By Way of the Wilderness

by Gilbert, Morris

  “I’m going to fry some in oil,” Miriam said and immediately began stirring up the fire.

  The coming of the bread from heaven, or “manna” as it came to be called, was an obvious miracle to all. Moses walked through the camp, shouting, “Listen to me! God has given me commands concerning this bread from heaven. Everyone shall gather enough for one day only. No one is to leave any of it until the morning.”

  And so they gathered the manna quickly, putting it in pots and in jars and eating it as they went. The sun came out, and the crystals seemed to melt, and there were doubters, of course, who said, “It will not be there in the morning.” But Moses assured them, “It will be on the ground every day except on the seventh day. On the sixth day, let each of you gather enough for two days.”

  Suddenly Moses fell on his knees in front of all the people. “I thank you, O merciful God, that you have fed your people with bread and meat. I thank you for the day of rest that you have ordained. I thank you for your love and concern for your people.”

  The manna fell every day, but there were some who tried to store up enough for several days. This was unsuccessful, however. On the second day the stored manna was filled with worms and stank.

  This was not true on the sixth day, however. They gathered twice as much, according to the commands of Moses, and what was left over on the seventh day was good and sweet and pure. Everyone was happy for the time being, and Aaron said to Moses, “Now the people have seen God’s hand. They will never doubt again!”

  Moses stared at Aaron and said nothing, but in his own heart he knew that their trials were not yet over.

  Chapter 16

  Miriam was frying up a meal of manna in sweet oil. It gave off a fragrant odor, and she said to Aaron, “Come, brother, let us eat.”

  Aaron, who had been standing at the door of the tent looking out on the camp, turned, walked toward her, and sat down. He took the earthen dish she handed him. When she sat down, the two of them bowed their heads and Aaron said a quick prayer. “Thank you, our God, for feeding us with bread from heaven.”

  They both began to eat, and Miriam said, “You look worried, Aaron. What’s wrong?”

  “Oh, it’s nothing.”

  “Come, I know you better than that. What is it?”

  “There are so many problems. Who knows how far it is to the land of milk and honey.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Miriam said. “God will get us there safely.”

  While the two ate, Aaron shared with Miriam the problems of the travel. It was a monumental task to move hundreds of thousands of people, including small children and infants, along with herds and flocks, and of course, Moses had to bear the brunt of all the complaining. Just finding water and grazing land to keep the cattle alive was daylong work for the herdsmen.

  “What’s Bezalel doing? Why isn’t he here?” Aaron asked.

  “He’s out with his friends.” Miriam took another bite from the dish before her, and her brow furrowed. “I’m worried about him.”

  “Why? What’s wrong with him?”

  “Nothing specific. It’s just that … well, he doesn’t have any faith in the Lord.”

  “Most of the people don’t have a true faith,” Aaron said gloomily.

  “Why, Aaron, how can you say that?”

  “It’s true enough,” Aaron said, shaking his head vigorously. “They are not looking to the Lord. They are looking to Moses and me to solve all their problems.”

  “That’s natural enough. People need leaders.”

  Aaron did not answer. He was given to worry, and many sleepless nights had caused him to grow thin and gaunt. “I think Bezalel needs firmer discipline.”

  “I’m going to ask Caleb to talk to him.”

  “That would be a good idea. He likes Caleb and respects him. Everybody does, of course. I advise you to do it at once.”

  ****

  “Your kinsman Caleb wants to see you, Bezalel.”

  Bezalel, who had been sitting beside a small fire, looked up with alarm. “What does he want, Mother?”

  “He just wants to talk to you.”

  “Have I done something wrong?”

  Seeing the alarm on Bezalel’s face, Miriam smiled. “No, not at all. But he’s a man you should pay heed to. He’s well respected by our people. Go to him now, before he goes to sleep.”

  Bezalel got to his feet and made his way to the part of the camp occupied by the tribe of Judah. He found Caleb tending his injured sheep, putting ointment on a gash that the sheep had incurred on its journey.

  “What’s wrong with the sheep, Caleb?”

  “Got a bad cut here, but she’ll be all right.” Caleb gave the sheep a final dab with the paddle, loosed her, then wiped his hands on a piece of cloth. “Sit down. I want to talk to you.”

  Bezalel sat on the ground, glancing uneasily at Caleb’s family, who were staying away to give them plenty of space. “Have I done something wrong?” he asked Caleb.

  “I’m sure you have,” Caleb said, grinning playfully. “You want to tell me about it, that secret thing nobody saw you do?”

  Bezalel laughed shakily. He knew Caleb was teasing him, and this was a good sign. “There’s not much trouble a fellow can get into out here in this desert.”

  “Yes, there is. A man can get into trouble anywhere.” Caleb sat down facing Bezalel. He studied the young man silently and was quiet for so long that Bezalel grew even more nervous.

  Bezalel tried to still his shaking hands, then finally stammered, “What … what did you want to talk about?”

  “About the tribe of Judah,” Caleb said. “Your tribe, Bezalel.”

  “What about it?”

