The LORD knew that these complaints against His servants were in reality complaints against Him, yet He looked with tender mercy upon the sad condition of the people. He therefore told Mo'ses of His purpose to supply Is'ra-el with meat in the evening and bread in the morning, declaring that He would send down like rain from Heaven all the food which the Is'ra-el-ites needed. These promises of God were announced to the entire company of Is'ra-el by the elders and leaders of each tribe. The people were called to worship, and in the evening as they looked toward the wilderness on the east the glory of the LORD shone in the clouds. As the sun sank in the horizon the LORD caused great flocks of quail to come up to their camp, so that the ground was covered with them. The quail were then used to supply the people with meat.
When the people arose on the next morning and looked out upon the wilderness around them, they saw that the ground everywhere was covered with small, round particles, white like frost, and sparkling in the dew like diamonds. Amazed at the strange sight, they cried aloud, "Manna! Manna!" which means , "What is it?"
Mo'ses explained to them that this was the bread which the LORD had promised to send like rain from Heaven, and that they were to go out and gather just enough of it to last them for one day. This wonderful supply of food was to be given by the LORD on every morning except the Sab'bath, so on the sixth day of each week the people were to gather a double supply.
The people gathered the manna as directed by Mo'ses, and prepared it for their meals in various ways. It was a fine, nourishing food, with a taste like that of wafers and honey. Whenever one of them disobeyed the LORD'S command and took more than he needed, it would spoil before it could be eaten. Those who failed to gather a double portion on the sixth day of the week found that there was no manna to be had on the Sab'bath; for their disobedience they had to go without food for one day.
Both the manner in which God supplied this food and the nature of the food itself were miraculous. The manna was not produced by any natural means, and it was wholly independent of climate, weather, or any other worldly condition. It was supplied in the same miraculous way during the entire forty years of Is'ra-el's sojourn in the wilderness, and fell upon them in the same manner at every encampment in various parts of the desert.
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Story 42: Trials And Murmurings In The Wilderness; The Bread From Heaven l
Following the great triumph over their enemies in the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea there was a season of rejoicing in the camp of Is'ra-el. Led by Mir'i-am, the sweet singer, all the children of Is'ra-el joined in singing the Song of Mo'ses. Then they journeyed in a southeasterly direction along the rugged coastline of the sea. Still guided by the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, they turnt into the interior of the A-ra'bi-an Peninsula, which was a great desert, toward the place where Mo'ses had seen the flaming bush that was not burnt.
After travelling for three days they came to a place where there were springs of water, but they soon found that the water was too bitter to drink. Once again the Is'ra-el-ites forgot the mercies and power of God, and began to murmur against Mo'ses because of the bitterness of the water. Then the LORD directed Mo'ses to find a certain shrub and to throw it into the water. As soon as this was done the water became pure and good to drink, and Mo'ses assured the people that all would go well with them if they would only trust in the LORD and obey His commandments.
From Ma'rah, which was the name they gave to the place of bitter waters, the children of Is'ra-el journeyed to a place called E'lim. This was a beautiful valley about one mile long, with twelve fountains of water and seventy palm trees. Here they encamped for several months before resuming their journey. Although the waters were sweet and healthful, and there was an abundance of grass for their cattle, it was the duty of the He'brews to journey on toward their Promised Land in Ca'naan.
"E'lim! sweet foretaste of rest and blessing,
Soon must be left for the lengthening way;
But it is well that Thy pilgrims should gather
Courage and strength for the wearisome way."
As they travelled deeper into the desert of the A-ra'bi-an Peninsula they came into what was known as the wilderness of Sin, between E'lim and Mt. Si'nai. It was now two months since they had left E'gypt, and the small food supplies which they had been able to bring with them were nearly gone. The sheep and cattle which they had brought out of E'gypt had to be kept for making offerings to God, and for future increase in their new home. And so the three million people began to wonder where they were to secure food. Fear and panic spread among them, for their future in this vast wilderness seemed hopeless. They remembered that even during the bondage and hardships suffered in E'gypt they had never been forced to go hungry.
In their desperation the people murmured against Mo'ses and Aa'ron, the two noble servants of God who had just led them so miraculously out of slavery in E'gypt. The whole company of Is'ra-el, including the elders and the appointed leaders of the twelve tribes, joined in this complaint. In the face of the wonderful events of the past three months these murmurings of Is'ra-el were unreasonable, ungrateful, and actually wicked. The people complained about things which never happened, and even longed to return to their old life of bondage in E'gypt.
