Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-08-23
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
Lesson TX, August 2e, 1888.
THEME: The PILLAR OF CLOUD AND
EIRE.-Num g.15-03


and at even there was upon the tabernacle
as IL were the appearance OF fire, until the
morning. 10. So it was Away; the cloud
covered it by day, and the appearance of fire
by night. IL. And when the cloud was TAX
en- up from the tabernacle, then after that
the children Of Israel journeyed; and in the
place where the cloud abode, there the chill
dren OF Israel pitched their tents. lS the
commandment of the Lord the children OF
Israel iourneyed, and at the commandment OF
the Lord they pitched: as long as the
cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested
in their tents. 10 And when the cloud
tarried long upon the tabernacle many days,
then the children of Israel kept the charge
Of the Lord, and iourneyed not. 20. And bit
was, when the cloud was few days upon
the tabernacle; according to the command
ment of the Lord they abode in their tents,
and according TO the commandment OF the
Lord they iourneyed. 81. And so it was,
when the cloud abode from even unto the
morning, and that the cloud was taken up
IN the morning, then they journeJ ed;
whether 1t was by day or by night that the
cloud was taken up, they iourneyed % Or
whether il were two days. or a month, or q
year, that the cloud tarricd upon the tabor
nacle, remaining thereon, the children OF
Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed
not; but when it was taken up, they jour
neyed. %. At the commandment or the
Lord they rested in their tents, and at the
commandment of the Lord they journeyed;
they kept the charge Of the Lord, at the
commandment of the Lord by the hand OF
Moses.
GOLDEN TExT-O send out thy light and
thy truth; let them lead me.-Psalm AZ -.
With this lesson we enter the fourth
book of the Pentateuch. In Genesis we
found beginnings, the origin of life; in
Exodus redemption; in Deviticus months
discipline in the science of worship; in
Numbers the enumeration OF Israel at the
Il
and their ''wah and warfare in the wilder
ness.n
The Lord could have counted Israel; in
deed, they were known by name TO him,
and yet he set others the task Of census
taking. 1t is part of the divine purpose to
compel mankind to use his faculties, by the
discharge of duties. So God knows our
needs, but prayer and work are necessary
parts OF our education.
In the enumeration, the tribe Of judah
stood first, "a, 600, Reuben second, Ephraim
third, and Dan the least, aggregating 603,-
800 from twenty years old and upward"
Cad reported his figures and lssachar his
and comparisons were made. So in the
church there are varying thousands, but
how many can be put into the field as vail
ant soldiers to contend for Christ against
the powers of darkness.
The history Of Numbers covers thirty
blight years of practical life, following the
completion Of the law giving 1t may be
classified briefly % The breaking up OF
encampment at Sinai, the arrangement OF
the procession, the assignment of duties.
(2) The march upon Canaan and the re-
pulse. 90 Rebellions, re-establishment OF
Moses and Aaron in authority and punish
ment for transgression. az The death OF
Miriam and Aaron.
We study the order OF worship, the ar
rangement of the army and the line OF
march, but beneath all is permanent
quantity. Our lesson is TO find out the
philosophy of history, the philosophy Of re-
ligion, the philosophy of life. We may
commit to memory many details and know
little Of the underlying principle.
What did Israel see in the cloud by day
and the brightness by night! That God
ministers according 10 the necessities OF
life. 1t is sometimes a summer day, over
arched with blue. We seem 20 need no help
in approaching near to God All the earth
is filled with his presence. Then there are
periods when everything is dark, we fear
10 move, friends arc far Oft and the divine
seems enveloped in darkness. We need n
column of supernatural light and bright
ness.
The soul needs and finds both manifesto,
lions of God. And so the underlying truth
reveals itself that according to the needs
of the soul will be the divine revelation.
LESSON NOTES.
V. 10. And on the day the tabernacle
was reared, the cloud covered the taber-
nacle That is on the first month of the
second year of Israels pilgrimage, the
Shekinah rested over the Holy Of Holes,
in which was the ark and The tables Of tes-
timony.
The present account dates some fifty
days later, as Israel was about TO go for
ward on the journey. The movement be-
gan on the Goth day Of the second month.
The account of the cloud covering the tab
.ernacle is mentioned here, because it was
TO be their guide, leading them, and aoid-
ing with them in journey or encampment.
it was a wonderful spectacle: millions OF
people moving along without knowledge of
the route which they were 10 travel wholly
dependent upon God for guidance, as also
for food, helpless pilgrim host. They
could form no plans for the tomorrow.
When encamped they knew not when they
were to march, and when on the march
they knew not when and where they were
to Stop life of daily and hourly depend
ence.n
In the vast company, some were in ad-
vance, some far behind, but near or far the
pillar of cloud (symbol of Cod was visible
TO every follower. Only to those who
turned back was there no leading Presence.
Moving through space, without human
form or wing of bird, the cloud was a fit
ting symbol Of the self-poiscd, self-existing
Being whom they worshipped. 1t had not
material substance to be graSped; it was
near and yet so far; it was mysterious, yet,
beautiful; refreshing as shade by day, and
light by night. Israel sleeping or waking
could rest secure, for the Omnipresent
leader was in their midst.
V. II. When the cloud was taken up. We
can easily picture TO ourselves the rising of
the cloud becoming more and more con-
spicuous to the distant hosts; q signal for
onward march, and the settling down again
where the tabernacle was to be set up and
canc established. Hence this cloud became
TO Niem the word of God, command to
move or patiently wait. Sometimes it rest
ed long, sometimes only for night or day.
V. 10. Israel kept tho charge of the Lord
That is, Israel patiently watched or heroic
ally journeyed, subject to the Divine lead
ing Sometimes straight, sometimes zigzag
sometimes smooth sometimes rough and
difficult was the way. The children of Is
rael obeyed, and in that spirit of restful
trust was Joy. If the cloud tarried long
they rested long, if it was taken up sudden
ly they were not surprised. They had no
controversy. We waste much time' and
lose much peace in questioning and fault
finding. Better follow the cloud, taking no
anxious thought concerning the destination.
He who opens the gate of day with prayer,
has no fear; but he who has no Spirit to
lead, no Presence TO trust, will find care as
canker in the heart destroying peace,