p. 8 | J. S. WASHBURN by J. S. Washburn

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 25, 1907

J. S. WASHBURN

By J. S. Washburn

Loyalty

J. S. WASHBURN

A great battle was being fought. The nation so recently delivered from slavery was fighting, under the leadership of the God of battles, against cruel Amalek, led by the enemy of God and his people,—crafty, cruel Amalek, who had distressed the children of Israel, who had been a terror to them, who had cut off the weak and the weary ones straggling in the rear of the long line of march in the dusty, burning wilderness. Now, with determined malice, they had planned by one decisive blow to cut off and blot out the people of Israel from under heaven.

The mighty soldier, Joshua, was leading Israel against Amalek. Back and forth upon the plain the battle lines wavered, Israel sometimes advancing triumphant, then again retreating. A wonderful secret was revealed in the alternate partial defeats and victories of Israel during that long, fierce fight. Moses, Aaron, and Hur were upon a high hill, watching the conflict. Moses, with the rod of God in his hand, was regulating the battle. “When Moses held up his hands, . . . Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.” Ex. 17:11-13.

What a lesson to all God’s people in every time of conflict to support those whom God has placed in positions of responsibility! What a lesson in sympathetic loyalty! Moses’ hands were weary, but his associates held up his hands, and the very question of victory or defeat hung on the loyal support of the co-workers of Moses.

We know that “whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning.” My brother, if any man among us has been placed in a position of responsibility, are we not bound loyally to support him? It is true our loyalty is to the cause of God, and not to any man, as such; but when the people of God, guided by his Spirit, have laid burdens upon any individual, is not every one in duty bound to support with heart as true as steel the worker who is bearing heavy burdens?

It would seem that the very question of the defeat or victory of our work hangs upon the loyal support of those who are aging fast, who have grown old within four or five years in the conflict. Will not every true believer in this mighty cause rally to the support of every man placed by the people under the guidance of the Spirit of God in a position of responsibility?

If you do not agree in every particular with these brethren, will you not, nevertheless, give them your sympathetic and loyal co-operation, refusing to speak against them, or to pull down their hands? Oftentimes a word or a letter of good cheer and courage, a reference to some comforting promise of God, will bring cheer and help, and lighten the load, and bring victory.

A greater conflict than that between literal Israel and literal Amalek is raging to-day. The very death-conflict of the ages is upon us. Let us be loyal to God and his Word, the Holy Spirit, the gift of prophecy, and to our organization, and the brethren placed in responsible positions.

Many of the victors over Amalek afterward fell in the wilderness, and never saw the promised land. The victors in the conflict to-day will be crowned by the King of kings, and sit upon his throne. Shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart, true to God and to one another, let us fight the good fight, and win the crown.