After travelling for three days they came to a place where there were springs of water, but they soon found that the water was too bitter to drink. Once again the Is'ra-el-ites forgot the mercies and power of God, and began to murmur against Mo'ses because of the bitterness of the water. Then the LORD directed Mo'ses to find a certain shrub and to throw it into the water. As soon as this was done the water became pure and good to drink, and Mo'ses assured the people that all would go well with them if they would only trust in the LORD and obey His commandments.
From Ma'rah, which was the name they gave to the place of bitter waters, the children of Is'ra-el journeyed to a place called E'lim. This was a beautiful valley about one mile long, with twelve fountains of water and seventy palm trees. Here they encamped for several months before resuming their journey. Although the waters were sweet and healthful, and there was an abundance of grass for their cattle, it was the duty of the He'brews to journey on toward their Promised Land in Ca'naan.
"E'lim! sweet foretaste of rest and blessing,
Soon must be left for the lengthening way;
But it is well that Thy pilgrims should gather
Courage and strength for the wearisome way."
As they travelled deeper into the desert of the A-ra'bi-an Peninsula they came into what was known as the wilderness of Sin, between E'lim and Mt. Si'nai. It was now two months since they had left E'gypt, and the small food supplies which they had been able to bring with them were nearly gone. The sheep and cattle which they had brought out of E'gypt had to be kept for making offerings to God, and for future increase in their new home. And so the three million people began to wonder where they were to secure food. Fear and panic spread among them, for their future in this vast wilderness seemed hopeless. They remembered that even during the bondage and hardships suffered in E'gypt they had never been forced to go hungry.
In their desperation the people murmured against Mo'ses and Aa'ron, the two noble servants of God who had just led them so miraculously out of slavery in E'gypt. The whole company of Is'ra-el, including the elders and the appointed leaders of the twelve tribes, joined in this complaint. In the face of the wonderful events of the past three months these murmurings of Is'ra-el were unreasonable, ungrateful, and actually wicked. The people complained about things which never happened, and even longed to return to their old life of bondage in E'gypt.
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Story 41: The Miraculous Dividing Of The Red Sea For Is'ra-el's Passage lV
And with the blast of Thy nostrils the water were piled up,
The floods stood upright as a heap;
The deeps were congealed in the heart of the Sea.
The enemy said,
I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil;
My desire shall be satisfied upon them;
I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
Thou didst blow with Thy wind, the sea covered them:
They sank as lead in the mighty waters.
Who is like unto thee, O Je-ho'vah, among the gods?
Who is like Thee, glorious in holiness,
Fearful in praises, doing wonders?
Thou stretchest out Thy right hand,
The earth swallowed them.
Thou in Thy loving kindness hast led the people that Thou hast
redeemed:
Thou hast guided them in Thy strength to Thy holy habitation.
The peoples have heard, they tremble:
Pangs have taken hold on the inhabitants of Phi-lis'ti-a.
Then were the chiefs of E'dom dismayed;
The mighty men of Mo'ab, trembling taketh hold upon them:
All the inhabitants of Ca'naan are melted away.
Terror and dread falleth upon them:
By the greatness of Thine arm they are as still as stone;
Till thy people pass over that Thou hast purchased.
Thou wilt bring them in, and plant them in the mountains of Thine
inheritance,
The place, O Je-ho'vah, which Thou hast made for Thee to dwell in,
The Sanctuary, O LORD, which Thy hands have established,
Je-ho'vah shall reign forever and ever."
Truly, this song was put into the mouth of Mo'ses by the Spirit of God. It was not only sung to the Glory of God, but was composed and revealed unto Mo'ses by The LORD. Its grandeur and beauty surpass by far the greatest compositions of the mind of man. Its contents are descriptive, historical, and prophetic. The song speaks with equal beauty of Divine vengeance and grace, and of the deliverance of the righteous through the destruction of the wicked. It has lived through the centuries, will abide to the end of time upon earth, and will be among the most glorious hymns of Heaven. The redeemed of the LORD shall sing together around the great white throne the
"Song of Mo'ses and the Lamb."
"Hark, how the adoring hosts above
With songs surround the throne
Ten thousand thousand are their tongues,
But all their hearts are one."
(I hope I did the songs justice in copying them.)
The floods stood upright as a heap;
The deeps were congealed in the heart of the Sea.
