R EADER, you are eighty years of age perhaps. You have destroyed neither your brain nor your stomach by long use of whisky, tobacco, tea, or coffee. You have not shortened your days by dark, iniquitous living. On your long journey you have not overtaken that mysterious being named "Second Childhood." You have had opportunity, suitable and multiplied, for forming opinions of matters, decisions on questions, judgments of happenings and events.
Therefore, we ask you to look into the subject which forms the heading of this brief paper, and decide if you have ever seen or known or read of a transmigration so marvelous, so worthy of your most thoughtful attention, so freighted with loftiest instruction, so laden with high reward for your effort, so stirring in mind, heart, and soul.
"And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously."
Take your Bible. Take seat. Be alone if you can. Let the time be evening if possible, since, then, usually, daily labors are ended, urging duties have ceased their calling. Bid all clubs, lodges, theaters, casinos, merry-go-rounds, all inviting amusements, and even some friends, wait, wait, until you make sure of the gold in the rich-paying mine at whose entrance you stand ready to dig, to delve.
Now, begin at Genesis, first chapter, first verse. Read three, four, or five chapters, with mind intent upon the unique narrative—a narrative charged with profoundest thoughts, crowded with greatest deeds, gemmed with most lustrous statements. You will find boundless fund for reflection, for intense interest. You may thrust aside all Satan's substitutes in the form of evolution, for the facts set forth are eternal, undeniable.
You will indeed find therein plenty of material for new thought, but it will not be the commodity now being so liberally weighed out in the semi-religious markets of to-day. It will be thought which will make you crave oneness with Him who "makes the hungry soul glad, who feeds the famished soul with goodness."
But let this reading, which pledges such high rate of interest, continue thru Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Include two or three chapters every evening, if you can take the time, shutting out the world, thinking, thinking, as you read. You will encounter results that will astonish you.
You may have read these books studiously in past years, but, unless your present intake from them differs greatly from that of the writer, you will often drop your book upon the table before you in dumb amazement over the astonishing facts you see, over the burning ideas and truths flashed into your mind.
Of course, the total theme of the four latter books is the wonderful deliverance of an oppressed nation from grievous bondage in Egypt, and its introduction into Palestine, the land promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
But so marvelous and so thrilling, almost continuously, is the history of that deliverance, with the forty years' life of punishment led by that people on the peninsula of Arabia, and the to-day momentous influence of that movement upon the human race, that it constitutes the most impressive, most eminent migratory journeys of which the annals of mankind take notice.
The clear, strong, intense account of Israel's compulsory release from the hand of Pharaoh, the many astounding displays of God's power in the sore punishments inflicted upon his family, people, and country, together with the final outgoing of the captive nation, rich in cattle, in jewels, and other spoils asked of their oppressors, exhibit a piece of portraiture done in colors lasting as time, vivid as sunlight, eloquent as best trained mortal tongue.
Encamp now with the vast host before Sinai, where, as Moses afterward often reminded the wanderers, the Lord (Christ) "talked with you, face to face, in the mount, out of the midst of the fire." Spend that whole year with them at the base of that mountain, twin in fame and honor with that upon which the same Christ was transfigured centuries later. Think of them as pupils of God at school on a desert; fed with food from heaven; taking lessons amid thunders and lightnings and dark clouds of the sky.
Observe the people during the careful, exact, obedient building of that remarkable tabernacle; during the construction of its costly and beautiful furnishings, including the ark of the covenant, to become the place of God's presence in their midst. Note the vast quantity of gold, silver, brass, oil, spices, silk, fine wool, and precious stones they contributed toward that singular structure, until they were told by Moses to cease from giving! What an object-lesson for God's children to-day!
But the hour came for the great multitude4to move forth from Sinai. It was now the second month of the second year after its hasty farewell to Egypt. In exact order appointed by the Lord, Israel marched out toward the wilderness of Paran with heart eager for the beautiful land long before promised to their fathers. The year had been spent in busy industry, in adroit carpentry, in dexterous cutting and polishing of precious stones, in skilled weaving and embroidery, on the part of many for the wonderful tabernacle.
Now read the total saddening story of their various mistakes, errors, and sins until they arrived at Kadesh-barnea, including the fatal venture of Nadab and Abihu; the foolish murmuring of Miriam and Aaron against Moses, and the striking result to Miriam; the unjust and lamentable report of ten of the representatives of the people who were sent out to traverse the promised possession and to bring report thereof; the intensely afflicting consequences of that report upon the waiting Israelites. Continue until the grievous tale of their bitter complaint against Moses and Aaron is remembered as long as you live; until you see the whole congregation eager to stone Caleb and Joshua for their comforting report of Canaan's wealth in large and rich cities, in goodly mountains and hills, in sweet vales and laughing streams; until you behold that entire great army of men, women, and children turned back into that "great and terrible wilderness," there to live, suffer, and die, until "not one of the men of that evil generation, who, at Kadesh wailed over their removal from Egypt, believed the disastrous report of the ten faithless spies, but "did not believe the Lord their God."
But read the total history. It is a tale instructive, interesting beyond words to tell. It has power to educate, to beget faith, to lure from like dangers.
