Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-09-14
TIE SMITTEN ROCK.
LESSON XII, THIRD QUARTER, IN
TERNATlONAL SERIES, SEPT. t6.

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1. The first verso of our lesson finds the
people once more at Kadcsh, just where we
left them in our last lesson xii, 20.
Thirty eight years have passed since the
spies searched out the land, the forty years
from Egypt have now about expired (com-
pare xx %, ard xxxii, So, and they are
again at the borders of the promised land.
OF the history of those thirty-cight years we
know almost nothing; it was time lost be
cause of disobedience, and they have made
no progress. Here is brought before us a
weighty principle which would do well to
consider. When Abram left Bethel and went
down to Egypt because of the famine he was
out of communion with God, and found only
trouble until he got back to Bethel Gen.
xii, 10, xii, 81 When he listened to Sarai
concerning Uaglr which was suggestion
of the flesh, We find blank in his life
of thirteen year. Gen. xvi, lG xvii, ~ If
you would reconcile the apparent discrepancy
between tho $50 years OF Kings Vi, |, and
the 5l3 years of Acts xii, l1-2l plus Davids
40 and 3 of Solomon, total 5i3, you have
only to add up the lost tim" of the captivitos
of JUDGES iii, s, II. ", ., 3, vi, /, xiii, l,
which gives you 93 lost years when the ma
ton was out Of fellowship with God because
of sin, this subtlacted from 5s3 gives $50 and
proves both records cor-ec& W hen We can
look at things from Gods standpoint
shall find all the apparent contradictions in
Scripture vanish as mist before the sun. In
the law of the Na2arite Mum VII l2l when
ever he was defiled by any uncleanness, the
DAYS of his deGemeut were lost: SO every
day or hour in which we are not practically
separated to God is just tlmc lost for all is as
lost that is not done in fellowship with God.
9 mo water, they gathered
against Moses" AT Marah the bitter waters
had been made sweet, and at Rephidim
abundance of water had been brought from
the smIttcn rock for them lex. XIV, Xvlp, but
they were so forcetful and unbeleviug
3-5. "Would God that we had died"
Those who seem so anxious for death are not
always the most ready when it comes ard
those who are really ready for that great
change are generally content to leave tho
time and way to HIM who orders all things
for the best TO those who lovo HIM. ITO die
is gain" for all those who can truly say "for
me TO live is Christ" Todepart and be with
Christ is far better than such suffering
Paul endured and yet Paul was willing TO
endure, knowing that "the suIerings Of this
present time are not worthy to be compared
with tn glory which shall be revealed in US
6. "They fell upon their faces; and the
glory of the Lord appeared unto them
Thus did Moses and Aaron, and this is our
wisdom in every difficulty. We rest on Thee,
o Lord cur God, let not man prevail against
us! was the cry OF Asa O our God, we have
no might. neither know what to do, but
our eyes are upon Theel was the prayer Of
Jehoshaphat iii Chron xiv, Il; xx ~, and in
each case there was a great victory More
humbling of self in the dust before God, and
whole hearted reliance upon Him, with
readiness to do whatever He says or be still
and see Him work, will cause us more often
to see His glory
7,S. Take the rod, speak unto the rock I"
The orders were simple, and all that was re
quired of Moses was simple and implicit
obedience to these orders and the results
would surely follow, just as the Lord said.
The rock had been smltten at Rephidim and
water in abundance had flown forth; that
water went with them, and if there was any
deficiency in the supply it was because Of
their sin, to prove them and lead them back
to Him. TO-. lie would have Us draw our sup
plies from Him daily. Christ our rock has