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Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers
Idolatry of the Children of Israel
“Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how
that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the
sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same
spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed
them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was
not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.” The
experience of Israel, referred to in the above words by the apostle,
and as recorded in the one hundred fifth and one hundred sixth
psalms, contains lessons of warning that the people of God in these
last days especially need to study. I urge that these chapters be read
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at least once every week.
“Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should
not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters,
as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat
and drink, and rose up to play.”
In the hearing of all Israel, God had spoken in awful majesty
upon Mount Sinai, declaring the precepts of His law. The people,
overwhelmed with the sense of guilt, and fearing to be consumed by
the glory of the presence of the Lord, had entreated Moses, “Speak
thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us,
lest we die.” God called Moses up into the mount that He might
communicate to him the laws for Israel, but how quickly the solemn
impression made upon that people by the manifestation of God’s
presence passed away. Even the leaders of the host seemed to have
lost their reason. The memory of their covenant with God, their
terror when, falling upon their faces, they had exceedingly feared
and quaked, all had vanished like smoke. Although the glory of God
was still like devouring fire upon the top of the mount, yet when
the presence of Moses was withdrawn, the old habits of thought
and feeling began to assert their power. The people wearied of
waiting for the return of Moses and began to clamor for some visible
representation of God.
Aaron, who had been left in charge of the camp, yielded to their
clamors. Instead of exercising faith in God, trusting to divine power
to sustain him, he was tempted to believe that if he resisted the