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True Education
it rested, he said: ‘Return, O Lord, to the many thousands of Israel.’”
Numbers 10:35, 36
.
Valuable Lessons Taught
As the people journeyed through the wilderness, many precious
lessons were fixed in their minds by means of song. At their de-
liverance from Pharaoh’s army the whole host of Israel had joined
in the song of triumph. Far over desert and sea rang the joyous
refrain, and the mountains reechoed the accents of praise, “Sing to
the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously!”
Exodus 15:21
. Often on
the journey this song was repeated, cheering the hearts and kindling
the faith of the travelers. The commandments as given from Sinai,
with promises of God’s favor and records of His wonderful works for
their deliverance, were by divine direction expressed in song. They
were chanted to the sound of instrumental music, and the people
kept step as their voices united in praise.
Thus their thoughts were uplifted from the difficulties of the
way, the turbulent spirit was calmed, the principles of truth were
implanted in the memory, and faith was strengthened. Acting and
working together taught order and unity, and the people were brought
into closer touch with God and with one another.
Of the dealing of God with Israel during the forty years of wilder-
ness wandering, Moses declared: “As a man chastens his son, so
the Lord your God chastens you,” “to humble you, and to test you,
to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His com-
mandments or not.”
Deuteronomy 8:5, 2
. “He found him in a desert
land, and in the wasteland, a howling wilderness; He encircled him,
He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye. As an eagle
stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings, tak-
ing them up, carrying them on its wings, so the Lord alone led him,
and there was no foreign god with him.”
Deuteronomy 32:10-12
.
God surrounded Israel with every facility, gave them every priv-
ilege that would make them an honor to His name and a blessing
to surrounding nations. If they would walk in the ways of obedi-
ence, He promised to make them “high above all nations which He
has made, in praise, in name, and in honor.” “All peoples of the
earth,” He said, “shall see that you are called by the name of the