Deut. 2:7; Neh. 9:21.

These words tell us of the abiding faithfulness of Israel’s God, yea, our God. Their history as a people across the desert serves only as an occasion to display more fully what God was. He it was who sent a Saviour and delivered them. In the wilderness they commence their journey as His people, but the journey for them in the end was long and testing; their path was one which could only be enjoyed as they walked daily in communion with Him and obeyed His word; and this is how they commenced the journey; when there was neglect of this in any stage of their history, the flesh in some way manifested itself, and murmurings and complainings took the place of the songs of joy with which they started. (Ex. 15:)

The flesh, even in a believer, can never enjoy a path of faith and daily walk with God. This is fully demonstrated in Israel. Many times their hearts turned away from Him,-"the Rock of their salvation." The forty years tell us what a miserable thing the flesh is. The book of Exodus (chaps. 15:-20:), also Numbers and Deuteronomy witness this fact, as well as Psalms 78:, 105:, 106:

The mixed multitude were a source of trial to them the whole way. They did not leave Egypt wholly behind them when they entered the wilderness, for the mixed multitude came up with them (Ex. 12:38; Num. 11:14). Oh, that our gospel preaching had always that power with it which leads souls out fully, and causes a clean break with Egypt (the world). But with us, alas! as with Israel, it is often not so. Here their history is given as an example, (i Cor. 10:)

We are informed this "mixed multitude fell a lusting, and Israel also wept again." When the eye and heart get away from God, grace is soon forgotten, and, as with Abraham and Israel, after the face turns toward the south country (Egypt-Gen. 12:9), then the feet soon follow (Isa. 30:1-7).

Let us look at a few examples from their history. They said,-

1. "We remember the fish we did eat in Egypt freely:the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic:but now our soul is dried away:there is nothing at all, beside this manna (Christ) before our eyes " (Num. 11:4-6).

2. " It was well with us in Egypt " (Num. 11:18).

3. " Why came we forth from Egypt "(Num. 11:20)?

4. "Would God we had died in Egypt" (Num. 14:2).

5. "Were it not better for us to return to Egypt " (Num. 14:3)?

6. "Let us make a captain and return to Egypt" (Num. 14:4).

7. "Because the Lord hath hated us, He hath brought us forth out of Egypt" (Deut. 1:27).

Who would ever have thought such to be the language of a redeemed people, a people that had beheld the signs and wonders they had, a people who had sung such a memorial song as they had just before? (Ex. 15:) Yet such is the case; the flesh is still the flesh, and will be till the end.

But to walk with God, in a path of simple faith, and enjoy our abiding portion, in a glorified Christ above, we need to be reminded, again and again, by the Spirit, through the word of God, that there is nothing good in the flesh. (Rom. 7:18.) It is enmity to God (Rom. 8:7). Sin is condemned in the flesh (Rom. 8:3), and we are to reckon ourselves dead to it (Rom. 6:ii). What a lesson for each believer! a lesson we all need to learn when we enter a path in which the renewed man finds enjoyment in the precious things of Christ!

But they cross the desert, they reach the end of the journey, and ere they enter the goodly land, the land that flowed with milk and honey, Moses, their divinely appointed leader, reviews for them the past, goes over the whole history, and adds, "The Lord thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand; He knows thy walkings through this great wilderness:these forty years the Lord thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing." Did they need water to quench their thirst? The smitten rock poured forth its refreshing stream. Did they need bread to eat? He gave them bread from heaven. Did they need clothing? Their clothes waxed not old, neither did their feet swell-"they lacked nothing." His goodness, His love, His compassions were new every morning; and Nehemiah, at an after time, repeats to their children also, "They lacked nothing" (Neh. 9:21).

We will now pass on to another scene and at another time, the wilderness with all its varied lessons, is a thing of the past, and we will glance at the condition of things in the land, not now so much a time of weakness and failure, but one of triumph, and peace, and blessing, as was witnessed in the bright days of Solomon. We will pass over the history that intervenes, in which, however, God’s faithfulness is marked at every stage, and in time every obstacle is overcome, every enemy set aside, and the king of peace ascends the throne. The nation, the object of God’s special care, enters into the consummation of blessings intended for it. There is one day, and only one, ever to eclipse it, the day yet future, when Solomon’s Son and Solomon’s Lord, will display His power and glory in His kingdom, which Solomon’s but faintly foreshadowed. The reader will do well to take a glance at the first ten chapters of i Kings, and then he will see the order and progress of this time.

