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congregation　into　the　land　which　I　have　given　them。〃　With　rebellious　Israel
they　must　die　before　the　crossing　of　the　Jordan。　Had　Moses　and　Aaron　been
cherishing　self…esteem　or　indulging　a　passionate　spirit　in　the　face　of
divine　warning　and　reproof；　their　guilt　would　have　been　far　greater。　But
they　were　not　chargeable　with　willful　or　deliberate　sin；　they　had　been
overcome　by　a　sudden　temptation；　and　their　contrition　was　immediate　and
heartfelt。　The　Lord　accepted　their　repentance；　though　because　of　the　harm
their　sin　might　do　among　the　people；　He　could　not　remit　its　punishment。

Moses　did　not　conceal　his　sentence；　but　told　the　people　that　since　he　had
failed　to　ascribe　glory　to　God；　he　could　not　lead　them　into　the　Promised
Land。　He　bade　them　mark　the　severe　punishment　visited　upon　him；　and　then
consider　how　God　must　regard　their　murmurings　in　charging　upon　a　mere　man
the　judgments　which　they　had　by　their　sins　brought　upon　themselves。　He　told
them　how　he　had　pleaded　with　God　for　a　remission　of　the　sentence；　and　had
been　refused。　〃The　Lord　was　wroth　with　me　for　your　sakes；〃　he　said；　〃and
would　not　hear　me。〃　Deuteronomy　3：26。

On　every　occasion　of　difficulty　or　trial　the　Israelites　had　been　ready　to
charge　Moses　with　having　led　them　from　Egypt；　as　though　God　had　had　no
agency　in　the　matter。　Throughout　their　journeyings；　as　they　had　complained
of　the　difficulties　in　the　way；　and　murmured　against　their　leaders；　Moses
had　told　them；　〃Your　murmurings　are　against　God。　It　is　not　I；　but　God；　who
has　wrought　in　your　deliverance。〃　But　his　hasty　words　before　the　rock；
〃shall　we　bring　water？〃　were　a　virtual　admission　of　their　charge；　and　would
thus　confirm　them　in　their　unbelief　and　justify　their　murmurings。　The　Lord
would　remove　this　impression　forever　from　their　minds；　by　forbidding　Moses
to　enter　the　Promised　Land。　Here　was　unmistakable　evidence　that　their　leader
was　not　Moses；　but　the　mighty　Angel　of　whom　the　Lord　had　said；　〃Behold；　I
send　an　Angel　before　thee；　to　keep　thee　in　the　way；　and　to　bring　thee　into
the　place　which　I　have　prepared。　Beware　of　Him；　and　obey　His　voice：　。　。　。
for　My　name　is　in　Him。〃　Exodus　23：20；　21。

420


〃The　Lord　was　wroth　with　me　for　your　sakes；〃　said　Moses。　The　eyes　of　all
Israel　were　upon　Moses；　and　his　sin　cast　a　reflection　upon　God；　who　had
chosen　him　as　the　leader　of　His　people。　The　transgression　was　known　to　the
whole　congregation；　and　had　it　been　passed　by　lightly；　the　impression　would
have　been　given　that　unbelief　and　impatience　under　great　provocation　might
be　excused　in　those　in　responsible　positions。　But　when　it　was　declared　that
because　of　that　one　sin　Moses　and　Aaron　were　not　to　enter　Canaan；　the　people
knew　that　God　is　no　respecter　of　persons；　and　that　He　will　surely　punish　the
transgressor。

The　history　of　Israel　was　to　be　placed　on　record　for　the　instruction　and
warning　of　coming　generations。　Men　of　all　future　time　must　see　the　God　of
heaven　as　an　impartial　ruler；　in　no　case　justifying　sin。　But　few　realize　the
exceeding　sinfulness　of　sin。　Men　flatter　themselves　that　God　is　too　good　to
punish　the　transgressor。　But　in　the　light　of　Bible　history　it　is　evident
that　God's　goodness　and　His　love　engage　Him　to　deal　with　sin　as　an　evil
fatal　to　the　peace　and　happiness　of　the　universe。

Not　even　the　integrity　and　faithfulness　of　Moses　could　avert　the　retribution
of　his　fault。　God　had　forgiven　the　people　greater　transgressions；　but　He
could　not　deal　with　sin　in　the　leaders　as　in　those　who　were　led。　He　had
honored　Moses　above　every　other　man　upon　the　earth。　He　had　revealed　to　him
His　glory；　and　through　him　He　had　communicated　His　statutes　to　Israel。　The
fact　that　Moses　had　enjoyed　so　great　light　and　knowledge　made　his　sin　more
grievous。　Past　faithfulness　will　not　atone　for　one　wrong　act。　The　greater
the　light　and　privileges　granted　to　man；　the　greater　is　his　responsibility；
the　more　aggravated　his　failure；　and　the　heavier　his　punishment。

Moses　was　not　guilty　of　a　great　crime；　as　men　would　view　the　matter；　his　sin
was　one　of　common　occurrence。　The　psalmist　says　that　〃he　spake　unadvisedly
with　his　lips。〃　Psalm　106：33。　To　human　judgment　this　may　seem　a　light　thing；
but　if　God　dealt　so　severely　with　this　sin　in　His　most　faithful　and　honored
servant；　He　will　not　excuse　it　in　others。　The　spirit　of　self…exaltation；　the
disposition　to　censure　our　brethren；　is　displeasing　to　God。　Those　who
indulge　in　these　evils　cast　doubt　upon　the　work　of　God；　and　give　the
skeptical　an　excuse　for　their　unbelief。　The　more　important　one's　position；
and　the　greater　his　influence；　the　greater　is　the　necessity　that　he　should
cultivate　patience　and　humility。

