276
Patriarchs and Prophets
at the outset; but He suffered it to come to this height that He might
teach all a lesson in His punishment of treason and apostasy.
God’s covenant with His people had been disannulled, and He
declared to Moses, “Let Me alone, that My wrath may wax hot against
them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great
nation.” The people of Israel, especially the mixed multitude, would
be constantly disposed to rebel against God. They would also mur-
mur against their leader, and would grieve him by their unbelief and
stubbornness, and it would be a laborious and soul-trying work to lead
them through to the Promised Land. Their sins had already forfeited
the favor of God, and justice called for their destruction. The Lord
therefore proposed to destroy them, and make of Moses a mighty
nation.
“Let Me alone, ... that I may consume them,” were the words of
God. If God had purposed to destroy Israel, who could plead for them?
How few but would have left the sinners to their fate! How few but
would have gladly exchanged a lot of toil and burden and sacrifice,
repaid with ingratitude and murmuring, for a position of ease and
honor, when it was God Himself that offered the release.
But Moses discerned ground for hope where there appeared only
discouragement and wrath. The words of God, “Let Me alone,” he
understood not to forbid but to encourage intercession, implying that
nothing but the prayers of Moses could save Israel, but that if thus
entreated, God would spare His people. He “besought the Lord his
God, and said, Lord, why doth Thy wrath wax hot against Thy people,
which Thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great
power, and with a mighty hand?”
God had signified that He disowned His people. He had spoken of
them to Moses as “thy people, which thou broughtest out of Egypt.”
But Moses humbly disclaimed the leadership of Israel. They were not
his, but God’s—“Thy people, which Thou has brought forth ... with
great power, and with a mighty hand. Wherefore,” he urged, “should
[319]
the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did He bring them out, to
slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the
earth?”
During the few months since Israel left Egypt, the report of their
wonderful deliverance had spread to all the surrounding nations. Fear
and terrible foreboding rested upon the heathen. All were watching to