patriarchs and prophets-第98节

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temptation　or　even　thoughtlessness。

The　absence　from　the　camp　of　the　two　great　leaders；　and　the　fact　that　they
had　been　accompanied　by　Eleazar；　who；　it　was　well　known；　was　to　be　Aaron's
successor　in　holy　office；　awakened　a

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feeling　of　apprehension；　and　their　return　was　anxiously　awaited。　As　the
people　looked　about　them；　upon　their　vast　congregation；　they　saw　that　nearly
all　the　adults　who　left　Egypt　had　perished　in　the　wilderness。　All　felt　a
foreboding　of　evil　as　they　remembered　the　sentence　pronounced　against　Moses
and　Aaron。　Some　were　aware　of　the　object　of　that　mysterious　journey　to　the
summit　of　Mount　Hor；　and　their　solicitude　for　their　leaders　was　heightened
by　bitter　memories　and　self…accusings。

The　forms　of　Moses　and　Eleazar　were　at　last　discerned；　slowly　descending　the
mountainside；　but　Aaron　was　not　with　them。　Upon　Eleazar　were　the　sacerdotal
garments；　showing　that　he　had　succeeded　his　father　in　the　sacred　office。　As
the　people　with　heavy　hearts　gathered　about　their　leader；　Moses　told　them
that　Aaron　had　died　in　his　arms　upon　Mount　Hor；　and　that　they　there　buried
him。　The　congregation　broke　forth　in　mourning　and　lamentation；　for　they　all
loved　Aaron；　though　they　had　so　often　caused　him　sorrow。　〃They　mourned　for
Aaron　thirty　days；　even　all　the　house　of　Israel。〃

Concerning　the　burial　of　Israel's　high　priest；　the　Scriptures　give　only　the
simple　record；　〃There　Aaron　died；　and　there　he　was　buried。〃　Deuteronomy
10：6。　In　what　striking　contrast　to　the　customs　of　the　present　day　was　this
burial；　conducted　according　to　the　express　command　of　God。　In　modern　times
the　funeral　services　of　a　man　of　high　position　are　often　made　the　occasion
of　ostentatious　and　extravagant　display。　When　Aaron　died；　one　of　the　most
illustrious　men　that　ever　lived；　there　were　only　two　of　his　nearest　friends
to　witness　his　death　and　to　attend　his　burial。　And　that　lonely　grave　upon
Mount　Hor　was　forever　hidden　from　the　sight　of　Israel。　God　is　not　honored　in
the　great　display　so　often　made　over　the　dead；　and　the　extravagant　expense
incurred　in　returning　their　bodies　to　the　dust。

The　whole　congregation　sorrowed　for　Aaron；　yet　they　could　not　feel　the　loss
so　keenly　as　did　Moses。　The　death　of　Aaron　forcibly　reminded　Moses　that　his
own　end　was　near；　but　short　as　the　time　of　his　stay　on　earth　must　be；　he
deeply　felt　the　loss　of　his　constant　companionthe　one　who　had　shared　his
joys　and　sorrows；　his　hopes　and　fears；　for　so　many　long　years。　Moses　must
now　continue　the　work　alone；　but　he　knew　that　God　was　his　friend；　and　upon
Him　he　leaned　more　heavily。

Soon　after　leaving　Mount　Hor　the　Israelites　suffered　defeat

428

in　an　engagement　with　Arad；　one　of　the　Canaanite　kings。　But　as　they
earnestly　sought　help　from　God；　divine　aid　was　granted　them；　and　their
enemies　were　routed。　This　victory；　instead　of　inspiring　gratitude　and
leading　the　people　to　feel　their　dependence　upon　God；　made　them　boastful　and
self…confident。　Soon　they　fell　into　the　old　habit　of　murmuring。　They　were
now　dissatisfied　because　the　armies　of　Israel　had　not　been　permitted　to
advance　upon　Canaan　immediately　after　their　rebellion　at　the　report　of　the
spies　nearly　forty　years　before。　They　pronounced　their　long　sojourn　in　the
wilderness　an　unnecessary　delay；　reasoning　that　they　might　have　conquered
their　enemies　as　easily　heretofore　as　now。

