patriarchs and prophets-第87节

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persisted　in　desiring　it；　they　would　not　be　satisfied　with　those　things　that
would　prove　a　benefit　to　them。　Their　rebellious　desires　were　gratified；　but
they　were　left　to　suffer　the　result。　They　feasted　without　restraint；　and
their　excesses　were　speedily　punished。　〃The　Lord　smote　the　people　with　a
very　great　plague。〃　Large　numbers　were　cut　down　by　burning　fevers；　while　the
most　guilty　among　them　were　smitten　as　soon　as　they　tasted　the　food　for
which　they　had　lusted。

At　Hazeroth；　the　next　encampment　after　leaving　Taberah；　a　still　more　bitter
trial　awaited　Moses。　Aaron　and　Miriam　had　occupied　a　position　of　high　honor
and　leadership　in　Israel。　Both　were　endowed　with　the　prophetic　gift；　and
both　had　been　divinely　associated　with　Moses　in　the　deliverance　of　the
Hebrews。　〃I　sent　before　thee　Moses；　Aaron；　and　Miriam〃　（Micah　6：4）；　are　the
words　of　the　Lord　by　the　prophet　Micah。　Miriam's　force　of　character　had　been
early　displayed　when　as　a　child　she　watched　beside　the　Nile　the　little
basket　in　which　was　hidden　the　infant　Moses。　Her　self…control　and　tact　God
had　made　instrumental　in　preserving　the　deliverer　of　His　people。　Richly
endowed　with　the　gifts　of　poetry　and　music；　Miriam　had　led　the　women　of
Israel　in　song　and　dance　on　the　shore　of　the　Red　Sea。　In　the　affections　of
the　people　and　the　honor　of　Heaven　she　stood　second　only　to　Moses　and　Aaron。
But　the　same　evil　that　first　brought　discord　in　heaven　sprang　up　in　the
heart　of　this　woman　of　Israel；　and　she　did　not　fail　to　find　a　sympathizer　in
her　dissatisfaction。

In　the　appointment　of　the　seventy　elders　Miriam　and　Aaron

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had　not　been　consulted；　and　their　jealousy　was　excited　against　Moses。　At　the
time　of　Jethro's　visit；　while　the　Israelites　were　on　the　way　to　Sinai；　the
ready　acceptance　by　Moses　of　the　counsel　of　his　father…in…law　had　aroused　in
Aaron　and　Miriam　a　fear　that　his　influence　with　the　great　leader　exceeded
theirs。　In　the　organization　of　the　council　of　elders　they　felt　that　their
position　and　authority　had　been　ignored。　Miriam　and　Aaron　had　never　known
the　weight　of　care　and　responsibility　which　had　rested　upon　Moses；　yet
because　they　had　been　chosen　to　aid　him　they　regarded　themselves　as　sharing
equally　with　him　the　burden　of　leadership；　and　they　regarded　the　appointment
of　further　assistants　as　uncalled　for。

Moses　felt　the　importance　of　the　great　work　committed　to　him　as　no　other　man
had　ever　felt　it。　He　realized　his　own　weakness；　and　he　made　God　his
counselor。　Aaron　esteemed　himself　more　highly；　and　trusted　less　in　God。　He
had　failed　when　entrusted　with　responsibility；　giving　evidence　of　the
weakness　of　his　character　by　his　base　compliance　in　the　matter　of　the
idolatrous　worship　at　Sinai。　But　Miriam　and　Aaron；　blinded　by　jealousy　and
ambition；　lost　sight　of　this。　Aaron　had　been　highly　honored　by　God　in　the
appointment　of　his　family　to　the　sacred　office　of　the　priesthood；　yet　even
this　now　added　to　the　desire　for　self…exaltation。　〃And　they　said；　Hath　the
Lord　indeed　spoken　only　by　Moses？　hath　He　not　spoken　also　by　us？〃　Regarding
themselves　as　equally　favored　by　God；　they　felt　that　they　were　entitled　to
the　same　position　and　authority。

