The Adopted Son: The Story of Moses

by James Hartwell Willard

For more than a year the Israelites remained near Mount Sinai, and during that time Moses told them, among other things which God had imparted to him, how the Tabernacle was to be made, who its priests were to be, and how the services were to be conducted. The people brought him all the material they had that was suitable for those purposes, and skilful men built the beautiful and costly Tabernacle, in which was placed the Ark of the Covenant, which they were also instructed to make.

Aaron was appointed high priest and his four sons were made priests to assist him in the services. The Sabbath or seventh day was to be strictly kept, and various feasts and ceremonies were instituted. Particularly the feast of the Passover was enjoined upon the Israelites to commemorate God's mercy in passing over their homes when the first-born of the Egyptians were slain.

Then the pillar of cloud, which, with the pillar of fire, had never ceased to show the Israelites the way they were to go in their journeys, rested over the Tabernacle, and at this sign that they were to resume their march to the land of Canaan, the children of Israel marched forth once more and in time came to Kadesh-barnea, near the borders of the promised land.

Then a man was chosen from each of the twelve tribes to see what the land of Canaan was like and to find the best way of entering it. They were gone for forty days, and when they returned their accounts differed. All agreed as to the exceeding fruitfulness of the land, in proof of which they brought back a bunch of grapes so large that it took two men to carry it. But only two advised an immediate advance into the land. These were Joshua, the young general, and a man named Caleb.

"A BUNCH OF GRAPES THAT TOOK TWO MEN TO CARRY IT."

The ten remaining messengers frightened the people by their account of the giants and warlike tribes they would have to encounter and the many dangers that would have to be met, and the people, fickle as ever, believed these reports and again reproached their faithful leader.

But their punishment was swift and severe. The ten messengers of evil died on the spot, and God commanded Moses to tell the people that, for their doubting and faultfinding, not one of them over twenty years old except Joshua and Caleb should enter the land of Canaan. Their children might do so, but they could never set foot in it. They were to wander in the desert until they died.

After thirty-eight years the wandering nation, which during this time had been fed with manna and so cared for by God that they were neither footsore, neither did their clothes wear out, was again encamped at Kadesh-barnea. In the interval great numbers of the people had died, and here Miriam, the sister of Moses and of Aaron, died and was buried. Water was again scarce, and the people, as formerly, heaped reproaches upon Moses and Aaron, who asked God what to do.

God told them to speak to one of the rocks and it would produce water in plenty. Instead of doing exactly what they were told, Moses and Aaron first rebuked the people and then Moses struck the rock with his rod. An abundant supply of water followed, but for this act of disobedience and this display of irritation, both of the brothers were forbidden to enter the land of Canaan.