Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/192

 rested on  the  rock. It was  also  His  almighty  will  which  summoned the flock  of  quails,  and  which  rained  the  Manna  from  heaven  every day (except  the  Sabbath),  during  forty  years,  so  that  His  chosen  people might be  able  to  exist  in  the  barren  desert.

Goodness and  Patience  of  God. Almighty  God  was  marvellously good and  patient  with  the  unbelieving  Israelites. He dwelt  in  their midst in  a visible  way;  He  protected  them  from  the  heat  of  the  sun by the  pillar  of  cloud;  He  forgave  them  their  repeated  murmurings; He was  always  showering  fresh  benefits  on  them,  and  defending  them against their  enemies.

Sins against  religion.  The  Israelites  were  an  ungrateful,  carnal people. They cared  more  for  good  food  and  drink  than  for  their liberty and  the  Promised  Land. Though Almighty  God  worked  such great miracles  for  them,  and  dwelt  in  their  midst  in  the  pillar  of  cloud, they were  always  murmuring  against  Moses  and  reproaching  him. Their reproaches and  ingratitude  were,  indirectly,  offences  against  God,  for Moses was  but  carrying  out  His  commands.  The  Israelites  sinned against the  First  Commandment  by  their  ingratitude,  want  of  confidence, and murmurings  against  the  decrees  of  God.

The power  of  prayer.  Moses  raised,  not  only  his  hands,  but  also his heart  to  God. “The continual  prayer  of  a just  man  availeth  much” (James 5,  16). It was  not  only  Josue’s  valour,  but  Moses’  prayers,  which overcame the  enemy. Raise your  heart  with  your  hands  to  heaven, when you  pray. Like Moses,  the  priest  at  the  altar  prays  with  outstretched, upraised  hands.

Helping ourselves.  The  Israelites  did  not  depend  only  on  the prayers of  Moses;  they  exerted  themselves,  and  defended  themselves as best  they  could. In all  our  times  of  danger  and  necessity,  we ought  to  do  the  same: do  what  we  can  for  ourselves,  and  pray  to  God.

Unappreciated gifts  of  God.  Daily  bread  to  eat,  and  good  water to drink  are  very  great  boons. We only  learn  to  prize  them  when we have  to  go  without  them.

The wood,  which  made  the  waters  sweet,  is  a type  of  the  Cross  of Jesus  Christ. His Cross  makes  sweet  to  us  all  that  is  bitter  and  distasteful. Firstly, it  gives  us  the  grace  to  be  patient,  and,  secondly,  it  teaches  us to  bear  all  sufferings  cheerfully,  for  love  of  Him  who  suffered  so  much for us.

The Manna  is,  as  our  Lord  Himself  declared  (New  Test.  XXXIV), a type of  the  Blessed  Sacrament. It came  daily  from  heaven  to  give strength to  the  Israelites  for  their  journey,  and  was  sweet  to  the  taste. Our Lord,  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  comes  from  heaven,  and  gives Himself to  us  to  nourish  our  souls  on  their  journey  to  heaven,  through the wilderness  of  this  life;  and  He  is  a sweet  and  life-giving  food  to those  who  love  Him. The Church  sings  at  the  Benediction  of  the  Blessed