wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt.

33 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations.

34 As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.

35 And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.

36 Now an omer is the tenth part of an ephah.

(1) Heb. the portion of a day in | (2) Or, What is this? or, It is a his day. portion. (3) Heb. by the poll, or, head. (4) Heb. souls.

OUR passage through life may be compared to a journey. We are strangers and pilgrims on earth, as all our fathers were. There is a rest remaining for the people of God. (Heb. iv. 9.) All possessed of the faith of Christ will come to that rest. All who are not saved by him will be excluded and perish. The promised land was only for the children of Israel. The salvation of Christ is only for them that believe. Heaven is prepared only for the same people; and their love to the Saviour proves their interest in his salvation, and their meetness for his glory. If you take up your rest here below, you are most likely to lose the possession on high.

The Israelites took their journey. You will observe, that in every journey they took they felt their need. Want accompanied all their steps. First, they wanted water at Marah; but there they were supplied. Next, they wanted the shady retreat from the burning sun; this again they found under the pleasant palms of Elim. Now they come to the wilderness of Sin, and there they want bread. They feel the pinchings of hunger, and here they are blessed with an abundant supply. Did not all these things prove the goodness of the Lord to them? Has not the goodness of the Lord been abundantly bestowed on us? All our life through, hitherto, has he not provided both for our body and our soul? Who may not speak of Him as the "God who fed me all my life long?" Have

But let us beware of one thing. The children of Israel murmured; and so they displeased the Lord. Murmuring springs from unbelief, and this dishonours the God of our salvation. Oh! pray for faith. Pray to be forgiven all your hard and distrustful thoughts of God. If you trust in Jesus to save your souls, can he not also provide for your other wants? Think of this, and whenever you are tempted to murmur, hear the Saviour saying to you, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" (Matt. xiv. 31.)

The chief thing to be noticed here, is the manna, the nature of its provision, the mode of its gathering, the measure of its distribution, and its instructive design. This manna was clearly the gift of God. It was his constant donation. It was to be gathered by the people, each one for himself; and was to be gathered every day. Every one was to have the same quantity for his daily supply. It was to be gathered and eaten every day. None was to be kept in store for the morrow, except on the sixth day; when they were to gather two days' provision in one, and keep the surplus for the sabbath day, when no manna would fall, and none were to go forth to gather. God would have them hallow his day, and observe his commands.

What all this may be to us, there can be no doubt when we read the sixth chapter of John. We are there told what is the true meaning of this miraculous provision of bread for the Israelites in the wilderness: Jesus Christ, the "bread of God that cometh down from heaven, and giveth life to the world." That provision is made for the life of our souls, as the literal manna was for the preservation of the body? It is said "whosoever eateth of this bread shall live for ever." This bread is the gift of God. bread is the gift of God. God gave his Son to be the Saviour of the world. This food must be gathered by faith. Every one must gather it for himself, for the life of his own soul. No one can have more than he wants,

or lay by in store of what he receives. This food must be the life of our souls all the way through this wilderness, till we pass the Jordan of death, and enter the rest which remaineth for the people of God. How significant, how instructive, is this history of the provision of the manna; especially when you take Christ as the expositor, and the bread represented thereby! Oh, that we may feed thereon, and live and grow thereby! (John vi. 31-35.)

But why was the sabbath thus to be honoured? You will observe, the law of the Ten Commandments was not yet formally given, yet that day was to be observed. Had it not then, all along before, been observed with holy regard, even from its first institution? Why were they to provide, on the sixth day, the food required for the sabbath? Was not this to teach us, how we should act in regard to the Lord's day? Ought not the provision that is needful to be eaten on the Lord's day, to be prepared the day before? And why should it be thus prepared, but that you may wait on the Lord without distraction; that you may give the Lord's day wholly to the Lord; and that you may devote that day entirely to the salvation of the soul? Oh! let every one remember to keep holy the sabbath day. Put away all provision for the flesh on that holy day; and learn to delight yourselves in the Lord God.