Yielding　to　the　spirit　of　dissatisfaction；　Miriam　found　cause　of　complaint
in　events　that　God　had　especially　overruled。　The　marriage　of　Moses　had　been
displeasing　to　her。　That　he　should　choose　a　woman　of　another　nation；　instead
of　taking　a　wife　from　among　the　Hebrews；　was　an　offense　to　her　family　and
national　pride。　Zipporah　was　treated　with　ill…disguised　contempt。

Though　called　a　〃Cushite　woman〃　（Numbers　12：1；　R。V。）；　the　wife　of　Moses　was
a　Midianite；　and　thus　a　descendant　of　Abraham。　In　personal　appearance　she
differed　from　the　Hebrews　in　being　of　a　somewhat　darker　complexion。　Though
not　an　Israelite；　Zipporah　was　a　worshiper　of　the　true　God。　She　was　of　a
timid；　retiring　disposition；　gentle　and　affectionate；　and　greatly　distressed
at　the　sight　of　suffering；　and　it　was　for　this　reason　that　Moses；　when　on
the　way　to　Egypt；　had　consented　to　her　return　to　Midian。

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He　desired　to　spare　her　the　pain　of　witnessing　the　judgments　that　were　to
fall　on　the　Egyptians。

When　Zipporah　rejoined　her　husband　in　the　wilderness；　she　saw　that　his
burdens　were　wearing　away　his　strength；　and　she　made　known　her　fears　to
Jethro；　who　suggested　measures　for　his　relief。　Here　was　the　chief　reason　for
Miriam's　antipathy　to　Zipporah。　Smarting　under　the　supposed　neglect　shown　to
herself　and　Aaron；　she　regarded　the　wife　to　Moses　as　the　cause；　concluding
that　her　influence　had　prevented　him　from　taking　them　into　his　counsels　as
formerly。　Had　Aaron　stood　up　firmly　for　the　right；　he　might　have　checked　the
evil；　but　instead　of　showing　Miriam　the　sinfulness　of　her　conduct；　he
sympathized　with　her；　listened　to　her　words　of　complaint；　and　thus　came　to
share　her　jealousy。

Their　accusations　were　borne　by　Moses　in　uncomplaining　silence。　It　was　the
experience　gained　during　the　years　of　toil　and　waiting　in　Midianthe　spirit
of　humility　and　long…suffering　there　developedthat　prepared　Moses　to　meet
with　patience　the　unbelief　and　murmuring　of　the　people　and　the　pride　and
envy　of　those　who　should　have　been　his　unswerving　helpers。　Moses　〃was　very
meek；　above　all　he　men　which　were　upon　the　face　of　the　earth；〃　and　this　is
why　he　was　granted　divine　wisdom　and　guidance　above　all　others。　Says　the
Scripture；　〃The　meek　will　He　guide　in　judgment：　and　the　meek　will　He　teach
His　way。〃　Psalm　25：9。　The　meek　are　guided　by　the　Lord；　because　they　are
teachable；　willing　to　be　instructed。　They　have　a　sincere　desire　to　know　and
to　do　the　will　of　God。　The　Saviour's　promise　is；　〃If　any　man　will　do　His
will；　he　shall　know　of　the　doctrine。〃　John　7：17。　And　He　declares　by　the
apostle　James；　〃If　any　of　you　lack　wisdom；　let　him　ask　of　God；　that　giveth
to　all　men　liberally；　and　upbraideth　not；　and　it　shall　be　given　him。〃　James
1：5。　But　His　promise　is　only　to　those　who　are　willing　to　follow　the　Lord
wholly。　God　does　not　force　the　will　of　any；　hence　He　cannot　lead　those　who
are　too　proud　to　be　taught；　who　are　bent　upon　having　their　own　way。　Of　the
double…minded　manhe　who　seeks　to　follow　his　own　will；　while　professing　to
do　the　will　of　Godit　is　written；　〃Let　not　that　man　think　that　he　shall
receive　anything　of　the　Lord。〃　James　1：7。