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If　the　children　of　God；　especially　those　who　stand　in　positions　of
responsibility；　can　be　led　to　take　to　themselves　the　glory　that　is　due　to
God；　Satan　exults。　He　has　gained　a　victory。　It　was　thus　that　he　fell。　Thus
he　is　most　successful　in　tempting　others　to　ruin。　It　is　to　place　us　on　our
guard　against　his　devices　that　God　has　given　in　His　word　so　many　lessons
teaching　the　danger　of　self…exaltation。　There　is　not　an　impulse　of　our
nature；　not　a　faculty　of　the　mind　or　an　inclination　of　the　heart；　but　needs
to　be；　moment　by　moment；　under　the　control　of　the　Spirit　of　God。　There　is
not　a　blessing　which　God　bestows　upon　man；　nor　a　trial　which　He　permits　to
befall　him；　but　Satan　both　can　and　will　seize　upon　it　to　tempt；　to　harass
and　destroy　the　soul；　if　we　give　him　the　least　advantage。　Therefore　however
great　one's　spiritual　light；　however　much　he　may　enjoy　of　the　divine　favor
and　blessing；　he　should　ever　walk　humbly　before　the　Lord；　pleading　in　faith
that　God　will　direct　every　thought　and　control　every　impulse。

All　who　profess　godliness　are　under　the　most　sacred　obligation　to　guard　the
spirit；　and　to　exercise　self…control　under　the　greatest　provocation。　The
burdens　placed　upon　Moses　were　very　great；　few　men　will　ever　be　so　severely
tried　as　he　was；　yet　this　was　not　allowed　to　excuse　his　sin。　God　has　made
ample　provision　for　His　people；　and　if　they　rely　upon　His　strength；　they
will　never　become　the　sport　of　circumstances。　The　strongest　temptation
cannot　excuse　sin。　However　great　the　pressure　brought　to　bear　upon　the　soul；
transgression　is　our　own　act。　It　is　not　in　the　power　of　earth　or　hell　to
compel　anyone　to　do　evil。　Satan　attacks　us　at　our　weak　points；　but　we　need
not　be　overcome。　However　severe　or　unexpected　the　assault；　God　has　provided
help　for　us；　and　in　His　strength　we　may　conquer。





（422）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　38

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Journey　Around　Edom


The　encampment　of　Israel　at　Kadesh　was　but　a　short　distance　from　the　borders
of　Edom；　and　both　Moses　and　the　people　greatly　desired　to　follow　the　route
through　this　country　to　the　Promised　Land；　accordingly　they　sent　a　message；
as　God　had　directed　them；　to　the　Edomite　king

〃Thus　saith　thy　brother　Israel；　Thou　knowest　all　the　travail　that　hath
befallen　us：　how　our　fathers　went　down　into　Egypt；　and　we　have　dwelt　in
Egypt　a　long　time；　and　the　Egyptians　vexed　us；　and　our　fathers：　and　when　we
cried　unto　the　Lord；　He　heard　our　voice；　and　sent　an　Angel；　and　hath　brought
us　forth　out　of　Egypt：　and；　behold；　we　are　in　Kadesh；　a　city　in　the
uttermost　of　thy　border。　Let　us　pass；　I　pray　thee；　through　thy　country：　we
will　not　pass　through　the　fields；　or　through　the　vineyards；　neither　will　we
drink　of　the　water　of　the　wells：　we　will　go　by　the　king's　highway；　we　will
not　turn　to　the　right　hand　nor　to　the　left；　until　we　have　passed　thy
borders。〃

To　this　courteous　request　a　threatening　refusal　was　returned：　〃Thou　shalt
not　pass　by　me；　lest　I　come　out　against　thee　with　the　sword。〃

Surprised　at　this　repulse；　the　leaders　of　Israel　sent　a　second　appeal　to　the
king；　with　the　promise；　〃We　will　go　by　the　highway：　and　if　I　and　my　cattle
drink　of　thy　water；　then　I　will　pay　for　it：　I　will　only；　without　doing
anything　else；　go　through　on　my　feet。〃

〃Thou　shalt　not　go　through；〃　was　the　answer。　Armed　bands　of　Edomites　were
already　posted　at　the　difficult　passes；　so　that　any　peaceful　advance　in　that
direction　was　impossible；　and　the　Hebrews　were　forbidden　to　resort　to　force。
They　must　make　the　long　journey　around　the　land　of　Edom。

Had　the　people；　when　brought　into　trial；　trusted　in　God；　the　Captain　of　the
Lord's　host　would　have　led　them　through　Edom；

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and　the　fear　of　them　would　have　rested　upon　the　inhabitants　of　the　land；　so
that；　instead　of　manifesting　hostility；　they　would　have　shown　them　favor。
But　the　Israelites　did　not　act　promptly　upon　God's　word；　and　while　they　were
complaining　and　murmuring；　the　golden　opportunity　passed。　When　they　were　at
last　ready　to　present　their　request　to　the　king；　it　was　refused。　Ever　since
they　left　Egypt；　Satan　had　been　steadily　at　work　to　throw　hindrances　and
temptations　in　their　way；　that　they　might　not　inherit　Canaan。　And　by　their
own　unbelief　they　had　repeatedly　opened　the　door　for　him　to　resist　the
purpose　of　God。

It　is　important　to　believe　God's　word　and　act　upon　it　promptly；　while　His