He whom stalwart, strong men obeyed, was sufficient unto himself, and felt that others needed him and, as nothing was more difficult for him than to ask a favor, great or small, from any one, he rebelled against praying to a God so far off and high above him.

But now, when his heart was oppressed by the terrible destiny that threatened his people, he was overwhelmed by the feeling that only the Greatest and Mightiest could deliver them from this terrible, unspeakable peril, as if no one could withstand this powerful army, save He whose might could destroy heaven and earth.

What were they that the Most High, whom Miriam and Hosea described as so pre-eminently great, should care for them?  Yet his people numbered many thousands, and God had not disdained to make them His, and promise great things for them in the future.  Now they were on the verge of destruction, and he, Ephraim, who came from the camp of the enemy, was perhaps the sole person who saw the full extent of the danger.

Suddenly he was filled with the conviction that it was incumbent upon him, above all others, to tell the God of his fathers,—­who perhaps in caring for earth and heaven, sun and stars, had forgotten the fate of His people—­of the terrible danger impending, and beseech Him to save them.  He was still standing on the top of the ruined tower, and raised his arms and face toward heaven.

In the north he saw the black clouds which he had noticed in the blue sky swiftly massing and rolling hither and thither.  The wind, which had subsided after sunrise, was increasing in strength and power, and rapidly becoming a storm.  It swept across the isthmus in gusts, which followed one another more and more swiftly, driving before them dense clouds of yellow sand.

He must lift up his voice loudly, that the God to whom he prayed might hear him in His lofty heaven, so, with all the strength of his young lungs, he shouted into the storm: 

“Adonai, Adonai!  Thou, whom they call Jehovah, mighty God of my fathers, hear me, Ephraim, a young inexperienced lad, of whom, in his insignificance, Thou hast probably never thought.  I ask nothing for myself.  But the people, whom Thou dost call Thine, are in sore peril.  They have left durable houses and good pastures because Thou didst promise them a better and more beautiful land, and they trusted in Thee and Thy promises.  But now the army of Pharaoh is approaching, so great a host that our people will never be able to resist it.  Thou must believe this, Eli, my Lord.  I have seen it and been in its midst.  So surely as I stand here, I know that it is too mighty for Thy people.  Pharaoh’s power will crush them as the hoofs of the cattle trample the grain on the threshing-floor.  And my people, who are also Thine, are encamped in a spot where Pharaoh’s warriors can cut them down from all directions, so that there is no way for them to fly, not one.  I saw it distinctly from this very spot.  Hear me now, Adonai.  But canst Thou hear my words, oh Lord, in such a tempest?  Surely Thou canst; for they call Thee omnipotent and, if Thou dost hear me and dost understand the meaning of my words, Thou wilt see with Thy mighty eyes, if such is Thy will, that I speak the truth.  Then Thou wilt surely remember the vow Thou didst make to the people through Thy servant Moses.