By Way of the Wilderness (20 page)

“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 crafted,” 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.”

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?”

Moses watched the savage figure carefully. “That is true,” he said. “And we will pass through your lands with your permission. We will disturb nothing.”

“Of course, of course,” Lotan said expansively. “Perhaps we can do some trading.”

Moses agreed and the trading began at once. The people of Amalek had fresh food, which they traded for some of the treasures brought out of Egypt. This activity gave Lotan and his men a chance to spy out the Hebrew defenses, and they determined that the Hebrews had no army and few weapons. So as soon as the Israelites reached the low-lying hills, he cried to his warriors, “We have them now! We will attack as they go through the passes.”

“We will have them all!” they rejoined.

“Kill all the men but save the best of the women,” Lotan ordered. “We will keep their children for slaves!”

****

Moses had not been deceived in the least by Lotan, the Amalekite chief. He called Joshua to his tent, and when the young man stood before him, he said, “You must be the captain of our army, Joshua.”

Joshua blinked with surprise. “Me? I am but a young man. There are older—”

“God has told me that you are the man who will lead our men into battle. You have already begun. I have watched you select strong men. I've watched you practice with weapons. Take these men and form as good an army as you can to fight the Amalekites. You will be in the lead.”

Joshua was troubled by this. “But I'm not worthy.”

“None of us are worthy, Joshua. God will give you the strength you need. Here is the plan. You lead the soldiers as they fight the battle. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand and my hands held high. I will pray, and you will be victorious.”

“Perhaps God will deliver us miraculously,” Joshua offered. “He is able.”

“Certainly He is able, but in this case we must prove that we are willing servants.”

Joshua had no fear now, but he expressed some of his thoughts aloud. “The warriors of Amalek are armed with bows and arrows and spears. They can hide behind rocks and cut us down.”

“That is true, and because you are thinking this through, it proves that you are a worthy general for the army of God. Here is what we will do. You must divide the army into two parts. Put those who have bows and arrows in the front, but take the rest of the army, the men bearing only swords or knives or clubs, around to the back, along the flanks of Amalek.”

“And then what, master?”

“Sooner or later, Amalek will charge at those few men they see. They will come out of the hills and will leave the protection of the rocks. When they do, that will be the signal for you and those who have hidden themselves to hit them hard. They will be caught between two forces, and the Lord will destroy them by our hands.”

****

The battle went exactly as Moses had foretold. Bezalel had been one of those armed only with a sword. He and his friend Oholiab were led by Joshua far off to the flanks. They crept and crawled and kept themselves hidden. As they approached, Oholiab said, “I hear the sound of battle.”

“Yes, I hear it too,” Bezalel whispered. “Come. Don't fall behind.”

“I don't care for this kind of thing,” Oholiab said. “I'd rather be working, making a fine necklace.”