The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1904-05-28
answer: T will not co." or 1t is de-
cision for the Christ.

|
THERE were reasons why Hobal
thought he could not accept Moses
invitation. There were barriers in thu
way. my land and my kindred" h,
said. when Moses gave him Gods offer o
a better land and an everlasting fellow
ship with Gods people. His land could
not compare with the land to which Goo
was leading His people. His friends II
indian could not be as helpful and
desirable as companions and associate.
as the people who were walking witt
God, even though the journey took them
through the wilderness and caused them
to endure trial. and hardship, and dan.
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 within may be gratifed which Is
within the power of one to satisfy; be-
cause there, all the allurements and at
! fractions of the world are to be found.
my people," rather than Gods people.
because they like the world equally well
with yourself and help to make merry
the passing moments. When 1t comes 20
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 1t 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, home and husband,
and an inheritance, and posterity
which prepared the way for the coming
OF the promised Messiah. Giving up?
Yes, 1t means giving up my land and
my people" but 1t means more; 1t means
the finding Of better land and bet
ter people.
IVES. and 1t means more than finding
L a better land and people, 1t means
receiving 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.
To 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
Kingdom. 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 Just tho
man Moses needed for guide and adj
wiser on the journey. 1t has been won
dered why, when Moses had the pillar
of cloud of Gods presence to lead the
way, he should seek other help for the
journey, but, as the commentators point
out, 1t 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 NIL
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 detachmenta were sent of
from the main body, and tee services Of
Hobab, not as a single Arab, but as a
prince of a powerful clan, would have
been exceedingly useful"
II OBAB missed his opportunity. Are
II you going to be as blind and in
different as was he. and miss yours.
too? In the face of all that God had
done for His people, despite the evil
dence on every hand which he had
had while sojourning with the Israel
ties that God was with them and bless
ing them, Notwithstanding the fact
that all of Gods promises gave assur.
ance Of blessing ahead. Hobab heart
lessly, and heedlessly. and blindly de.
clsred: II will not CO." And how
many there are who are displaying
the folly Of Hobab. Moses pleading
with Hobab could not turn him from
his course. and sometimes the Chris
tian meets with the same sad expert
ence when inviting some dear soul to
come to Jesus. Hobab rejecting the
invitation and turning from God pass
es into obscurity and death. Nothing
more is ever heard Of him. The place
he might have occupied in the Prom.
ised Land was held by another. The
mission he might have performed was
fulfilled by another. The eternal
blessing he might have obtained from
God with the other faithful ones was
| lost to him. Would you have IL so in