  “I want to refresh your memory about an event that happened a long time ago. You’ve heard it from the teachers and the elders, but young fellows like you tend to forget such things, so I’m going to repeat a bit of history for you.”

  “I’m listening, and I promise I won’t forget.”

  “Good! Now, you will remember our ancestor Jacob had twelve sons. Each son became the leader of his own tribe. When Jacob lay dying, he gave prophecies concerning each of his sons. I’m afraid some of them were pretty rough. He proclaimed that his oldest son, Reuben, was unstable as water because he had sinned with his own father’s concubine. He also cut off Simeon and Levi, saying that they were cruel individuals. He pretty much went down the list, but do you remember what he said to his son Judah?”

  “I … I can’t quite remember it, not exactly….”

  “I’m going to quote it for you, and I want you to memorize it.”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “He said, ‘Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down to you.’”

  “You mean all the other tribes?”

  “Just listen, memorize it and think on it. He went on to say, ‘The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and the obedience of the nations is his.’”

  When Caleb fell silent, Bezalel thought hard, then said, “Who is Shiloh?”

  “No man knows, not even the wisest of the elders. We do know that when He comes, He will bring everything we need. He will be the Great Redeemer of the sons of Israel and indeed for the whole world.”

  “Then Judah is the most important tribe of all?”

  Caleb grinned frostily. “Don’t get swollen up with pride, now. That would be fatal.”

  “But we are the ones who will bring forth Shiloh.”

  “Yes, and that’s why I wanted to talk to you and show you something.”

  Caleb reached up and pulled at a leather thong that was under his tunic. A gold medallion flashed in the sunlight as he pulled it out. Bezalel leaned forward to look more closely at it.

  “Look at it well, Bezalel. Hold it in your hand.”

  Bezalel took the round gold medallion and said, “There’s a lion on this side and it’s beautifully craft
ed,” he said with admiration.

  “Turn it over. Look at the other side.”

  Bezalel turned it over. “Why, it’s a lamb,” he said. “The lion and the lamb. What does it mean, Caleb?”

  “No one really knows. In his final prophecy, Jacob described Judah as a lion’s cub, but we do not know what it means.”

  “Where did you get this?”

  “This medallion is very old. It was given to Noah by his grandfather and with the admonition that God would tell him whom to pass it to before he died. And so it has come down through our history. A member of the tribe of Judah always possesses it, and one day before I die, I will pass it along.”

  “Pass it to whom?”

  “Didn’t you hear what I said, Bezalel? God will tell me when the time comes. We are the lions of the tribe of Judah. God is going to do His miraculous work through our people. That’s why it’s important, Bezalel, that you be a man of honor, a man of faith … which right now you are not.”

  “I do the best I can, Caleb.”

  “No, you don’t,” Caleb said sternly. He held the medallion up to look at it, then rubbed it with his thumb and forefinger. “The man who gets this will be the man of God’s choice. My father gave it to me years ago. It has come down through our line, and one day Shiloh will come through our line as well.”

  The two men sat talking for a long time. Caleb spoke intently about the responsibility of being a member of the tribe of Judah while Bezalel listened, astonished by what he was hearing.

  Finally Caleb said, “Do not be a burden to Miriam and Aaron. God has put a great gift in your hands. You are able to craft beautiful things out of silver and gold. I don’t know how that will be used, but God will use you if you will be obedient to Him.”

  When Bezalel said nothing, Caleb moved his shoulders impatiently. “Go now. I will be watching you.”

  “Yes, Caleb. I will try to do my best to be a man you can trust.”

  As Bezalel walked back toward his tent, he looked up and saw the stars overhead. They looked like tiny flickering sparks spread across the ebony sky. Their number seemed immense, but he remembered another prophecy he had heard from one of the elders that the descendants of Abraham would be as numerous as the stars. Now, looking up at the glittering heavens, he was struck with awe, and for the first time in his life he began to feel that there was more to life than pleasure.

  ****

  As Moses had feared, the people were not satisfied for long with God’s provision of food. The manna that came down each morning nourished them well for the day, but as they continued their trek through the barren land to Rephidim, they found themselves in an even more arid desert. There was no water to be found, and Moses began to hear the pitiful cries of the children and the bleating of the sheep.

  It came as no surprise to Moses that the elders appeared before him, demanding what must be done. Moses had heard the rumor going through the camp that God had decided to remove Moses from his leadership role, but he paid no heed to that.

  Korah, chief of the elders, was the first to speak. “What will you do, Moses? The people thirst and the animals are dying. Give us water to drink.”

  Other voices rose in anger, and Joshua rushed to Moses’ aid, bringing his small band of warriors, all well armed with the swords and knives of the Egyptians. Joshua moved closer, his eyes fixed on the elders, ready to defend his leader.

  “Why do you quarrel with me?” Moses asked the elders sadly. “Why do you put the Lord to the test?”

  “We believe the cries of our people. Do you have no care for them?” Korah demanded.

  Moses had no answer for him. Heavily he said, “I will pray that God will provide water.”