In chapter 1:the false king is set aside, and Solomon the true king, by the appointment of the father, is anointed.

Chapter 2:12, "Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was established greatly."

In chapter 3:we have Solomon in the wisdom and power of God in the kingdom.

Chapter 4:20, "Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and making merry." "And he had peace on all sides round about him" (ver. 24).

The whole of chapter 4:is a wondrous picture of a future time not far distant,-a time that will reach on and touch the border line of eternity, and in verse 27, it is said, "they lacked nothing;" hence of the historic past and the prophetic future it can be truly said, "they lacked nothing." Blessed sufficiency! blessed fulness! and all this fulness treasured up for us now in the Christ above!

Next, we will notice briefly the same lessons of grace, love, and care, as manifested in the wondrous days of His humiliation here below in connection with those that walked with Him. He entered the path in lowly grace, and called the various ones from their several occupations; Matthew sitting at the receipt of customs, hears a voice, "Follow Me." He obeys; "leaves all, and follows Him." Simon and Andrew likewise, as they were busy at their nets, hear His voice, "Come ye after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men; and straightway they forsook their nets, and followed Him." James and John were mending their nets, and the same voice calls them, " and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after Him" (Mark 1:26-20).

Thus they leave their several occupations to be with Him (Mark 3:14), to serve Him, and to preach His word. They walked with Him, they served Him, they preached the word of the kingdom, no stated salary was promised them; this they were not to look for nor expect. Theirs was to be a path of faith; one in which, at its every stage, and all its various demands and needs, they were to look to and trust the One who had called them. All the resources of heaven and earth were at His disposal, as of old, the key of all those vast storehouses of Egypt was in the hands of Joseph; and Pharaoh directed all who were in need to "go to Joseph." So Jesus, our Joseph, held the key, and does still.

Did He fail them? Did He neglect them at any time? Surely not! He watched them at every step with an unwearied love and care,-blessed Master He was. He noticed the press at times and called them aside, to rest awhile (Mark 6:31). If money were needed at times, His grace touched the hearts of the women from Galilee, and they minister unto Him (Luke 8:1-3). At other times the sea was made to serve Him, and the fish delivered up the required means to meet the need; "for Me and thee" (Matt. 17:24-27). How soul-refreshing to trace His ways of grace when He was here among men, and at the close of such a life He asks them, "When I sent you out without purse and scrip, lacked ye anything? And they said, Nothing" (Matt. 10:9-14; Luke 22:35).

In this review we get the highly exalted path of a servant to profit by in this our time as then. True, our Lord is gone up on high, and is now Head of the Church, yet He still calls and sends forth His servants, some to go into "all the world to preach the gospel;" to others the Chief Shepherd says, "Feed My sheep," "feed My lambs." They are as those whom He called when on earth, to be with Him, serve Him, and trust Him in every stage of such a path of service and not another. At every step of such a path, whatever the needs may be, there must of necessity be faith. Look, in every need, straight up to the Head of the Church. In John 15:16, we learn the work each is expected to do-"bring forth fruit," and then the blank check is signed and left for the servant to pursue his path of faith, and fill in for what is required-"That whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name He may give it you."

There will be encouragement needed to seek His face day by day. (Ps. 27:8.) Are there demands made? They are to turn not to the world, nor yet to the Church; but wholly to Him; "go tell Jesus"! Study the example of Paul, the man of faith, in i Cor. 9:, where he sets forth so clearly and fully the believer’s responsibility in those matters, yet he adds, "Neither have I written these things that it should be so done to me." Faith shuts the servant up to the Lord alone. There are and will be times of testing, for the Lord is zealous of His pleasant fruit, and loves the faith that trusts and clings to Him; yet the Holy Spirit, through the apostle, has written, "My God shall supply all your need, according to His riches in glory in (Gk.) Christ Jesus."

And when this path of faith ends, the path of toil and labor, and the general review takes place, we will remember all the way, and when He again asks the question, "Lacked ye any thing?" what a tale this will tell! What a response will be given! Every servant, as he looks back and renders up his account, will exclaim, "Nothing, Lord, nothing!" What a prospect! What a day! A. E. B.