Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-08-16
The SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments for
August IL.
Subject: Journeying Toward Canaan. Mum. r.,
ll-l3 and 29.36-Golden Text. Pisa. XXI,
s-MemOry Verses, 81, 3z-Com.
mentary on the Days Lesson.


the first day OF the third month lex. 10:
H. and left it on the twentieth day OF the
second month. thus making their stay
eleven months and twenty days. The
cloud. The pillar. or column; which APP
peared as cloud by d. md fire by
night. was the symbol OF the divine pres
ence. 1t was the Shekinah or divine
dwelling place, and was tine continual sign
of the presence and protection OF God.
The cloud not only served the purpose OF
/. guide, but 1t was 4 covering to them,
protecting them from the burning ~ays OF
the sun. Psa. los: 30: lisa. 4: ). At night
the pillar OF fire gave light to every part
OF the camp. Chap. Q: l6-lS.
- Out of-Sinai." The reason for the
long delay 1T Sinai Is apparent. The peo-
pie lett Egypt mere crowd Of fugitive
slaves with Only the rudiments OF national
organization. and the dimest religious
ideas But the interval had effected all
immense change They had now become
an organized people, with laws. consti-
tuition or covenant priesthood. a rehg'
ious ritual and house OF worship. and with
=. political and military organization-their
Judges and officers placed over thousands.
hundreds. ffties and tens lex. Is: %:
Deut. :. l5). and a general council OF sew
enty elders (Ex "a: L: Mum. IL: 24-26l.
which the rabhis believed was the origin
of the Sanhedrin.
1928. In these verses we have an ac-
count OF the order in which the Israe!iies
marched. together with a statement re-
garding the taking down and putting up
OF the tabernacle This fixed order, rig
idly adhered to, was necessary not only
for military reasons. but 10 prevent the
host from becoming confused mob.
% Moses said" Although this invita-
ton is placed between the setting out and
the march itself. vet il must have preceded
the departure "Hobab." There are sev.
eral opinions regarding this person. 1t
seems likely that Hobab was the same a
.lethro. Compare FIX. 3: and Judges 4:
II. "Raguci" The same as Reuel. See
En- .: Is. 1t would thus appear that
Reucl. .lcthro and Hobah were three
names for the same person. but this comd
not be beaause it is distinctly stated that
Iiohab was the son of Reue'. "Father-in
law" The word for ''father-in-,aw" in
Hebrew has a wide signihea;ion and sig
mites any relation by marriage. Hpoab
may have been brother-;n-,Gw to Moses.
Hobab had stopped coatentedly with
Israel while encamped at Sinai. near his
own country. and now on their removal he
proposed returning to his own abode. We
are journcving." God had wrought their
thus far from Egypt. even 10 the wider
ness of Sinai. and they were ionrneyiag TO.
ward Canaan, trusting in His promise.
guided by His presence and supported by
His power. Il will give it YOU This
promise was made to Abraham (Gcn. y:
I: Is: -; Il: 81. and repeated % Moses.
FIX. :: s. Thus was the matter estah-
ished beyond doubt. Moses was not
making this journey on any uncertainty.
Come thou with Us. Moses urged him
TO remain in company with them. both for
his own benefit III n religious point oi
view and for the service he could render
them. in his KNOWLEDGE OF the wilderness.
he imputed to affection for his native ali
and soil. which was not overpowered. rs it
ought to have been. by believing regard
10 the promise OF God. and value foI
-ovenant blessings. Thus do many decide
. return to the haunts OF sin even after
hey have cnioved the communion OF God
md til" fellowship of His saints.
81. Leave us not" 1T is likely that
Honah CHANGED his ,aind. even ii he did
20 back to Midian. He surely returned
,gtin to Israel. as Scriptures show that his
,osteri;y dwelt among the lsraelites in
,anaan. Judges !: i6; 4: II and sam. 10;
The earnest importantly of Moses to
secure the attendance of this man. when
le enjoyed the benefit of the directing
loud has surprised many. But it should
,e remembered that the guidance of the
loud. though it showed the general route
20 he taken through the trackless desert.
YOU'D not he so minute as to point out
he places where pastures. shade and water
we're TO be obtained, and which were often
hidden in obscure spots by the shifting
tlnds. Besides. several small companies
.ere sent of from the main body. and the
services OF Hobab. not a. single Arab:
>ut IS prince of a powerful race, would
ave been very useful.
81 The same will we do" "Thosc
rho share with Gods Israel in their Ia
:ors and hardships. shall share with them
n their comforts and honors.'
80 Mount OF the Lord" Sinai. called
:he mount OF the Lord because here the
Iord had displayed His mower. and given
,he neople the law. Three days jour.
aey." By this we are not to understand
m unbroken march Of the entire people
during seventy-two hours with no halt,
nut that the ark was borne steadily on
Turing this period before it came to a per-
mane"t stopping place. Ark of the cove
nant" So called because it contained the
covenant of the law-the two tables OF
stone on which God had written the ten
commandments. went before them"
The ari; carried separately from the
rest OF the sacred furniture. in advance OF
the column. wrapped in its own peculiar
blue covering a: 81. at once an object OF
generation and symbol OF Jehovah's
presence and His separateness from sin.
re-s. The ark was a type OF Christ. and
so Christ to-day goes before His people to
! guide them into all truth
81. 'Cloud-was upon them" "Was
over them" Il. V. See comment or
~ Moses said Else up. Lord"
Moses, as the leader of the people. ut
/ tered an appropriate PRAYER. both at the
! commencement and end OF each Journey.
| Thus all the journeys were sanctfied by
| devotion. They were now in a desoiate
| country. but marching toward an enemy's
j country. and their dependence was upon
| God for success and victory. as well as
! for direction and Succor. If God did not
| arise and scatter His enemies there could
/ be no hope that Israel could get safely
| through the wilderness God must go
| first. in order that Israel might follow in
/ safety. For the scattering and defeating
Of Gods enemies there needs no more
| than Gods arising
Sc. Return O. Lord" These were the
words spoken by Moses Mt the moment tho
divisions halted in order 70 pitch the
tents. Unless the ark rested with them
and the cloud of glory with it. they could
neither have rest nor comfort. Moses
prayed for success abroad and peace AZ
| home. From marching in front. Jehovah
is now invited to His customary abode
| amid the many thousands OF Isrsei"