patriarchs and prophets-第119节

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purposeto　reach　the　place　of　safety。　Weariness　was　forgotten；　difficulties
were　unheeded。　The　fugitive　dared　not　for　one　moment　slacken　his　pace　until
he　was　within　the　wall　of　the　city。

The　sinner　is　exposed　to　eternal　death；　until　he　finds　a　hiding　place　in
Christ；　and　as　loitering　and　carelessness　might　rob　the　fugitive　of　his　only
chance　for　life；　so　delays　and　indifference　may　prove　the　ruin　of　the　soul。
Satan；　the　great　adversary；　is　on　the　track　of　every　transgressor　of　God's
holy　law；　and　he　who　is　not　sensible　of　his　danger；　and　does　not　earnestly
seek　shelter　in　the　eternal　refuge；　will　fall　a　prey　to　the　destroyer。

The　prisoner　who　at　any　time　went　outside　the　city　of　refuge　was　abandoned
to　the　avenger　of　blood。　Thus　the　people　were　taught　to　adhere　to　the
methods　which　infinite　wisdom　appointed　for　their　security。　Even　so；　it　is
not　enough　that　the　sinner　believe　in　Christ　for　the　pardon　of　sin；　he　must；
by　faith　and　obedience；　abide　in　Him。　〃For　if　we　sin　willfully　after　that　we
have　received　the　knowledge　of　the　truth；　there　remaineth　no　more　sacrifice
for　sins；　but　a　certain　fearful　looking　for　of　judgment　and　fiery
indignation；　which　shall　devour　the　adversaries。〃　Hebrews　10：26；　27。

Two　of　the　tribes　of　Israel；　Gad　and　Reuben；　with　half　the　tribe　of
Manasseh；　had　received　their　inheritance　before　crossing　the　Jordan。　To　a
pastoral　people；　the　wide　upland　plains　and　rich　forests　of　Gilead　and
Bashan；　offering　extensive　grazing　land　for　their　flocks　and　herds；　had
attractions　which　were　not　to　be　found　in　Canaan　itself；　and　the　two　and　a
half　tribes；　desiring　to　settle　here；　had　pledged　themselves　to　furnish
their　proportion　of　armed　men　to　accompany　their　brethren　across　the　Jordan
and　to　share　their　battles　till　they　also　should　enter　upon　their
inheritance。　The　obligation　had　been　faithfully　discharged。　When　the

518

ten　tribes　entered　Canaan　forty　thousand　of　〃the　children　of　Reuben；　and　the
children　of　Gad；　and　half　the　tribe　of　Manasseh　。　。　。　prepared　for　war
passed　over　before　the　Lord　unto　battle；　to　the　plains　of　Jericho。〃　Joshua
4：12；　13。　For　years　they　had　fought　bravely　by　the　side　of　their　brethren。
Now　the　time　had　come　for　them　to　get　unto　the　land　of　their　possession。　As
they　had　united　with　their　brethren　in　the　conflicts；　so　they　had　shared　the
spoils；　and　they　returned　〃with　much　riches　。　。　。　and　with　very　much　cattle；
with　silver；　and　with　gold；　and　with　brass；　and　with　iron；　and　with　very
much　raiment；〃　all　of　which　they　were　to　share　with　those　who　had　remained
with　the　families　and　flocks。

They　were　now　to　dwell　at　a　distance　from　the　sanctuary　of　the　Lord；　and　it
was　with　an　anxious　heart　that　Joshua　witnessed　their　departure；　knowing　how
strong　would　be　the　temptations；　in　their　isolated　and　wandering　life；　to
fall　into　the　customs　of　the　heathen　tribes　that　dwelt　upon　their　borders。

While　the　minds　of　Joshua　and　other　leaders　were　still　oppressed　with
anxious　forebodings；　strange　tidings　reached　them。　Beside　the　Jordan；　near
the　place　of　Israel's　miraculous　passage　of　the　river；　the　two　and　a　half
tribes　had　erected　a　great　altar；　similar　to　the　altar　of　burnt　offering　at
Shiloh。　The　law　of　God　prohibited；　on　pain　of　death；　the　establishment　of
another　worship　than　that　at　the　sanctuary。　If　such　was　the　object　of　this
altar；　it　would；　if　permitted　to　remain；　lead　the　people　away　from　the　true
faith。

The　representatives　of　the　people　assembled　at　Shiloh；　and　in　the　heat　of
their　excitement　and　indignation　proposed　to　make　war　at　once　upon　the
offenders。　Through　the　influence　of　the　more　cautious；　however；　it　was
decided　to　send　first　a　delegation　to　obtain　from　the　two　and　a　half　tribes
an　explanation　of　their　conduct。　Ten　princes；　one　from　each　tribe；　were
chosen。　At　their　head　was　Phinehas；　who　had　distinguished　himself　by　his
zeal　in　the　matter　of　Peor。

The　two　and　a　half　tribes　had　been　at　fault　in　entering；　without
explanation；　upon　an　act　open　to　such　grave　suspicions。　The　ambassadors；
taking　it　for　granted　that　their　brethren　were　guilty；　met　them　with　sharp
rebuke。　They　accused　them　of　rebelling　against　the　Lord；　and　bade　them
remember　how　judgments　had　been　visited　upon　Israel　for　joining　themselves
to　Baalpeor。　In　behalf　of　all　Israel；　Phinehas　stated　to　the　children

