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Terrible Grumblings of God’s People
235
company to give precise directions concerning all the movements to
be made, as indicated by the trumpets.
God is a God of order. Everything connected with heaven is in
perfect order; complete discipline is a feature of the movements of
all the angels. Success can only come with order and cooperative,
well-balanced action. God requires this now just as much as in the
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days of Israel.
God Himself directed the Israelites in their travels. The coming
down of the pillar of cloud showed the place they were to camp, and
the cloud rested over the tabernacle as long as they were to remain in
camp. When they were to continue their journey, it rose high above
the sacred tent.
It was only an eleven day journey between Mt. Sinai and Kadesh,
on the borders of Canaan. With the hope of soon entering the
promised land, all of Israel resumed their march when the cloud
gave the signal. What blessings could they expect, now that they
had officially been acknowledged as the chosen people of the Most
High?
With reluctance many left the place where they had camped.
The scene was so closely associated with the presence of God and
holy angels that it seemed too sacred to be left thoughtlessly, or
even gladly. At the signal from the trumpeters, however, all eyes
turned anxiously to see in what direction the cloud would lead. As
it moved toward the east, where only black and desolate mountain
masses huddled together, a feeling of sadness and doubt arose in
many hearts.
As they moved along, the way became more difficult. Their
route went through stony canyons and empty wilderness, “a land
of deserts and pits ... a land of drought and the shadow of death
... a land that no one crossed, and where no one dwelt” (
Jeremiah
2:6
). Their progress was slow and hard, and the multitudes were not
prepared to endure the dangers and discomforts of the way.
The People Demand a Meat Diet
After three days’ journey open complaints were heard. These
started with the mixed multitude, many of whom were always finding
fault with the way in which Moses was leading them, though they