patriarchs and prophets-第90部分

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I　begin　to　put　the　dread　of　thee　and　the　fear　of　thee　upon　the　nations　that
are　under　the　whole　heaven；　who　shall　hear　report　of　thee；　and　shall
tremble；　and　be　in　anguish　because　of　thee。〃

These　nations　on　the　borders　of　Canaan　would　have　been　spared；　had　they　not
stood；　in　defiance　of　God's　word；　to　oppose　the　progress　of　Israel。　The　Lord
had　shown　Himself　to　be　long…suffering；　of　great　kindness　and　tender　pity；
even　to　these　heathen　peoples。　When　Abraham　was　shown　in　vision　that　his
seed；　the　children　of　Israel；　should　be　strangers　in　a　strange　land　four
hundred　years；　the　Lord　gave　him　the　promise；　〃In　the　fourth　generation　they
shall　come　hither　again：　for　the　iniquity　of　the　Amorites　is　not　yet　full。〃
Genesis　15：16。　Although　the　Amorites　were　idolaters；　whose　life　was　justly
forfeited　by　their　great　wickedness；　God　spared　them　four　hundred　years　to
give　them　unmistakable　evidence　that　He　was　the　only　true　God；　the　Maker　of
heaven　and　earth。　All　His　wonders　in　bringing　Israel　from　Egypt　were　known
to　them。　Sufficient　evidence　was　given；　they　might　have　known　the　truth；　had
they　been　willing　to　turn　from　their　idolatry　and　licentiousness。　But　they
rejected　the　light　and　clung　to　their　idols。

When　the　Lord　brought　His　people　a　second　time　to　the　borders　of　Canaan；
additional　evidence　of　His　power　was　granted　to　those　heathen　nations。　They
saw　that　God　was　with　Israel　in　the　victory　gained　over　King　Arad　and　the
Canaanites；　and　in　the　miracle　wrought　to　save　those　who　were　perishing　from
the　sting　of　the　serpents。　Although　the　Israelites　had　been　refused　a
passage　through　the　land　of　Edom；　thus　being　compelled　to　take　the

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long　and　difficult　route　by　the　Red　Sea；　yet　in　all　their　journeyings　and
encampments；　past　the　land　of　Edom；　of　Moab　and　Ammon；　they　had　shown　no
hostility；　and　had　done　no　injury　to　the　people　or　their　possessions。　On
reaching　the　border　of　the　Amorites；　Israel　had　asked　permission　only　to
travel　directly　through　the　country；　promising　to　observe　the　same　rules
that　had　governed　their　intercourse　with　other　nations。　When　the　Amorite
king　refused　this　courteous　solicitation；　and　defiantly　gathered　his　hosts
for　battle；　their　cup　of　iniquity　was　full；　and　God　would　now　exercise　His
power　for　their　overthrow。

The　Israelites　crossed　the　river　Arnon　and　advanced　upon　the　foe。　An
engagement　took　place；　in　which　the　armies　of　Israel　were　victorious；　and；
following　up　the　advantage　gained；　they　were　soon　in　possession　of　the
country　of　the　Amorites。　It　was　the　Captain　of　the　Lord's　host　who
vanquished　the　enemies　of　His　people；　and　He　would　have　done　the　same
thirty…eight　years　before　had　Israel　trusted　in　Him。

Filled　with　hope　and　courage；　the　army　of　Israel　eagerly　pressed　forward；
and；　still　journeying　northward；　they　soon　reached　a　country　that　might　well
test　their　courage　and　their　faith　in　God。　Before　them　lay　the　powerful　and
populous　kingdom　of　Bashan；　crowded　with　great　stone　cities　that　to　this　day
excite　the　wonder　of　the　world〃threescore　cities　。　。　。　with　high　walls；
gates；　and　bars；　besides　unwalled　towns　a　great　many。〃　Deuteronomy　3：1…11。
The　houses　were　constructed　of　huge　black　stones；　of　such　stupendous　size　as
to　make　the　buildings　absolutely　impregnable　to　any　force　that　in　those
times　could　have　been　brought　against　them。　It　was　a　country　filled　with
wild　caverns；　lofty　precipices；　yawning　gulfs；　and　rocky　strongholds。　The
inhabitants　of　this　land；　descendants　from　a　giant　race；　were　themselves　of
marvelous　size　and　strength；　and　so　distinguished　for　violence　and　cruelty
as　to　be　the　terror　of　all　surrounding　nations；　while　Og；　the　king　of　the
country；　was　remarkable　for　size　and　prowess；　even　in　a　nation　of　giants。

