We are told that “all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking;” and when they saw it they were so much afraid that they stood afar off.  How holy is God’s law, and how careful should we be to obey it!

[Illustration:  The ten commandments.]

BEZALEEL AND AHOLIAB.

After God had given the Ten Commandments, He called Moses up into the mountain; where he remained forty days and forty nights.  During that time, God told him to speak to the Israelites, asking them to give gold, silver, brass, blue, purple, fine linen, oil, precious stones, and other things, to make a tabernacle or sanctuary, where God would dwell among them.  God showed Moses the pattern of this tabernacle, with its coverings, its holy place and most holy place, its ark of the covenant with the cherubims and mercy-seat, its table for the shewbread, golden candlestick, and altar of incense, and the garments for Aaron and his sons, etc.; everything was accurately described by God.  Then God instructed Moses as to who could do the work He had commanded to be done, and named two to whom He had given special wisdom and skill:  these two were Bezaleel and Aholiab.

When Moses came down from the mountain he called Aaron and all the people of Israel, and told them what God had commanded.  The people willingly brought gifts, till more than enough was provided.  Then Bezaleel and Aholiab, and other wise-hearted men, worked diligently until the tabernacle and all things belonging to it were made exactly as God had instructed.  Some worked in gold and silver, others in brass and wood; wise women spun cloth of blue, purple and scarlet, and fine linen; precious stones were set for the high priest’s ephod and breastplate; and, at last, all was finished.  Then we are told “Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the Lord had commanded.”  Then Moses blessed them.

[Illustration:  Bezaleel and Aholiab.]

THE BRAZEN SERPENT.

Jesus Christ says that “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.”  What did Jesus mean?

Nearly forty years had passed since God gave His law from Mount Sinai; and frequently the people had sinned during that time.  Through their disobedience they were compelled to wander in the wilderness for many long years, instead of going straight to Canaan.  While thus wandering they passed round the land of Edom, and became grieved and impatient because of the dreariness and difficulty of the way.  They murmured against God and against Moses, and said, “Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?  For there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.”  They meant the manna which God gave them daily.