The enemy said,
I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil;
My desire shall be satisfied upon them;
I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
Thou didst blow with Thy wind, the sea covered them:
They sank as lead in the mighty waters.
Who is like unto thee, O Je-ho'vah, among the gods?
Who is like Thee, glorious in holiness,
Fearful in praises, doing wonders?
Thou stretchest out Thy right hand,
The earth swallowed them.
Thou in Thy loving kindness hast led the people that Thou hast
redeemed:
Thou hast guided them in Thy strength to Thy holy habitation.
The peoples have heard, they tremble:
Pangs have taken hold on the inhabitants of Phi-lis'ti-a.
Then were the chiefs of E'dom dismayed;
The mighty men of Mo'ab, trembling taketh hold upon them:
All the inhabitants of Ca'naan are melted away.
Terror and dread falleth upon them:
By the greatness of Thine arm they are as still as stone;
Till thy people pass over that Thou hast purchased.
Thou wilt bring them in, and plant them in the mountains of Thine
inheritance,
The place, O Je-ho'vah, which Thou hast made for Thee to dwell in,
The Sanctuary, O LORD, which Thy hands have established,
Je-ho'vah shall reign forever and ever."
Truly, this song was put into the mouth of Mo'ses by the Spirit of God. It was not only sung to the Glory of God, but was composed and revealed unto Mo'ses by The LORD. Its grandeur and beauty surpass by far the greatest compositions of the mind of man. Its contents are descriptive, historical, and prophetic. The song speaks with equal beauty of Divine vengeance and grace, and of the deliverance of the righteous through the destruction of the wicked. It has lived through the centuries, will abide to the end of time upon earth, and will be among the most glorious hymns of Heaven. The redeemed of the LORD shall sing together around the great white throne the
"Song of Mo'ses and the Lamb."
"Hark, how the adoring hosts above
With songs surround the throne
Ten thousand thousand are their tongues,
But all their hearts are one."
(I hope I did the songs justice in copying them.)
Monday, July 25, 2016
Store 41: The Miraculous Dividing Of The Red Sea For Is'ra-el's Passage lll
During the confusion which fell upon the E'gyp-tians just before their destruction, some of them cried out, "Let us fly from the face of the Is'ra-el-ites! The LORD is fighting for them, and against us!" But their cry came too late. The hour was at hand for the LORD to complete deliverance of Is'ra-el by the destruction of her enemies. Safe and secure at last, all Is'ra-el gazed upon the terrible spectacle of destruction.
"She saw avenging wrath in Heaven above-
A gathering tempest-clouds of blighting woe-
Teeming destruction on the vanquish'd foe."
Following the mighty deliverance of Is'ra-el and the miraculous destruction of her foes, Mo'ses composed a beautiful poem which all Is'ra-el sang in praise of God. It is truly a wonderful poem, rich in color and power, and filled with beauty in every line. Stroke follows stroke with breathless haste, and future events are foretold in the same glorious fashion as deeds which had already made history.
"I will sing unto Je-ho'vah, for He hath triumphed gloriously:
The horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea.
Je-ho'vah is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation:
He is my God, and I will praise Him:
Je-vo'vah is a man of war: Je-ho'vah is His name.
Pha'raoh's chariots and his host hath He cast into the sea;
And his chosen captains are sunk in the Red Sea.
The depths covered them,
They went down into the depths like a stone.
Thy right hand, O Je-ho'vah, is glorious in power,
Thy right hand, O Je-ho'vah, dasheth in pieces the enemy.
And in the greatness of thine excellency Thou overthrowest them that
rise up against Thee:
Thou sendest forth thy wrath, it consumeth them as stubble.
"She saw avenging wrath in Heaven above-
A gathering tempest-clouds of blighting woe-
Teeming destruction on the vanquish'd foe."
Following the mighty deliverance of Is'ra-el and the miraculous destruction of her foes, Mo'ses composed a beautiful poem which all Is'ra-el sang in praise of God. It is truly a wonderful poem, rich in color and power, and filled with beauty in every line. Stroke follows stroke with breathless haste, and future events are foretold in the same glorious fashion as deeds which had already made history.
"I will sing unto Je-ho'vah, for He hath triumphed gloriously:
The horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea.
Je-ho'vah is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation:
He is my God, and I will praise Him:
Je-vo'vah is a man of war: Je-ho'vah is His name.
Pha'raoh's chariots and his host hath He cast into the sea;
And his chosen captains are sunk in the Red Sea.