But　the　cloudy　pillar　moved　forward；　and　following　its　guidance　the　Hebrew
hosts　advanced　to　Edrei；　where　the　giant　king；　with　his　forces；　awaited
their　approach。　Og　had　skillfully　chosen　the　place　of　battle。　The　city　of
Edrei　was　situated　upon　the　border　of　a　tableland　rising　abruptly　from　the
plain；　and　covered　with　jagged；　volcanic　rocks。　It　could　be　approached　only
by　narrow

436

pathways；　steep　and　difficult　of　ascent。　In　case　of　defeat；　his　forces　could
find　refuge　in　that　wilderness　of　rocks；　where　it　would　be　impossible　for
strangers　to　follow　them。

Confident　of　success；　the　king　came　forth　with　an　immense　army　upon　the　open
plain；　while　shouts　of　defiance　were　heard　from　the　tableland　above；　where
might　be　seen　the　spears　of　thousands；　eager　for　the　fray。　When　the　Hebrews
looked　upon　the　lofty　form　of　that　giant　of　giants　towering　above　the
soldiers　of　his　army；　when　they　saw　the　hosts　that　surrounded　him；　and
beheld　the　seemingly　impregnable　fortress；　behind　which　unseen　thousands
were　entrenched；　the　hearts　of　many　in　Israel　quaked　with　fear。　But　Moses
was　calm　and　firm；　the　Lord　had　said　concerning　the　king　of　Bashan；　〃Fear
him　not：　for　I　will　deliver　him；　and　all　his　people；　and　his　land；　into　thy
hand；　and　thou　shalt　do　unto　him　as　thou　didst　unto　Sihon　king　of　the
Amorites；　which　dwelt　at　Heshbon。〃

The　calm　faith　of　their　leader　inspired　the　people　with　confidence　in　God。
They　trusted　all　to　His　omnipotent　arm；　and　He　did　not　fail　them。　Not　mighty
giants　nor　walled　cities；　armed　hosts　nor　rocky　fortresses；　could　stand
before　the　Captain　of　the　Lord's　host。　The　Lord　led　the　army；　the　Lord
discomfited　the　enemy；　the　Lord　conquered　in　behalf　of　Israel。　The　giant
king　and　his　army　were　destroyed；　and　the　Israelites　soon　took　possession　of
the　whole　country。　Thus　was　blotted　from　the　earth　that　strange　people　who
had　given　themselves　up　to　iniquity　and　abominable　idolatry。

In　the　conquest　of　Gilead　and　Bashan　there　were　many　who　recalled　the　events
which　nearly　forty　years　before　had；　in　Kadesh；　doomed　Israel　to　the　long
desert　wandering。　They　saw　that　the　report　of　the　spies　concerning　the
Promised　Land　was　in　many　respects　correct。　The　cities　were　walled　and　very
great；　and　were　inhabited　by　giants；　in　comparison　with　whom　the　Hebrews
were　mere　pygmies。　But　they　could　now　see　that　the　fatal　mistake　of　their
fathers　had　been　in　distrusting　the　power　of　God。　This　alone　had　prevented
them　from　at　once　entering　the　goodly　land。

When　they　were　at　the　first　preparing　to　enter　Canaan；　the　undertaking　was
attended　with　far　less　difficulty　than　now。　God　had　promised　His　people　that
if　they　would　obey　His　voice　He　would　go　before　them　and　fight　for　them；　and
He　would　also　send