CHAPTER XVII.

1 The people murmur for water at Rephidim. 5 God sendeth him for water to the rock in Horeb. 8 Amalek is overcome by the holding up of Moses' hands. 15 Moses buildeth the altar Jehovah-nissi.

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ND all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim and there was no water for the people to drink.

2 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?

3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?

4 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.

5 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

7 And he called the name of the place 'Massah, and 'Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?

8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.

10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

12 But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

13 And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.

15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi :

and pray, lest we enter into temptation. (Matt. xxvi. 41.) Some of the chief lessons we may learn, will be the wickedness of the heart, the malice of the enemy, and the goodness of God. To which may be added, the evil of sin, and the super-abounding riches of divine grace. May the good Lord teach and bless us, and guide us in peace and safety to the heavenly habitation!

We have seen some of the wants of these people, and how they were supplied. We have seen, also, some symptoms of their unbelief and murmuring; and we shall soon perceive more. Who that looks into his own heart may not discover the same? And who that makes that discovery will not feel humbled, and cry for mercy?

Two great marks of distinction, attending our journeying through this life, as Christian pilgrims, are want and danger. The one springs from our needy estate as miserable sinners; the other arises from the malice and power of our spiritual enemies. Constantly, therefore, must we live upon the Lord for supply and protection. These will form the two great blessings which will follow our steps all the way through. Let us see how we may gather up these truths from the chapter before us.

The congregation of Israel journeyed forward. From the wilderness of Sin they marched to Rephidim. This they did at the command of the Lord; they were, therefore, in the right way. Now, a right mind becomes a right way. It was soon seen that in this they were deficient. In this place they found no water; and they were greatly distressed. Did they trust in the Lord? Did they cry to him? Alas! no. They chode with Moses; and they murmured against God. How little do any persons know of the cares and anxieties attending the charge of souls, but they who are actually engaged in that work! "The care of all the churches" was a greater burden on Paul's mind than all his other trials put together. (2 Cor. xi. 28.) Moses himself here cries out, "What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me" (v. 4). And were it not that there are comforts as well as crosses, the mind must sink under the burden. But the Lord supplied their need, manifested his good

ness, and shewed that he was indeed their God!

Behold the smitten rock! See the gushing streams. See how the famishing multitudes slake their burning thirst, and are revived! May you not see in this a lively type of our blessed Rock, Jesus Christ, stricken, and smitten of God for our sins? Oh! what streams of life and salvation flow from that smitten rock! What numbers of perishing souls, fainting for the blessings of salvation, have quenched their thirst at those streams, and been saved for ever! Does any one desire that salvation? Does any one long for the life of his soul? Hear the prophet:

"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters." (Is. lv. 1.) Hear the Lord himself: "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." "The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John vii. 37; iv. 14.) May you come and drink of these refreshing streams, and then you shall live for

ever.

But you have foes; as had the congregation of Israel. You are exposed to danger; as were they. Amalek came and fought with them there in that valley where the Lord had thus strengthened and refreshed them. And wherever, and whenever, the Lord meets you with his gracious blessing, then prepare for conflict. Buckle on your armour, for the enemy is at hand. How did they conquer? By faith and prayer. Moses prayed, and Israel fought. Moses interceded, and Joshua led them on to the battle. The struggle was arduous. God would make them know that, though he would have them pray, and though he would answer their prayer, the victory was all his own from first to last. Then never despond; never be weary; never cease to pray. Though your hands are weak, and your heart be feeble, still stay upon the precious promises: let these be to you what Aaron and Hur were to Moses; let them support your soul and cheer your heart. Soon the triumph will be yours. Soon you

will be able to set up your banner in the name of the Lord, who giveth you the victory (v. 15).

But let all persecutors and oppressors tremble at their doom, which will be fearful

and tremendous. The Lord will wage war with his enemics from one age to another, till their name be blotted out from under heaven (v. 16).

CHAPTER XVIII.