As　they　continued　their　journey　toward　the　south；　their　route　lay　through　a
hot；　sandy　valley；　destitute　of　shade　or　vegetation。　The　way　seemed　long　and
difficult；　and　they　suffered　from　weariness　and　thirst。　Again　they　failed　to
endure　the　test　of　their　faith　and　patience。　By　continually　dwelling　on　the
dark　side　of　their　experiences；　they　separated　themselves　farther　and
farther　from　God。　They　lost　sight　of　the　fact　that　but　for　their　murmuring
when　the　water　ceased　at　Kadesh；　they　would　have　been　spared　the　journey
around　Edom。　God　had　purposed　better　things　for　them。　Their　hearts　should
have　been　filled　with　gratitude　to　Him　that　He　had　punished　their　sin　so
lightly。　But　instead　of　this；　they　flattered　themselves　that　if　God　and
Moses　had　not　interfered；　they　might　now　have　been　in　possession　of　the
Promised　Land。　After　bringing　trouble　upon　themselves；　making　their　lot
altogether　harder　than　God　designed；　they　charged　all　their　misfortunes　upon
Him。　Thus　they　cherished　bitter　thoughts　concerning　His　dealings　with　them；
and　finally　they　became　discontented　with　everything。　Egypt　looked　brighter
and　more　desirable　than　liberty　and　the　land　to　which　God　was　leading　them。

As　the　Israelites　indulged　the　spirit　of　discontent；　they　were　disposed　to
find　fault　even　with　their　blessings。　〃And　the　people　spake　against　God；　and
against　Moses；　Wherefore　have　ye　brought　us　up　out　of　Egypt　to　die　in　the
wilderness？　for　there　is　no　bread；　neither　is　there　any　water；　and　our　soul
loatheth　this　light　bread。〃

Moses　faithfully　set　before　the　people　their　great　sin。　It　was　God's　power
alone　that　had　preserved　them　in　〃that　great　and　terrible　wilderness；
wherein　were　fiery　serpents；　and　scorpions；

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and　drought；　where　there　was　no　water。〃　Deuteronomy　8：15。　Every　day　of　their
travels　they　had　been　kept　by　a　miracle　of　divine　mercy。　In　all　the　way　of
God's　leading　they　had　found　water　to　refresh　the　thirsty；　bread　from　heaven
to　satisfy　their　hunger；　and　peace　and　safety　under　the　shadowy　cloud　by　day
and　the　pillar　of　fire　by　night。　Angels　had　ministered　to　them　as　they
climbed　the　rocky　heights　or　threaded　the　rugged　paths　of　the　wilderness。
Notwithstanding　the　hardships　they　had　endured；　there　was　not　a　feeble　one
in　all　their　ranks。　Their　feet　had　not　swollen　in　their　long　journeys；
neither　had　their　clothes　grown　old。　God　had　subdued　before　them　the　fierce
beasts　of　prey　and　the　venomous　reptiles　of　the　forest　and　the　desert。　If
with　all　these　tokens　of　His　love　the　people　still　continued　to　complain；
the　Lord　would　withdraw　His　protection　until　they　should　be　led　to
appreciate　His　merciful　care；　and　return　to　Him　with　repentance　and
humiliation。

Because　they　had　been　shielded　by　divine　power　they　had　not　realized　the
countless　dangers　by　which　they　were　continually　surrounded。　In　their
ingratitude　and　unbelief　they　had　anticipated　death；　and　now　the　Lord
permitted　death　to　come　upon　them。　The　poisonous　serpents　that　infested　the
wilderness　were　called　fiery　serpents；　on　account　of　the　terrible　effects
produced　by　their　sting；　it　causing　violent　inflammation　and　speedy　death。
As　the　protecting　hand　of　God　was　removed　from　Israel；　great　numbers　of　the
people　were　attacked　by　these　venomous　creatures。

Now　there　was　terror　and　confusion　throughout　the　encampment。　In　almost
every　tent　were　the　dying　or　the　dead。　None　were　secure。　Often　the　silence
of　night　was　broken　by　piercing　cries　that　told　of　fresh　victims。　All　were
busy　in　ministering　to　the　sufferers；　or　with　agonizing　care　endeavoring　to
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