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hornets　to　drive　out　the　inhabitants　of　the　land。　The　fears　of　the　nations
had　not　been　generally　aroused；　and　little　preparation　had　been　made　to
oppose　their　progress。　But　when　the　Lord　now　bade　Israel　go　forward；　they
must　advance　against　alert　and　powerful　foes；　and　must　contend　with　large
and　well…trained　armies　that　had　been　preparing　to　resist　their　approach。

In　their　contest　with　Og　and　Sihon　the　people　were　brought　to　the　same　test
beneath　which　their　fathers　had　so　signally　failed。　But　the　trial　was　now
far　more　severe　than　when　God　had　commanded　Israel　to　go　forward。　The
difficulties　in　their　way　had　greatly　increased　since　they　refused　to
advance　when　bidden　to　do　so　in　the　name　of　the　Lord。　It　is　thus　that　God
still　tests　His　people。　And　if　they　fail　to　endure　the　trial；　He　brings　them
again　to　the　same　point；　and　the　second　time　the　trial　will　come　closer；　and
be　more　severe　than　the　preceding。　This　is　continued　until　they　bear　the
test；　or；　if　they　are　still　rebellious；　God　withdraws　His　light　from　them
and　leaves　them　in　darkness。

The　Hebrews　now　remembered　how　once　before；　when　their　forces　had　gone　to
battle；　they　had　been　routed；　and　thousands　slain。　But　they　had　then　gone　in
direct　opposition　to　the　command　of　God。　They　had　gone　out　without　Moses；
God's　appointed　leader；　without　the　cloudy　pillar；　the　symbol　of　the　divine
presence；　and　without　the　ark。　But　now　Moses　was　with　them；　strengthening
their　hearts　with　words　of　hope　and　faith；　the　Son　of　God；　enshrined　in　the
cloudy　pillar；　led　the　way；　and　the　sacred　ark　accompanied　the　host。　This
experience　has　a　lesson　for　us。　The　mighty　God　of　Israel　is　our　God。　In　Him
we　may　trust；　and　if　we　obey　His　requirements　He　will　work　for　us　in　as
signal　a　manner　as　He　did　for　His　ancient　people。　Everyone　who　seeks　to
follow　the　path　of　duty　will　at　times　be　assailed　by　doubt　and　unbelief。　The
way　will　sometimes　be　so　barred　by　obstacles；　apparently　insurmountable；　as
to　dishearten　those　who　will　yield　to　discouragement；　but　God　is　saying　to
such；　Go　forward。　Do　your　duty　at　any　cost。　The　difficulties　that　seem　so
formidable；　that　fill　your　soul　with　dread；　will　vanish　as　you　move　forward
in　the　path　of　obedience；　humbly　trusting　in　God。





（438）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　40

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Balaam


Returning　to　the　Jordan　from　the　conquest　of　Bashan；　the　Israelites；　in
preparation　for　the　immediate　invasion　of　Canaan；　encamped　beside　the　river；
above　its　entrance　into　the　Dead　Sea；　and　just　opposite　the　plain　of
Jericho。　They　were　upon　the　very　borders　of　Moab；　and　the　Moabites　were
filled　with　terror　at　the　close　proximity　of　the　invaders。

The　people　of　Moab　had　not　been　molested　by　Israel；　yet　they　had　watched
with　troubled　forebodings　all　that　had　taken　place　in　the　surrounding
countries。　The　Amorites；　before　whom　they　had　been　forced　to　retreat；　had
been　conquered　by　the　Hebrews；　and　the　territory　which　the　Amorites　had
wrested　from　Moab　was　now　in　the　possession　of　Israel。　The　hosts　of　Bashan
had　yielded　before　the　mysterious　power　enshrouded　in　the　cloudy　pillar；　and
the　giant　strongholds　were　occupied　by　the　Hebrews。　The　Moabites　dared　not
risk　an　attack　upon　them；　an　appeal　to　arms　was　hopeless　in　face　of　the
supernatural　agencies　that　wrought　in　their　behalf。　But　they　determined；　as
Pharaoh　had　done；　to　enlist　the　power　of　sorcery　to　counteract　the　work　of
God。　They　would　bring　a　curse　upon　Israel。

The　people　of　Moab　were　closely　connected　with　the　Midianites；　both　by　the
ties　of　nationalit