The depths covered them,
They went down into the depths like a stone.
Thy right hand, O Je-ho'vah, is glorious in power,
Thy right hand, O Je-ho'vah, dasheth in pieces the enemy.
And in the greatness of thine excellency Thou overthrowest them that
rise up against Thee:
Thou sendest forth thy wrath, it consumeth them as stubble.
Saturday, July 23, 2016
Story 41: The Miraculous Dividing Of The Red Sea For Is'ra-el's Passage ll
While the Is'ra-el-ites were making the journey, things back in E'gypt had taken a sudden change against them. No sooner were these hundreds of thousands of former slaves out of E'gypt than the wicked, greedy king began to think about what he had lost. He was very sorry that he had given permission for the He'brews to leave, and sent out spies to find them. It was soon reported that the Is'ra-el-ites were lost and entangled in the wilderness.
Determined to regain the slaves whose services had been so valuable to him, Pha'raoh organized a great force to pursue and capture them. He called for his own chariot, and for six hundred chariots of his army; with many squadrons of horsemen, and with thousands of his bravest soldiers to assist in the pursuit, Pha'raoh set out to capture the people whom God had delivered.
Soon the Is'ra-el-ites heard the rumblings of the chariot wheels as they rolled through the wilderness, and the thundering of the horses' hoofs. They knew that the heart of Pha'raoh was filled with hatred, and that he would stop not even at murder to force them back into his service. They also knew that whether they returnt to E'gypt or not, so many of them would be killed or wounded that their nation would be greatly weakened.
The situation of the great company of Is'ra-el-ites was desperate. On either side of them huge mountains, too steep to climb; in front of them rolled the great billows of the Red Sea, while close behind them the angry E'gyp-tian king urged on with his mighty army. The Is'ra-el-ites were without weapons or military training; their enemies were too strong to meet in mortal combat; they could not level the mountains or span the sea. Lost in despair they could only bemoan their fate and complain against Mo'ses for bringing them into this dreadful predicament. They cried, "Why hast thou brought us out here into the wilderness to die? We should have preferred to remain in bondage in E'gypt."
But God was on the side of the oppressed and distracted Is'ra-el-ites. He had led them into this perilous position, but He knew all the time how He would deliver them from it. Pha'raoh's greed and power must be so thoroughly shattered that he would never trouble them again. Is'ra-el must be taught again that God is able to solve any problem, and that for a long time to come they would have to rely upon Him. In their fear and panic the Is'ra-el-ites forgot the past mercies of the LORD, and could see nothing but their foes; in their belief they saw graves where there were none, but God had not forsaken them.
Mo'ses prayed to the LORD in this emergency, and said to the children of Is'ra-el, "Calm your fears; be rid of your worries, for God shall deliver you." The LORD told him to lead the Is'ra-el-ites right down to the edge of the Red Sea, and then say to them, "Go forward." As Mo'ses lifted his staff toward the great, surging waters a miracle took place. The waters were suddenly divided, leaving a dry, safe highway entirely across the sea, and forming high walls of water on either side. All night long the host of Is'ra-el walked in safety through the highway which the LORD had made in the sea, and their flocks and herds were not afraid to make the crossing. The pillar of fire which had guided the Is'ra-el-ites was lifted by the LORD and placed behind them, providing light for their journey, and bringing confusion to the enemies who pursued them.
Pha'raoh and his great army recklessly followed the Is'ra-el-ites into the great highway across the Red Sea. Here the heavy wheels of their chariots sank deep into the sand, and the E'gyp-tian forces were hindered in many other ways. As the dawn of a new day found the last of the Is'ra-el-ites climbing to safety on the other side of the sea, Mo'ses saw that the entire host of Pha'raoh was in the great lane which God had prepared for the escape of His chosen people. Mo'ses then lifted his staff toward the E'gyp-tians, and the mighty walls of water came rushing down upon them, drowning Pha'raoh and all his warriors.
Determined to regain the slaves whose services had been so valuable to him, Pha'raoh organized a great force to pursue and capture them. He called for his own chariot, and for six hundred chariots of his army; with many squadrons of horsemen, and with thousands of his bravest soldiers to assist in the pursuit, Pha'raoh set out to capture the people whom God had delivered.