  Returning to his tent, he began to pray. He shut out the sound of the angry voices just outside the tent, and for a long time he lay facedown, begging God to speak. Finally the voice of the Lord came to him clearly: “Walk on ahead of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.”

  As Moses exited from the tent, his eyes were flashing, and he cried out, “Our God, the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, will now feed Israel.” He lifted the staff high and walked toward a wall of rock that was the first of an uplifted series of rocks, and in one quick motion, he struck the rock with all of his might.

  Stunned silence fell over the people, and then someone cried out, “The Lord—He has sent water!”

  The people watched with astonishment and joy as water flowed from the rock, forming a pool as the stream gushed out like a mighty torrent.

  Moses cried out, “This place shall be called Massah and Meribah, because of your quarreling and your testing of the Lord!”

  The people were ashamed at his words, but their thirst drove them to the water. The animals, scenting the water, rushed toward the growing stream as it splashed on its downward course over the rocky ground.

  Moses stood back, with Aaron beside him. The two men were silent, and finally Moses said wearily, “Will they never believe God?”

  “You must be patient, my brother,” Aaron said. “They are a weak people, but they will become stronger.”

  “They will have to,” Moses said. “We have a long way to go in our journey for the Lord.”

  Chapter 17

  One of the rare blessings Moses experienced was to spend time with old Hadar, the most ancient of the elders of Israel. Hadar was feeble and had to be carried every step of their journey, but he was held in such high regard among the people that no one minded the inconvenience. Bezalel had made a cart that the old man was placed in each morning when the procession started. He had built it of some fine wood and metal that had been brought from Egypt, and it was drawn by a pair of milk-white oxen.

  Moses had spoken to the old man many times since they had left Egypt, and one late afternoon he found himself so weary with the weight of responsibility, he felt he could no longer bear it. He sought out Hadar’s family, who welcomed him warmly. They were flattered by the great leader’s interest in their family member and seated him close to the old man in the tent where Hadar slept. Moses thanked them and greeted Hadar courteously. “How is it with you, my father?”

  “It is well. And you, my son, are you well?”

  “Yes. Very well indeed.”

  Hadar’s body was frail, but his eyes were still sharp and his mind was keen, except for those times when he drifted off into a deep sleep. He had always come back from these spells, and now as the two men sat quietly, Hadar said, “You’re burdened with many trials, Moses.”

  “Yes, it is hard, but God will give me strength.” He hesitated, then added, “But I am troubled about the land that we must pass through.”

  “Why does that trouble you?”

  “I have been in this land before. It is called Paran, and it has always been inhabited by a strange and violent people.”

  “Which people?”

  “The people of Amalek.”

  “Ah yes, indeed. The descendants of Esau. They were named after one of his grandsons.”

  “Yes. When I first came to the land of Midian, I was sitting at a spring waiting to learn the will of God. I was exhausted and tired and filled with defeat. A group of young women came to the well, and while they were attempting to water their sheep, a number of these Amalekites began to assault the young women. I drove them off. One of the women I defended,” he said, “was Zipporah, a daughter of Jethro, and she became my wife.”

  “Do you think the Amalekites will give us trouble?”

  “They give trouble to everyone who crosses their land.”

  The two men sat silently, and finally the older man said, “These people should welcome us. After all, we come from the same line.”

  “Indeed we do. But the Amalekites are a powerful people. They have occupied these lands for years, and I must make it clear
that we are not coming to take their lands or even to live in them.”

  “You speak of Edom and Moab.”

  “Yes. God’s promise to our people makes allowances for these, but the Amalekites have not become shepherds, as have most of Jacob’s descendants. They have become brigands, bandits, and robbers of the worst kind.

  Hadar thought for a time and finally nodded. “I remember my own father talking of these people. They are blasphemers, and they sacrifice their own children to their idols. They care nothing for family life.”

  “That’s true,” Moses said. “And when a man grows old, his family simply kills him.”

  “The situation does appear grim, my son.”

  “They are known for their cruelty,” Moses went on. “I fear that we will not be able to pass through their land in peace.”

  ****

  What Moses and Hadar had said concerning Amalek was true. They had become the worst of the desert tribes, murdering and killing any strangers who passed through their land. They had heard of the deliverance of the children of Jacob from Egypt. They had also heard of the rich bounty of gold and silver, the weapons, and all the treasures that they had carried away with them. Their leaders at once made plans to attack and take such treasures for themselves.

  The Amalekites were fierce, but seeing the huge number of Hebrews they were up against, they went to some of the neighboring tribesmen to entice them to join them. One of the warriors they approached was Magon, ruler of a large tribe. Magon simply stared at the leaders of Amalek. “Have you not heard what their god did to Pharaoh and to Egypt? You are fools to think of attacking them. Let them go. The Lord, their god, is strong.”

  “What is the Lord to us?” Lotan, the Amalekite chief, sneered. He left the camp and drew his subordinates about him. “We will go greet them. We will be crafty as wolves.”

  This strategy was put into play almost at once. Lotan and a group of his underchiefs came to the camp and greeted them as if they were allies. “Are we not all of one people?” Lotan said, spreading his hands wide. “Is not Abraham the forefather of us all?”