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of　Gad　and　Reuben　that　if　they　were　unwilling　to　abide　in　that　land　without
an　altar　for　sacrifice；　they　would　be　welcome　to　a　share　in　the　possessions
and　privileges　of　their　brethren　on　the　other　side。

In　reply　the　accused　explained　that　their　altar　was　not　intended　for
sacrifice；　but　simply　as　a　witness　that；　although　separated　by　the　river；
they　were　of　the　same　faith　as　their　brethren　in　Canaan。　They　had　feared
that　in　future　years　their　children　might　be　excluded　from　the　tabernacle；
as　having　no　part　in　Israel。　Then　this　altar；　erected　after　the　pattern　of
the　altar　of　the　Lord　at　Shiloh；　would　be　a　witness　that　its　builders　were
also　worshipers　of　the　living　God。

With　great　joy　the　ambassadors　accepted　this　explanation；　and　immediately
carried　back　the　tidings　to　those　who　sent　them。　All　thoughts　of　war　were
dismissed；　and　the　people　united　in　rejoicing；　and　praise　to　God。

The　children　of　Gad　and　Reuben　now　placed　upon　their　altar　an　inscription
pointing　out　the　purpose　for　which　it　was　erected；　and　they　said；　〃It　shall
be　a　witness　between　us　that　Jehovah　is　God。〃　Thus　they　endeavored　to
prevent　future　misapprehension　and　to　remove　what　might　be　a　cause　of
temptation。

How　often　serious　difficulties　arise　from　a　simple　misunderstanding；　even
among　those　who　are　actuated　by　the　worthiest　motives；　and　without　the
exercise　of　courtesy　and　forbearance；　what　serious　and　even　fatal　results
may　follow。　The　ten　tribes　remembered　how；　in　Achan's　case；　God　had　rebuked
the　lack　of　vigilance　to　discover　the　sins　existing　among　them。　Now　they
resolved　to　act　promptly　and　earnestly；　but　in　seeking　to　shun　their　first
error；　they　had　gone　to　the　opposite　extreme。　Instead　of　making　courteous
inquiry　to　learn　the　facts　in　the　case；　they　had　met　their　brethren　with
censure　and　condemnation。　Had　the　men　of　Gad　and　Reuben　retorted　in　the　same
spirit；　war　would　have　been　the　result。　While　it　is　important　on　the　one
hand　that　laxness　in　dealing　with　sin　be　avoided；　it　is　equally　important　on
the　other　to　shun　harsh　judgment　and　groundless　suspicion。

While　very　sensitive　to　the　least　blame　in　regard　to　their　own　course；　many
are　too　severe　in　dealing　with　those　whom　they　suppose　to　be　in　error。　No
one　was　ever　reclaimed　from　a　wrong　position　by　censure　and　reproach；　but
many　are　thus　driven　further　from　the　right　path　and　led　to　harden　their
hearts　against

520

conviction。　A　spirit　of　kindness；　a　courteous；　forbearing　deportment　may
save　the　erring　and　hide　a　multitude　of　sins。

The　wisdom　displayed　by　the　Reubenites　and　their　companions　is　worthy　of
imitation。　While　honestly　seeking　to　promote　the　cause　of　true　religion；
they　were　misjudged　and　severely　censured；　yet　they　manifested　no
resentment。　They　listened　with　courtesy　and　patience　to　the　charges　of　their
brethren　before　attempting　to　make　their　defense；　and　then　fully　explained
their　motives　and　showed　their　innocence。　Thus　the　difficulty　which　had
threatened　such　serious　consequences　was　amicably　settled。

Even　under　false　accusation　those　who　are　in　the　right　can　afford　to　be　calm
and　considerate。　God　is　acquainted　with　all　that　is　misunderstood　and
misinterpreted　by　men；　and　we　can　safely　leave　our　case　in　His　hands。　He
will　as　surely　vindicate　the　cause　of　those　who　put　their　trust　in　Him　as　He
searched　out　the　guilt　of　Achan。　Those　who　are　actuated　by　the　spirit　of
Christ　will　possess　that　charity　which　suffers　long　and　is　kind。

It　is　the　will　of　God　that　union　and　brotherly　love　should　exist　among　His
people。　The　prayer　of　Christ　just　before　His　crucifixion　was　that　His
disciples　might　be　one　as　He　is　one　with　the　Father；　that　the　world　might
believe　that　God　had　sent　Him。　This　most　touching　and　wonderful　prayer
reaches　down　the　ages；　even　to　our　day；　for　His　words　were；　〃Neither　pray　I
for　these　alone；　but　for　them　also　which　shall　believe　on　Me　through　their
word。〃　John　17：20。　While　we　are　not　to　sacrifice　one　principle　of　truth；　it
should　be　our　constant　aim　to　reach　this　state　of　unity。　This　is　the
evidence　of　our　discipleship。　Said　Jesus；　〃By　this　shall　all　men　know　that
ye　are　My　disciples；　if　ye　have　love　one　to　another。〃　John　13：35。　The
apostle　Peter　exhorts　the　church；　〃Be　ye　all　of　one　mind；　having　compassion
one　of　another；　love　as　brethren；　be　pitiful；　be　courteous：　not　rendering
evil　for　evil；　or　railing　for　railing：　but　contrariwise　blessing；　knowing
that　ye　are　thereunto　called；　that　ye　should　inherit　a　blessing。〃　1　Peter
3：8；　9。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　49

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Last　Words　of　Joshua


The　wars　and　conquest　ended；　Joshua　had　withdrawn　to　the　peaceful　retirement
of　his　home　at　Timnath…serah。　〃An