Soon the Is'ra-el-ites heard the rumblings of the chariot wheels as they rolled through the wilderness, and the thundering of the horses' hoofs. They knew that the heart of Pha'raoh was filled with hatred, and that he would stop not even at murder to force them back into his service. They also knew that whether they returnt to E'gypt or not, so many of them would be killed or wounded that their nation would be greatly weakened.
The situation of the great company of Is'ra-el-ites was desperate. On either side of them huge mountains, too steep to climb; in front of them rolled the great billows of the Red Sea, while close behind them the angry E'gyp-tian king urged on with his mighty army. The Is'ra-el-ites were without weapons or military training; their enemies were too strong to meet in mortal combat; they could not level the mountains or span the sea. Lost in despair they could only bemoan their fate and complain against Mo'ses for bringing them into this dreadful predicament. They cried, "Why hast thou brought us out here into the wilderness to die? We should have preferred to remain in bondage in E'gypt."
But God was on the side of the oppressed and distracted Is'ra-el-ites. He had led them into this perilous position, but He knew all the time how He would deliver them from it. Pha'raoh's greed and power must be so thoroughly shattered that he would never trouble them again. Is'ra-el must be taught again that God is able to solve any problem, and that for a long time to come they would have to rely upon Him. In their fear and panic the Is'ra-el-ites forgot the past mercies of the LORD, and could see nothing but their foes; in their belief they saw graves where there were none, but God had not forsaken them.
Mo'ses prayed to the LORD in this emergency, and said to the children of Is'ra-el, "Calm your fears; be rid of your worries, for God shall deliver you." The LORD told him to lead the Is'ra-el-ites right down to the edge of the Red Sea, and then say to them, "Go forward." As Mo'ses lifted his staff toward the great, surging waters a miracle took place. The waters were suddenly divided, leaving a dry, safe highway entirely across the sea, and forming high walls of water on either side. All night long the host of Is'ra-el walked in safety through the highway which the LORD had made in the sea, and their flocks and herds were not afraid to make the crossing. The pillar of fire which had guided the Is'ra-el-ites was lifted by the LORD and placed behind them, providing light for their journey, and bringing confusion to the enemies who pursued them.
Pha'raoh and his great army recklessly followed the Is'ra-el-ites into the great highway across the Red Sea. Here the heavy wheels of their chariots sank deep into the sand, and the E'gyp-tian forces were hindered in many other ways. As the dawn of a new day found the last of the Is'ra-el-ites climbing to safety on the other side of the sea, Mo'ses saw that the entire host of Pha'raoh was in the great lane which God had prepared for the escape of His chosen people. Mo'ses then lifted his staff toward the E'gyp-tians, and the mighty walls of water came rushing down upon them, drowning Pha'raoh and all his warriors.
Friday, July 22, 2016
Story 41: The Miraculous Dividing Of The Red Sea For Is'ra-el's Passage l
After leaving E'gypt, the great host of the Is'ra-el-ites journeyed in an easterly direction to a place called Suc'coth, where they pitched their tents. Here the LORD directed Mo'ses to remind the people of the gratitude which they owed to the One who had so miraculously delivered them from bondage in E'gypt. Ceremonies and duties in keeping with their new freedom were now announced by the Divinely appointed leader.
The Is'ra-el-ites were told that the eldest child in every family should be dedicated to God in a special manner, and that ever afterwards the first child born to a newly married couple should be set apart to God. In this way God established in Is'ra-el a perpetual memorial of His saving of the firstborn of the Is'ra-el-ites on the night when the eldest child in every E'gyp-tian family was taken by death. That eventful night would be kept alive in the memory of the chosen people of God forever. This requirement also taught the Is'ra-el-ites that the best of their earthly possessions were to be consecrated to the service of God; in offering sacrifices to Him, the people were to give the very best of whatever they had. In making this dedication of the firstborn to the LORD, a sacrifice of a lamb was to be offered as a reminder to Is'ra-el of the way in which their eldest children had been spared from the Angel of death in E'gypt.
Then Mo'ses repeated the orders which he had already given in E'gypt for the establishment of the Pass'o-ver as a ceremony to be kept for all time, and warned the Is'ra-el-ites not to overlook this duty after they were settled in the land of Ca'naan. It would be impossible for them to keep the Pass'o-ver Feast during their prolonged journey through the wilderness, but it must be renewed in Ca'naan. The people were told to explain to their children the meaning of the Pass'o-ver Feast, and to do everything in their power to keep alive in the memory of future generations their wonderful deliverance from bondage in E'gypt. Among all the children of Is'ra-el the observance of the Pass'o-ver was to mark their national birthday.
