The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1904-05-27
answer: 81 will not co." or it is de-
cision for the Christ.

|
! said, when Moses gave him Gods offer of
better land and an everlasting fellow
ship with Gods people. His land could
not compare with the land to which God
was leading His people. His friends in
| INDIAN could not be as helpful and
| desirable as companions and associates
as the people who were walking with
! God, even though the journey took them
| through the wilderness and caused them
to endure trial, and hardship, and dam
ger Barriers in the way. Hobab turn
| ing back to his own land and his own
people. There are always barriers in
| the way to hinder the soul accepting
| Christ's invitation, and they are gener-
ally just what was hindering Hobab:
| Things and persons. Hobab could do
| things back in his own land he could not
do in Gods land. There he was his own
master, and he could roam at pleasure
and do as his own sweet will dictated
And the world to-day is full of just that
kind of people. MY land" rather than
Gods land, because there every desire
and whim may be gratified which is
within the power of one to satisfy; be-
cause there, all the allurements and at
lIdCllOnS VI the WOTlQ are 10 De IOunQ.
My people" rather than Gods people,
because they like the world equally well
with yourself and help to make merry
the passing moments. When it comes to
a question of giving up the things of the
world and the associates that are un-
wholesome, the soul hesitates. But why?
Not because the soul has to give up
more than it receives. No! for God calls
| you to go from the poor land of INDIAN
to the land flowing with the milk and
honey of His promises and blessing and
the friendships there are truer and bet
ter than any which can ever be found in
the world. Ruth, choosing to leave her
own land and people, where she was sure
OF comfort and plenty, and going with
Naomi to the land of Gods own people,
gave up much, perhaps, but see what she
received in return: Better friends than
she left behind, a home and husband,
and an inheritance, and a posterity
which prepared the way for the coming
of the promised Messiah. Giving up?
Yes, it means giving up my land and
my people" but it means more; it means
the finding of better land and a bet
ter people.
NES, and it means more than finding
L a better land and people. it means
receiving a commission for larger and
better service. Hobab need not return
TO INDIAN to find something worth his
While to do. The invitation to go with
Gods people included call to service
A new mission in life lay before him.
10 go with Gods people meant that he
would have particular place to fill, an
important duty to perform. God has no
room for idlers. He invites you to yield
yourself to Him, to accept Him as
your Lord and Saviour, because He has
something definite for you to do for
Him and for the advancement of His
hlngdom. Hobab had lived in that sec
ton OF country through which the chill
dren OF Israel were passing all his life.
He knew every green patch of grass and
every tiny stream, he knew the easy
paths and could avoid the more difficult
places in the journey. He was lust the
man Moses needed for guide and adj
wiser on the journey. 1t has been Won
dered why, when Moses had the piIlar
OF cloud of Gods presence to lead the
way, he should seek other help for the
journey, but, as the commentators point
out, II should be remembered that the
guidance of the cloud though showing
the general route to be taken through
the trackless desert. would not be so mi
mute as to point out the places where
pasture, shade and water were to be OBJ
tanned, and which were often hid in OBJ
scure spots by the shifting sands. Be-
sides, several detachments were sent off
from the main body. and the services of
Hobab. not as single Arab, but as a
prince of powerful clan, would have
been exceedingly useful"