comforted my father. "Surely I will be with thee," he added, "and thou
shalt smite the Midianites as one man." If the Lord was to be with
him, my father need not have hesitated, but in truth he did not care
for the duty which was thrust upon him. He would have been glad to do
anything for his country which was within his power, but he did not
feel equal to the task of leading it against its oppressors, nor did he
covet it. He would rather have endured in silence and died unknown
than take such a weight upon his shoulders, for he was not one of those
who desire power for power's sake. The apparition, too, was so sudden.
The angel was there with his divine face looking steadily at him, with
eyes so piercing that no secret in the inmost soul could remain hidden
from them, and the man upon whom they were turned could not even think
without being sure that his thought was known. Yet my father doubted,
and this dread of the task imposed on him increased his doubt. Yes; he
doubted an order given him at midday by a messenger sitting in front of
him flaming with heavenly colour. It might after all be a delusion.
He prayed, therefore, for a sign, and then as he prayed he thought he
might be smitten for his presumption. But the angel was tender to his
misgivings, and said he would wait for the offering which was to test
his authority. My father went into the house and brought out a kid and
unleavened bread, and presented it. The angel directed him to put the
flesh and the cake on the rock and pour out the broth. He did so, and
the angel then rose, and stretching out the staff that was in his hand,
touched the flesh and cakes. No sooner had he touched them
than--wonder of wonders!--a fire leapt up out of the rock; they were
consumed before his eyes, and the angel had departed. A great terror
overcame my father, for it had always been said that it was impossible
for man to look upon a Spirit from the Lord and live. He was left
alone, too, with the message, but without the Comforter, and he cried
unto God in despair, not knowing what to do. As he cried, a word was