Following a brief rest at the place called Suc'coth, the Is'ra-el-ites resumed their journey toward Ca'naan. The most direct route over which they might travel was a caravan road around the northern end of an arm of the Red Sea, where there is now the Suez Canal. By taking this route they could have reached the southwest border of Ca'naan within five or six days. This route, however, would have led them through the territory held at that time by the warlike Phi-lis'tines, and it would have been impossible for Mo'ses to engage in battle while the He'brew warriors were accompanied by their wives and children, and encumbered with vast herds of cattle and flocks of sheep and large quantities of goods. The LORD also wished them to spend a year in the wilderness, where Mo'ses would be given special instructions for setting up the laws and religious rites of the nation, and for proclaiming the Divine laws which they were to observe in the Promised Land.
For these reasons the LORD directed Mo'ses to take a rather difficult and hazardous route in a southwesterly direction through the uncharted wilderness. For some two or three days the Is'ra-el-ites moved along in an uncertain course. Fully organized into five great groups arranged according to families and tribes, but without any definite idea as to where they were going, they reached the shores of an arm of the Red Sea. They were in the midst of a broken, mountainous desert, facing the Sea at a point where it was several miles wide and much too deep to be forded. They did not know where they were going, but the LORD had guided them by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
The Is'ra-el-ites were told that the eldest child in every family should be dedicated to God in a special manner, and that ever afterwards the first child born to a newly married couple should be set apart to God. In this way God established in Is'ra-el a perpetual memorial of His saving of the firstborn of the Is'ra-el-ites on the night when the eldest child in every E'gyp-tian family was taken by death. That eventful night would be kept alive in the memory of the chosen people of God forever. This requirement also taught the Is'ra-el-ites that the best of their earthly possessions were to be consecrated to the service of God; in offering sacrifices to Him, the people were to give the very best of whatever they had. In making this dedication of the firstborn to the LORD, a sacrifice of a lamb was to be offered as a reminder to Is'ra-el of the way in which their eldest children had been spared from the Angel of death in E'gypt.
Then Mo'ses repeated the orders which he had already given in E'gypt for the establishment of the Pass'o-ver as a ceremony to be kept for all time, and warned the Is'ra-el-ites not to overlook this duty after they were settled in the land of Ca'naan. It would be impossible for them to keep the Pass'o-ver Feast during their prolonged journey through the wilderness, but it must be renewed in Ca'naan. The people were told to explain to their children the meaning of the Pass'o-ver Feast, and to do everything in their power to keep alive in the memory of future generations their wonderful deliverance from bondage in E'gypt. Among all the children of Is'ra-el the observance of the Pass'o-ver was to mark their national birthday.
Following a brief rest at the place called Suc'coth, the Is'ra-el-ites resumed their journey toward Ca'naan. The most direct route over which they might travel was a caravan road around the northern end of an arm of the Red Sea, where there is now the Suez Canal. By taking this route they could have reached the southwest border of Ca'naan within five or six days. This route, however, would have led them through the territory held at that time by the warlike Phi-lis'tines, and it would have been impossible for Mo'ses to engage in battle while the He'brew warriors were accompanied by their wives and children, and encumbered with vast herds of cattle and flocks of sheep and large quantities of goods. The LORD also wished them to spend a year in the wilderness, where Mo'ses would be given special instructions for setting up the laws and religious rites of the nation, and for proclaiming the Divine laws which they were to observe in the Promised Land.
For these reasons the LORD directed Mo'ses to take a rather difficult and hazardous route in a southwesterly direction through the uncharted wilderness. For some two or three days the Is'ra-el-ites moved along in an uncertain course. Fully organized into five great groups arranged according to families and tribes, but without any definite idea as to where they were going, they reached the shores of an arm of the Red Sea. They were in the midst of a broken, mountainous desert, facing the Sea at a point where it was several miles wide and much too deep to be forded. They did not know where they were going, but the LORD had guided them by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
Thursday, July 21, 2016
Story 40: Is'ra-el Freed By The Final Plague Upon E'gypt lll
Mo'ses also instructed the elders of Is'ra-el to establish an annual feast to be observed by all future generations as a memorial of the wonderful deliverance from E'gypt. The feast was to be called "Pass'o-ver," and we shall learn more about it in other stories.
