through　on　my　feet。〃　The　answer　was　a　decided
refusal；　and　all　the　hosts　of　the　Amorites　were　summoned　to　oppose　the
progress　of　the　invaders。　This　formidable　army　struck　terror　to　the
Israelites；　who　were　poorly　prepared　for　an　encounter　with　well…armed　and
well…disciplined　forces。　So　far　as

434

skill　in　warfare　was　concerned；　their　enemies　had　the　advantage。　To　all
human　appearance；　a　speedy　end　would　be　made　of　Israel。

But　Moses　kept　his　gaze　fixed　upon　the　cloudy　pillar；　and　encouraged　the
people　with　the　thought　that　the　token　of　God's　presence　was　still　with
them。　At　the　same　time　he　directed　them　to　do　all　that　human　power　could　do
in　preparing　for　war。　Their　enemies　were　eager　for　battle；　and　confident
that　they　would　blot　out　the　unprepared　Israelites　from　the　land。　But　from
the　Possessor　of　all　lands　the　mandate　had　gone　forth　to　the　leader　of
Israel：　〃Rise　ye　up；　take　your　journey；　and　pass　over　the　river　Arnon：
behold；　I　have　given　into　thine　hand　Sihon　the　Amorite；　king　of　Heshbon；　and
his　land：　begin　to　possess　it；　and　contend　with　him　in　battle。　This　day　will
I　begin　to　put　the　dread　of　thee　and　the　fear　of　thee　upon　the　na