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166
Early Writings
Moses speak to the rock, that the people might have water. Moses
smote the rock in wrath and took the glory to himself. The continual
waywardness and murmuring of the children of Israel had caused
him the keenest sorrow, and for a little time he forgot how much the
Lord had borne with them, and that their murmuring was not against
him, but against God. He thought only of himself, how deeply he
was wronged, and how little gratitude they manifested in return for
his deep love for them.
It was God’s plan to bring often His people into strait places,
and then in their necessity to deliver them by His power, that they
might realize His love and care for them, and thus be led to serve
and honor Him. But Moses had failed to honor God and magnify
His name before the people that they might glorify Him. In this he
brought upon himself the Lord’s displeasure.
When Moses came down from the mount with the two tables
of stone and saw Israel worshiping the golden calf, his anger was
greatly kindled, and he threw down the tables of stone and broke
them. I saw that Moses did not sin in this. He was wroth for God,
jealous for His glory. But when he yielded to the natural feelings of
his heart and took to himself the honor which was due to God, he
sinned, and for that sin God would not suffer him to enter the land
of Canaan.
[164]
Satan had been trying to find something wherewith to accuse
Moses before the angels. He exulted at his success in leading him
to displease God, and he told the angels that he could overcome the
Saviour of the world when He should come to redeem man. For his
transgression, Moses came under the power of Satan—the dominion
of death. Had he remained steadfast, the Lord would have brought
him to the Promised Land, and would then have translated him to
heaven without his seeing death.
Moses passed through death, but Michael came down and gave
him life before his body had seen corruption. Satan tried to hold the
body, claiming it as his; but Michael resurrected Moses and took
him to heaven. Satan railed bitterly against God, denouncing Him
as unjust in permitting his prey to be taken from him; but Christ did
not rebuke His adversary, though it was through his temptation that
the servant of God had fallen. He meekly referred him to His Father,
saying, “The Lord rebuke thee.”