God　had　chosen　Moses；　and　had　put　His　Spirit　upon　him；　and　Miriam　and　Aaron；
by　their　murmurings；　were　guilty　of

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disloyalty；　not　only　to　their　appointed　leader；　but　to　God　Himself。　The
seditious　whisperers　were　summoned　to　the　tabernacle；　and　brought　face　to
face　with　Moses。　〃And　Jehovah　came　down　in　the　pillar　of　the　cloud；　and
stood　in　the　door　of　the　tabernacle；　and　called　Aaron　and　Miriam。〃　Their
claim　to　the　prophetic　gift　was　not　denied；　God　might　have　spoken　to　them　in
visions　and　dreams。　But　to　Moses；　whom　the　Lord　Himself　declared　〃faithful
in　all　Mine　house；〃　a　nearer　communion　had　been　granted。　With　him　God　spake
mouth　to　mouth。　〃Wherefore　then　were　ye　not　afraid　to　speak　against　My
servant　Moses？　And　the　anger　of　the　Lord　was　kindled　against　them；　and　He
departed。〃　The　cloud　disappeared　from　the　tabernacle　in　token　of　God's
displeasure；　and　Miriam　was　smitten。　She　〃became　leprous；　white　as　snow。〃
Aaron　was　spared；　but　he　was　severely　rebuked　in　Miriam's　punishment。　Now；
their　pride　humbled　in　the　dust；　Aaron　confessed　their　sin；　and　entreated
that　his　sister　might　not　be　left　to　perish　by　that　loathsome　and　deadly
scourge。　In　answer　to　the　prayers　of　Moses　the　leprosy　was　cleansed。　Miriam
was；　however；　shut　out　of　the　camp　for　seven　days。　Not　until　she　was
banished　from　the　encampment　did　the　symbol　of　God's　favor　again　rest　upon
the　tabernacle。　In　respect　for　her　high　position；　and　in　grief　at　the　blow
that　had　fallen　upon　her；　the　whole　company　abode　in　Hazeroth；　awaiting　her
return。

This　manifestation　of　the　Lord's　displeasure　was　designed　to　be　a　warning　to
all　Israel；　to　check　the　growing　spirit　of　discontent　and　insubordination。
If　Miriam's　envy　and　dissatisfaction　had　not　been　signally　rebuked；　it　would
have　resulted　in　great　evil。　Envy　is　one　of　the　most　satanic　traits　that　can
exist　in　the　human　heart；　and　it　is　one　of　the　most　baleful　in　its　effects。
Says　the　wise　man；　〃Wrath　is　cruel；　and　anger　is　outrageous；　but　who　is　able
to　stand　before　envy？〃　Proverbs　27：4。　It　was　envy　that　first　caused　discord
in　heaven；　and　its　indulgence　has　wrought　untold　evil　among　men。　〃Where
envying　and　strife　is；　there　is　confusion　and　every　evil　work。〃　James　3：16。

It　should　not　be　regarded　as　a　light　thing　to　speak　evil　of　others　or　to
make　ourselves　judges　of　their　motives　or　actions。　〃He　that　speaketh　evil　of
his　brother；　and　judgeth　his　brother；　speaketh　evil　of　the　law；　and　judgeth
the　law：　but　if　thou　judge　the　law；　thou　art　not　a　doer　of　the　law；　but　a
judge。〃　James　4：11。　There　is　but　one　judgeHe　〃who　both　will　bring　to　light
the

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hidden　things　of　darkness；　and　will　make　manifest　the　counsels　of　the
hearts。〃　1　Corinthians　4：5。　And　whoever　takes　it　upon　himself　to　judge　and
condem