Signs of the Times, Book 1 - Ellen G. White

leading her to eat the forbidden fruit. He came with his temptations first to
the mixed multitude, the believing Egyptians, and stirred them up to
seditious murmurings.
These murmurings would soon have leavened the entire camp, had not
the wrath of God in fire from Heaven flashed like lightning from the cloudy
pillar and consumed those who were the instigators of the trouble. Yet this,
instead of humbling them, seemed only to increase their murmurings. When
Moses heard the people weeping in the door of their tents, and complaining
throughout their families, he was greatly distressed.
Here Moses, himself, came very near distrusting the Lord. Even in his
perfect physical strength and vigorous intellect he was staggering under the
weight of responsibility, made so much heavier by the wicked complaints of
the people. The burden seemed almost insupportable. Did not Moses at this
time regret that he had not consented to have Israel destroyed, and himself
made a great nation? Such temptations troubled him. It grieved him sorely to
have them direct their complaints against him, as if every supposed
deprivation was chargeable to him. And this was the very people for whom
he had prayed that his name might be blotted out of the book of life rather
than that they should be destroyed. He had imperiled all for them, and here
was their response. His heart sunk within him; but he turned to the only One
who could help him in his trouble. His was a prayer which was almost a
complaint. "Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I
not found favor in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people
upon me?" "Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they
weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh that we may eat. I am not able to bear
all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. And if thou deal thus
with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favor in thy sight;
and let me not see my wretchedness."
This prayer does not do honor to Moses, who had seen so much of the
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