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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；

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　423

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
angels　are　waiting　to　work　for　us。　Evil　angels　are　ready　to　contest　every
step　of　advance。　And　when　God's　providence　bids　His　children　go　forward；
when　He　is　ready　to　do　great　things　for　them。　Satan　tempts　them　to　displease
the　Lord　by　hesitation　and　delay；　he　seeks　to　kindle　a　spirit　of　strife　or
to　arouse　murmuring　or　unbelief；　and　thus　deprive　them　of　the　blessings　that
God　desired　to　bestow。　God's　servants　should　be　minutemen；　ever　ready　to
move　as　fast　as　His　providence　opens　the　way。　And　delay　on　their　part　gives
time　for　Satan　to　work　to　defeat　them。

In　the　directions　first　given　to　Moses　concerning　their　passage　through
Edom；　after　declaring　that　the　Edomites　should　be　afraid　of　Israel；　the　Lord
had　forbidden　His　people　to　make　use　of　this　advantage　against　them。　Because
the　power　of　God　was　engaged　for　Israel；　and　the　fears　of　the　Edomites　would
make　them　an　easy　prey；　the　Hebrews　were　not　therefore　to　prey　upon　them。
The　command　given　them　was；　〃Take　ye　good　heed　unto　yourselves　therefore：
meddle　not　with　them；　for　I　will　not　give　you　of　their　land；　no；　not　so　much
as　a　foot　breadth；　because　I　have　given　Mount　Seir　unto　Esau　for　a
possession。〃　Deuteronomy　2：4；　5。　The　Edomites　were　descendants　of　Abraham
and　Isaac；　and　for　the　sake　of　these　His　servants；　God　had　shown　favor　to
the　children　of　Esau。　He　had　given　them　Mount　Seir　for　a　possession；　and
they　were　not　to　be　disturbed　unless　by　their　sins　they　should　place
themselves　beyond　the　reach　of　His　mercy。　The　Hebrews　were　to　dispossess　and
utterly　destroy　the　inhabitants　of　Canaan；　who　had　filled　up　the　measure　of
their　iniquity　but　the　Edomites　were　still　probationers；　and　as　such　were　to
be　mercifully　dealt　with。　God　delights　in　mercy；　and　He　manifests　His
compassion　before　He　inflicts　His　judgments。　He

424

teaches　Israel　to　spare　the　people　of　Edom；　before　requiring　them　to　destroy
the　inhabitants　of　Canaan。

The　ancestors　of　Edom　and　Israel　were　brothers；　and　brotherly　kindness　and
courtesy　should　exist　between　them。　The　Israelites　were　forbidden；　either
then　or　at　any　future　time；　to　revenge　the　affront　given　them　in　the　refusal
of　passage　through　the　land。　They　must　not　expect　to　possess　any　part　of　the
land　of　Edom。　While　the　Israelites　were　the　chosen　and　favored　people　of
God；　they　must　heed　the　restrictions　which　He　placed　upon　them。　God　had
promised　them　a　goodly　inheritance；　but　they　were　not　to　feel　that　they
alone　had　any　rights　in　the　earth；　and　seek　to　crowd　out　all　others。　They
were　directed；　in　all　their　intercourse　with　the　Edomites；　to　beware　of
doing　them　injustice。　They　were　to　trade　with　them；　buying　such　supplies　as
were　needed；　and　promptly　paying　for　all　they　received。　As　an　encouragement
to　Israel　to　trust　in　God　and　obey　His　word　they　were　reminded；　〃The　Lord
thy　God　hath　blessed　thee；　。　。　。　thou　hast　lacked　nothing。〃　Deuteronomy　2：7。
They　were　not　dependent　upon　the　Edomites；　for　they　had　a　God　rich　in
resources。　They　must　not　by　force　or　fraud　seek　to　obtain　anything
pertaining　to　them；　but　in　all　their　intercourse　they　should　exemplify　the
principle　of　the　divine　law；　〃Thou　shalt　love　thy　neighbor　as　thyself。〃

Had　they　in　this　manner　passed　through　Edom；　as　God　had　purposed；　the
passage　would　have　proved　a　blessing；　not　only　to　themselves；　but　to　the
inhabitants　of　the　land；　for　it　would　have　given　them　an　opportunity　to
become　acquainted　with　God's　people　and　His　worship　and　to　witness　how　the
God　of　Jacob　prospered　those　who　loved　and　feared　Him。　But　all　this　the
unbelief　of　Israel　had　prevented。　God　had　given　the　people　water　in　answer
to　their　clamors；　but　He　permitted　their　unbelief　to　work　out　its
punishment。　Again　they　must　traverse　the　desert　and　quench　their　thirst　from
the　miraculous　spring；　which；　had　they　but　trusted　in　Him；　they　would　no
longer　have　needed。

Accordingly　the　hosts　of　Israel　again　turned　toward　the　south；　and　made
their　way　over　sterile　wastes；　that　seemed　even　more　dreary　after　a　glimpse
of　the　green　spots　among　the　hills　and　valleys　of　Edom。　From　the　mountain
range　overlooking　this　gloomy　desert；　rises　Mount　Hor；　whose　summit　was　to
be　the　place　of　Aaron's　death　and　burial。　When　the　Israelites　came　to　this
mountain；　the　divine　command　was　addressed　to　Moses

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　425


〃Take　Aaron　and　Eleazar　his　son；　and　bring　them　up　unto　Mount　Hor：　and　strip
Aaron　of　his　garments；　and　put　them　upon　Eleazar　his　son：　and　Aaron　shall　be
gathered　unto　his　people；　and　shall　die　there。〃

Together　these　two　aged　men　and　the　younger　one　toiled　up　the　mountain
height。　The　heads　of　Moses　and　Aaron　were　white　with　the　snows　of　sixscore
winters。　Their　long　and　eventful　lives　had　been　marked　with　the　deepest
trials　and　the　greatest　honors　that　had　ever　fallen　to　the　lot　of　man。　They
were　men　of　great　natural　ability；　and　all　their　powers　had　been　developed；
exalted；　and　dignified　by　communion　with　the　Infinite　One。　Their　life　had
been　spent　in　unselfish　labor　for　God　and　their　fellow　men；　their
countenances　gave　evidence　of　great　intellectual　power；　firmness　and
nobility　of　purpose；　and　strong　affections。

Many　years　Moses　and　Aaron　had　stood　side　by　side　in　their　cares　and　labors。
Together　they　had　breasted　unnumbered　dangers；　and　had　shared　together　the
signal　blessing　of　God；　but　the　time　was　at　hand　when　they　must　be
separated。　They　moved　on　very　slowly；　for　every　moment　in　each　other's
society　was　precious。　The　ascent　was　steep　and　toilsome；　and　as　they　often
paused　to　rest；　they　communed　together　of　the　past　and　the　future。　Before
them；　as　far　as　the　eye　could　reach；　was　spread　out　the　scene　of　their
desert　wanderings。　In　the　plain　below　were　encamped　the　vast　hosts　of
Israel；　for　whom　these　chosen　men　had　spent　the　best　portion　of　their　lives；
for　whose　welfare　they　had　felt　so　deep　an　interest；　and　made　so　great
sacrifices。　Somewhere　beyond　the　mountains　of　Edom　was　the　path　leading　to
the　Promised　Landthat　land　whose　blessings