Mo'ses had not told Pha'raoh just when the last dreadful plague was to strike the land of E'gypt, but had merely said that it would come at midnight. Days had passed since his last warning to the wicked king, so before long Pha'raoh began to think that the terrible hour would not come. Soon all E'gypt began to feel safe; weeks went by, and still there was no sign from Heaven.
Then, on the night of the 14th of the month called Ni'san, a sudden cry of anguish filled the land at midnight. The Angel of death swept over the land, smiting every family of E'gypt. The words which Mo'ses had spoken to Pha'raoh had now all come true, for not a single home escaped.
"Twas dark-that dreary witching hour of night,
When restless spirits stole in mortal sight,
And grim spectres stalked their dreary round."
The whole land rose up in one mighty shout for the deliverance of Is'ra-el at once, for the people feared still greater calamities if Pha'raoh still defied the LORD. So Pha'raoh sent for Mo'ses and Aa'ron, and in the darkness of this night of grief told them to take all the Is'ra-el-ites out of the land at once. With the Is'ra-el-ites went their wives and children, their flocks and herds and all other possessions, and Pha'raoh advised the E'gyp-tians to supply them with whatever they might need for the journey.
Under the direction of Mo'ses the Is'ra-el-ites had been thoroughly organized by families and by tribes. Six hundred thousand men capable of bearing arms marched out of the land, and with the old men, women, and children, the number reached to nearly three million. The children of Is'ra-el carried with them enormous quantities of food and worldly goods, treasures of gold, silver, and jewels, and drove before them great flocks of sheep and herds of cattle.
At last the children of Is'ra-el were free from the land of bondage, released by order of the king after ten successive plagues had crushed his proud, hard-hearted spirit. From the seventy souls which had migrated to this land two hundred and fifteen years before, there had now sprung up a mighty host of nearly three million. They were now strong in numbers, skilled in the arts and science of civilization, and increased in wisdom and experience to the point where they could safely begin their national history as the chosen people of God.
Although forty years of hardship took place before they finally settled in the land of Ca'naan, they were free at last from E'gypt, never to return. Long years of discipline and vital instruction from the LORD lay ahead before they would be fully prepared to set up all the national institutions of a great people, but they were on their way.
"Already she is on her august way,
And marching to her final goal."
Mo'ses had not told Pha'raoh just when the last dreadful plague was to strike the land of E'gypt, but had merely said that it would come at midnight. Days had passed since his last warning to the wicked king, so before long Pha'raoh began to think that the terrible hour would not come. Soon all E'gypt began to feel safe; weeks went by, and still there was no sign from Heaven.
Then, on the night of the 14th of the month called Ni'san, a sudden cry of anguish filled the land at midnight. The Angel of death swept over the land, smiting every family of E'gypt. The words which Mo'ses had spoken to Pha'raoh had now all come true, for not a single home escaped.
"Twas dark-that dreary witching hour of night,
When restless spirits stole in mortal sight,
And grim spectres stalked their dreary round."
The whole land rose up in one mighty shout for the deliverance of Is'ra-el at once, for the people feared still greater calamities if Pha'raoh still defied the LORD. So Pha'raoh sent for Mo'ses and Aa'ron, and in the darkness of this night of grief told them to take all the Is'ra-el-ites out of the land at once. With the Is'ra-el-ites went their wives and children, their flocks and herds and all other possessions, and Pha'raoh advised the E'gyp-tians to supply them with whatever they might need for the journey.
Under the direction of Mo'ses the Is'ra-el-ites had been thoroughly organized by families and by tribes. Six hundred thousand men capable of bearing arms marched out of the land, and with the old men, women, and children, the number reached to nearly three million. The children of Is'ra-el carried with them enormous quantities of food and worldly goods, treasures of gold, silver, and jewels, and drove before them great flocks of sheep and herds of cattle.
At last the children of Is'ra-el were free from the land of bondage, released by order of the king after ten successive plagues had crushed his proud, hard-hearted spirit. From the seventy souls which had migrated to this land two hundred and fifteen years before, there had now sprung up a mighty host of nearly three million. They were now strong in numbers, skilled in the arts and science of civilization, and increased in wisdom and experience to the point where they could safely begin their national history as the chosen people of God.
Although forty years of hardship took place before they finally settled in the land of Ca'naan, they were free at last from E'gypt, never to return. Long years of discipline and vital instruction from the LORD lay ahead before they would be fully prepared to set up all the national institutions of a great people, but they were on their way.
"Already she is on her august way,
And marching to her final goal."
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