Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-08-24
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
Lesson TX, August 20. 1888.
THEME; The PILLAR OF CLOUD AND {

y
~ was reared up the clouds covered the taber-
hacle, namely, the tent OF the testimony
ahu at even there was upon the tabernacle
u as III were the appearance Of fire, until the
n morning. 10. SO 10 was Away; the cloud
IA covered IL by day, and the appearance OF fire
py night IA. And when the cloud was TAX
4 en- up from the tabernacle, then after that
- the children Of Israel jOurneyed and in the
pace where the cloud abode, there the chill.
dren OF Israel pitched their tents IS Attic
commandment of the Lord the children Of
, israel lourneyed, and at the commandment OF
, tne Lord they pitched; as long as the
, CLOUD abode upon the tabernacle they rested
IN thelr tents. 10. And when the cloud
tarrled long upon the tabernacle many DAYS
then the children Of Israel kept the charge
, OF the Lord, and journeyed not. 20 And so IL
was, When the cloud was "a few days upon
the taoernacle; according 10 the command
hent OF the Lord they abode in their tents,
ana according TO the commandment Of the
LORD they 1ourneycd. 81 And 50 il was
When the cloud abode from even unto the
morning, and that the cloud was taken up
IN inc morning, then they journeyed;
Whether ~ was by day or by night that the
cloud was taken up, they iournc yed - Or
whether II were two days. or a month, or a
year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabor
nacle, remaining thereon the children of
Israei abode in their tents, and iourneyed
noti put When II was taken up they Jour
neyed. %. At the commandment Of the
Lord they rested in their tents and at the
| commandment Of the Lord they iourneyed:
they kept the charge Of the Lord, at the
Moses.
GOLDEN TExT.-O send out thy light and
my truth; let them lead me-Psam 43:3.
with this lesson we enter the fourth
DOCK OF the Pcntateuch In Genesis we
iOuhd beginnings, the origin Of life: in
ItAoHus redemption; in Levitlcus months
Disclpllne IN the science OF worship: in
Nuihbers the enumeration O. Israel at the
beginning and close Of their journeyings
ness
The Lord could have counted Israel: in
deed, they were known by name to him.
ana yet he set others the task Of census
taxing II is part az the divine purpose TO
compel mankind 10 use his faculties, by the
discharge OF duties. So God knows our
necus' put PRAYER and work are necessary
parts OF our education.
In the enumeration, the tribe OF Judah
$1,000 hrst, 1900, Reuben second, Ephraim
thlrd, and Dan the least, aggregating 613.-
,E'o from twenty years old and upward"
Gad reported his figures and Issachar his
and comparisons were made. So in the
church there arc varying thousands, but
now many can be put into the field as vail
ant soldiers 10 contend for Christ against
the powers OF darkness
The history Of Numbers covers thirtv
elght years OF practical life following the
completion Of the law giving 1t NAV be
briefly: % The breaking nm Of
,hcam pment at Sinai, the arrangement Of
lhe procession, the assignment OF duties.
% The march upon Canaan and the re-
pulse 81 Rebelions. re establishment OF
Moses and Aaron in authority and punish
nent Tor transgression. ~ The death of
Miriam and Aaron
We study the order OF worship, the ar
'angement OF the army and the limo OF
march, but beneath all is a permanent
Iuahtlty: Our lesson is TO find out the
philosophy Of history the philosophy of re-
lgion, the philosophy of life. We NAV
otnnllt 10 memory many details and know
ltue oil the underlying principle.
What did Israel see in the cloud bv dav
nd the brightness by night! That God
minister's according 10 the necessities OF
re; ~ Is sometimes summer day, over
rched with blue. We seem 20 need no help
approaching near TO God. All the earth
J filled with his presence Then there are
eriods when everything is dark we fear
D move, friends are far of and the divine
Gems enveloped in darkness We need
oiumn OF supernatural light and bright
ess.
The soul needs and finds both manifesto.
ons OF God. And 80 the underlying truth
,veals itself that according TO the needs
inc soul Will be the divine revelation.
LESSON NOTES
V. Is. And on the day the tabernacle
as reared, the cloud covered the taber-
cond year of Israel's pilgrimage, the
neklnah rested over the Holy of Holes.
which was the ark and the tables Of tes-
nony.
The present account dates some fifty
Iys later, as Israel was about 10 90 for
ard on the Journey The movement no.
n on the 10Th day Of the second month.
he account Of the cloud covering the tab
nacle is mentioned here. because II was
be their guide, leading them. and abd-
z with them in journey or encampment
was wonderful spectacle millions of
ople moving along without knowledge Of
2 route which they were 10 travel wholly
pendent upon God for guidance. as also
1000, "a helpless pilgrim host. They
AID form no plans for the tomorrow
hen encamped they knew not when they
re 10 march, and when on the march
" knew not when and where they were
stop; life OF daily and hourly depend
&c. -
nee, some far behind, but near or far the
lar of cloud Symbol Of Cod was visible
every follower. Only % those who
ned back was there no leading Presence.
wing through space, without human
IN or wing Of bird the cloud was n fir
2 symbol of the self poised, self-existing
ing whom they wOrshipped IL had not
terial substance 10 be graspcd: il was
Ir and yet so far IL was mysterious, yet.
utltuli refreshing as shade by day, and
Id rest secure, for the Omnipresent
Ter was In their midst.
. IL. When the cloud was taken up We
easily picture TO ourselves the rising of
cloud becoming more and more con
'uous 10 the distant hosts; a signal for
iard march. and the settling down again
IRE the tabernacle was TO be set up and
~ established. Hence this cloud became
'hem the word Of God, a command TO
'e or patiently wait. Sometimes it rest
ong, sometimes only for night or a dav.
. II. Israel kept the charge Of the Lord
I IS, Israel patiently watched or heroic
lourncyed subject 10 the Divine lead
sometimes straight, sometimes zigzag.
etmes smooth. sometimes rough and
cult was the way. The children of Is
obeyed, and in that spirit of restful
{ was Joy. If the cloud tarried long
rested long, If il was taken up sudden.
icy were not surprised. They had no
rovcrsy We waste much time and
much peace in questioning and fault
ing. Better follow the cloud. taking no
Gus thought concerning the destination