The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1888-08-23
THE GUIDING PILLAR
International Sunday-School Les
son for August 26, 1893.
Tho Pillar Of Cloud and Of Fire--God Man.
ifssts His Presence with tho Chill
iren Of Israel - Christ Our
Pillar and Guido.

lren Of Israel = Christ Our
Pillar and Guido.
Especially arranged from 3. 3. Quarterly.l
LESSON TExT-Num. 19:15-29
GOLDEN TExT--O send out Thy light and
Thy truth; let them lead mc.-Ps 43:3
CENTRAL TRurH--Chrlst, revealed in tho
Word, is our pillar of cloud and of fire.
TIME--Tho Shcknah took his place over
tho tabernacle the first day Of the first
month Of tho second year after the exodus
". Is; Elk. 40:2), April, B. G., 140O. But
this account is given about fifty days later,
when the people were about to leave Sinai
(Num. 10:1D.
PLAoE-Thc valley before Sinai.
PARALLEIs-- First appearance of the Shek.
inah at Ethan (Ilx. 1924, 22). A defense at
the Red Sea (Ex. 14:19, sO). Takes its
place above the tabernacle lex. 40:34).
Moves before the 1sraelites (Num. 10:11,
33-36).
NUMDERs-Author, Nose Name from
the numbering Of mastering Of the tribes.
INTRopUcT1oN-Tbo giving Of tho cero-
monial law Ueviticus) was complete, und IL
was time to arrange for the journey
toward tho promised land; hence the &C.
count of the guiding pillar is repeated The
Isrnelites had been cncamped about year
at Sinai.
HELPS OVER HARD PLAcEs-The Israel.
ties werc about to start on journey to the
promised land through an unknown wilder
ness, away from beaten track, ignorant
Of what was to befall them. They needed
q wise, strong, good guide. Is. On the day
Ex. 40:2. appearance Of fire; not fire. but
like it. Fire was a good symbol of Gods
presence, bright, cheering, warming, puri.
flying, life-giving, oll-pervasive, consuming
to evil. 16. The pillar Of cloud: visible pill.
lar of cloud or vapor, q conspicuous object
that could be seen not only by tho mar
shalled host, but by the scattered compa-
nies of women and children, rs thcy fed
their flocks, and followed afar of the mar
velous signal Of the Divine presence. A
great host, marching through q country
without roads or other marks Of civiliza-
ton, must be provided with some conspicu-
Gus object to serve as signal to the main
body, and to oil struggling parties connected
with IL. 10. Tdrrtcd long: once IT remained
eighteen years. Kept the charge: obcyed tho
commandments. STRANGE GUIDANCE-This
guide led the people into deserts, against
enemies, into hunger and thirst, among SER
pents, as well as by the wells and palm
groves Of Elm; and II led thcm forty years
on journey that few weeks would havo
accomplished. Why's To fit them for the
promised land to which they were going.
CHRIST, OUR LIGHT AND GUIDE. Jesus
Christ, as revealed In the Word of God, is
our pillar Of cloud and Of fire. He has como
to be the light of the world. He teaches US
tho way to Heaven, and shows tho way by
having walked in it, He Is wise and strong,
knowing all things present, past and fut-
ure, for He is Divine uc shines through
the Word, giving light in the darkness
He abides upon His church, and in the tenn.
pie of each loving heart. Ho leads US by
His providence, by His Spirit, by the prin-
ciples of His Word, by His example. All
who follow Him will reach the promised
land.
CoMMENTs--Some time ago We learned
that Moses asked God to 20 with His people
Himself, and not to send On angel to guide
them in his place. This God consented to
do. In this lesson we are told the way in
which God manifested his presencc, and in.
dicated when the people should 20 forward
and when thoy should rest. As soon as tho
tabernacle was put up, q cloud descended
upon 1t which ut night turned into pillar
of fire. This showed that Gods presence
was there. Through all the forty years Of
their journeyings this pilla. accompanied
them. AS our lesson tells us, the signal
for Israel to rest was the remaining Of tho
cloud over the tabernacle. While 1t stood
still, the people were not to move. But rs
soon as the cloud rose, and moved forward
tho people broke up their camp and moved
forward, as long as the cloud kept moving.
1t made no difference when the cloud moved,
whether by day or night; as soon as II
moved, they journeyed. 1t made no differ
ence how long the cloud remained sta
tionary; just so long the people rested.
In this way God indicated His desire con.
corning their movements
Why was it necessary that the people
should be thus constantly led by God1 For
various reasons. W Because they were in
wilderness where there was no way.
None Of them had ever been there before,
to point out the road to tho others There
was great danger that they would be lost,
ond come to sad cnds 2) Because there
were many enemies on every hand, who
would oppose them. and, II possible, over.
whelm them in battle. They had already
had some experience Of this kind with tho
Amalskites. But there were moro enc
mics ahead, and for this reason they needed
the guidance Of superior power. co. Be-
cause they wero marching to tho conquest
OF the land of promise, which was full of
those who would fight thcm to the death.
Seven nations were then In the land, and
these they were to cast out and possess
their land. But to do this they needed tho
Divine guidance. They were too ignorant,
too sinful, and too feeble TO go ahead with.
out tho guidance Of a superior power.
Therefore it was that God consented to be
their guide.
In many respects VIC are In q condition
much like that OF the Israelites. We often
call this world wildcrnes. because Of the
fact that VIC do not know the way that
lies before us. No one can tell even twenty
four hours ahead what 10 going to happen.
We go out from our homes In tho morning,
and really do not know whether we shall
return safely ut night. We can not tell
what day or ON hour may bring forth.
Like thom, we are surrounded with many
foes. Temptations are ON every hand and
many of them are strong and willy. No ono
who has lived a number Of years has failed
to sec the ruin of many young man who
has been defeated in this battle with the foes
that surround him. Temptations to drunk.
cnness, to dishonesty, to lust, to falsehood,
TO multitude OF sins, abound and ensnare
young people by the thousands. So, too, we
are often at loss which of two courses we
ought to pursue We do want TO take tho
right course, but can not tell which is tho
right and which the wrong. Like them we are
without experience, so that we are at our
wits ends ut times.-Rep. n. =. SchduDler
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
I. We are on IA journey through this will.
dernoss world to Heaven.
2. Wo arc ignorant Of tho way. Tho
future 10 vailed from our eyes.
8. We are weak, and dwell amid unknown
dangers and enemies
A Jaeua Ghriaf iat ho U,, 40 ma - o<1-xr,i,o