Article December 14, 1918 Issue

"Get thee down"

ETHEL M. MC CANDLESS

The life of Moses has ever been a source of encouragement and inspiration to all Christian people; and to Christian Scientists it is especially helpful, for the light which is thrown on the Bible through the study of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" enables them to discern and apply the truths hitherto concealed by age-long belief in false doctrines. From his very infancy the history of Moses is most interesting; but from the time that he gained favor in God's sight by turning aside to see the burning bush, his experiences, spiritually interpreted, typify those through which we all pass in our struggle to overcome the belief of life, substance, and intelligence in matter.

When the heavenly inspiration came to Moses telling him that he was the one through whom God would work to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt, the false sense of self began to suggest all manner of excuses. Self-depreciation, doubt, and fear clamored loudly for recognition, but each time they were silenced by the stronger argument of divine Principle. More than once, it is recorded, he went up into the mount to commune with God and thereby renew his courage and gain strength to continue his work. Then, if after receiving the message he still tarried in the mount, the command would come, "Get thee down." In other words, he saw that he must make practical on the human plane the truth he had perceived.

In the book of Exodus we read of different occasions when Moses went up into the mount, and on one of these it would seem that he was much concerned about the building of a sanctuary, and in working out the details for the tabernacle. Many of us to-day become so engrossed in trying to work out the details of human organization that we lose sight of the true temple which Mrs. Eddy says (Pulpit and Press, p. 2) "is no human fabrication, but the superstructure of Truth, reared on the foundation of Love, and pinnacled in Life." It almost seems as if the entertainment of a material concept of temple caused Moses to lose sight of his true mission, and resulted then as it does to-day in mental confusion and idolatry.

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