Page:History of Moses.pdf/13

13 the same—he opened a passage for them in the mighty waters at the Red Sea, when about to fall a prey to the rage and fury of Pharaoh king of Egypt—moreover, he had given them bread to eat in the wilderness when they hungered for the same; and was still able to give them what they now desired. But they, instead of praying to the Lord that he would once more condescend to look down with compassion upon them, and grant them their request, reproached, and murmured against Moses, the servant of tho Lord. And Moses said unto them, “Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the Lord?” Moses tired of their complaints and discontent, felt that he could do nothing with the people under his care; but knew that the Lord could either quench there thirst, or put a stop to their rage. He, therefore, cried unto the Lord, and said, “ What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.” Nor did he cry in vain, for the Lord said unto him, “ Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand and go. Behold. I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb, and thou shalt smite the rock, and thero shall come water out of it, that the peoplo may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. Thus did God open streams in tho desert—he clave the hard rocks in the wilderness, and gavo them drink thereof, as it had been out of the great depth—he brought waters out of the strong rock, so that it gushed out like rivers: and this he did although his peoplo had sinned against him, and provoked the Most High in the wilderness.