1 Jethro bringeth to Moses his wife and two sons. 7 Moses entertaineth him. 13 Jethro's counsel is accepted. 27 Jethro departeth.

WHEN Jethro, the priest of Midian,

Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt;

2 Then Jethro, Moses' father in law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back,

3 And her two sons; of which the name of the one was 'Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:

4 And the name of the other was 'Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh :

5 And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:

6 And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.

7 ¶ And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.

8 And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them.

9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.

10 And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.

12 And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father in law before God.

13 ¶ And it came to pass on the morrow,

that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.

14 And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?

15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:

5

16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.

17 And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.

18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:

20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the whereway in they must walk, and the work that they must do.

21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.

24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.

25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

27 And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.

THIS is a most interesting chapter, and full of instruction: may we study it for our profit. Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, pays him a visit. He had heard of all that God had done for him, and for Israel his people; he wished to see with his own eyes, and hear with his own ears, the proofs of the wonderful report; he, therefore, goes to Moses, and takes his wife and his two sons with him, whom it appears he had left behind, till it should be seen how the Lord would deal with him.

How pleasing is it to find, that there are those at a distance from us, who take an interest in our welfare, and wish to promote our happiness! It is very possible, that you may have more friends than you suppose; more that really feel an interest in your eternal welfare, than you think. This should encourage you to hold on. God may raise you up helpers and friends when you little expect such a blessing. How delightful, also, is it to find, that the report of the Lord's wonderful works spreads abroad; and to be assured that the fame of Jesus shall be known more and more, till it fill the whole earth! That great deliverance, the redemption of our souls by the precious blood of Christ, shall be proclaimed among all nations; and the children of God, which are all scattered abroad, shall be gathered together into one holy and happy fold saved by grace. let us forget these names of Moses's sons. Names in the Word of God are highly significant. Moses was called by his name, because he was drawn out of the water. Because he had been an alien in a strange land, he called one of his sons Gershom; and because the God of his father was his help, and delivered him from the sword of Pharaoh, he called the other Eliezer. May we not be reminded of the Lord's goodness to us, by every thing we see, as he was, whenever he looked upon his sons, and be refreshed by the remembrance of his mercy and love?

Nor

When Moses told Jethro all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the Lord delivered them; he rejoiced for all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of

the Egyptians. Will not every one, who has known the power, and tasted the sweetness of the gospel, rejoice when he hears of all the goodness which the Lord hath done for others, in calling them out of darkness into his marvellous light? (Col. i. 3—13.) Will it not rejoice their heart to hear of the conversion of sinners, and the edification and comfort of believers? Will it not gladden their souls to hear that the gospel of salvation spreads more and more; that the word of the Lord has free course and is glorified; and that the name of Jesus is more and more known throughout the earth ? He has not the heart of a Christian, who cannot rejoice in these things. He may well question the state of his soul, who cannot, like Jethro, praise God for delivering sinners from the guilt of sin, from the power of Satan, from the wrath of God, and for bringing them into the happy and glorious liberty of his people.

But we must not overlook the counsel which Jethro gave to Moses. It is truly said, "a friend loveth at all times." (Prov. xvii. 17.) Such was Jethro. The advice he gave was wise, seasonable, and judicious. How was it possible, humanly speaking, that Moses could long endure the wear and tear of such incessant labour, both of mind and body? Jethro saw this, and advised him for his good, and the good of the people likewise. By a wise distribution of the management of the people each would have a share, and none would be overburthened. Such was the purport of Jethro's counsel. To which he added, "If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace" (v. 23).

Let us learn, then, never to undervalue the counsel of sincere friends; they may often be better judges of what we ought to do than ourselves. Let us learn, also, that it is a wise plan to engage as many as you can in the cause of God. Some may be useful in one way; some in another. Some can visit the sick; others may distribute tracts. Some can read the Bible in the humble cottage; others may encourage, or admonish. Some may collect for the missionary or other cause that calls for aid. Let the minister of the place, or the head of the family, direct the