The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-07-03
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON CON-
MENTS FOR JULY Z BY THE
REV. I. ". HENDERSON.
Subject: God Feeds Israel in Egypt,
Elk. 16:1-15-Golden Text, John
6:21-Memory Verse, 4-Com.

GAs ACAt oOllu
6:21-Memory Verse, 4-Com-
mentary.
The charm of tho history of the
people of Israel as it is portrayed in
the Scriptures lies largely in it's hu-
manness. Israel is continually doing
that which we are expectant men
would do, under like circumstances,
everywhere and in all time. Israel is
human in her righteousness and in
her SHINING, in her wisdom and in
her folly. The lesson for to-day
shows her humanness in no unmis-
taxable fashion. Out in the wilder
ness, tried and troubled with their
disappointments and sufferings. the
children Of Israel are an example to
US all and a photograph of US all. 1t
was only yesterday, so to say, that
they had praised God for His deliv-
erance and favor. Now they look
with yearning upon the feshpots of
Egypt. They were eager for liberty,
but not so eager to pay the price.
They were glad to have the help Of
Jehovah. They were not so happy to
have the proving Of Jehovah applied
to their manhood. They show us
what we ought not to do in like cir
cumstances. They show US also what
we quite generally do when we are
face to face with analogous problems,
Disappointment and trials.
Israel was overjoyed when, in the
providence of Jehovah, she was de-
livered out of the hand Of Pharaoh
and divinely led toward the land Of
Jehovah's promise. But when the
hosts Of Pharaoh threatened in the
rear, Israel doubted the providence
and ability Of God and the wisdom of
His appointed leaders. When Israel
saw the hosts Of Pharaoh strewn
dead upon the seashore sands, Israel
was glad and sang praises unto the
Most High. But when water failed
to come just when Israel wanted it
to come, when fodder and food failed
just when Israel wanted it to abound,
then Israel cursed her leaders, ques-
toned the leading of God, looked
back upon the leeks and garlic and
onions of Egypt, sighed for slavery
with plenty. Then Israel was haunt
ed with the fear Of starvation. And
this was human. 1t was typical of
humanity.
The lesson shows US also what is
the wonderful providence of God for
His people even when things seem
blacklist to them. 1t must have ap-
peared quite discouraging to Israel
since they were in such a state of
mind that they desired Egypt with It's
many hardships in preference to the
wilderness with it's hope of liberty.
They must have been pretty hungry
and hope must have all but fled. And
1t doesn't take hope long to flee in
the presence Of an empty stomach.
But when the prospect was darkest
80 far as they were able to see then
was God at hand, ready to help them
and inspire them. To be sure God
did not help them out Of their diff
Guilty just in the way that they de-
sired or expected to be helped. The
help was nc less effective, however.
The mama was an unknown quantity
to them. But it was satisfying.
Israel is not the only people that
has had to go through a wilderness
and through hardship and through
suffering to achieve liberty. And it
is not only the nation that has to ira
vel the same long road. Many an in
dividual has had an analogous expe-
rience. The way out Of national suf-
fering and hardship, the way out Of
individual and national sin and dis
tress, is a road that has it's trials, it's
sorrows, its disappointments, it's prov
ings, all of which are as thorough
going and as real as were the trials
that beset and tested Israel. But
wherever the nation or the individual
has trusted God and been .amenable
to His will and followed His COM
mands there the providence and the
leading of God has been ma%rvelously
manifest. God led Israel ahead in
comfort and security all the time that
Israel obeyed Him and thoroughly
trusted Him. Their sorrows came
when they doubted and %disobeyed
God. And so it is with every nation
and with every individual. Just so
long as we obey God and trust Him
we move ahead.
This lesson has a profound spirit
ual significance. The trials Of the
sinner as he moves up out Of the land
of spiritual bondage through the will
derness of evil and temptation toward
the promised land Of the new Jerusa-
lem are in their own way as real as
were the trials of Israel in the des-
ert. While he trusts in God and does
! Gods will his way Is made plain, the
evidences of Gods shepherding are
visible to his spiritual faculties.
When he shuts his eyes to the lead
ing of God he Is afraid. When he Is
more obsessed with the contempla-
ton of the difficulties that confront
and assail him than with the vision
Of Him who guards his soul he is a
troubled man. But when he trusts
God and never loses sight of Him
even in his hours of sorest trial then
is he always sure, then is he always
hopeful. For he knows that God will
always provide that spiritual mama
which is meat and drink and strength
and courage to his soul.
We are all human after the man
ner of the chosen people Of God. The
danger is that we shall forget God
when His providences seem to us to
fail. The danger is that we shall
look back as did Lots wife and the
children of Israel upon lands hat we
have left behind US. That danger we
cannot too we'll avoid. We cannot
minimize its effect. Let us guard
against it. Let US. always hope In
God, who is the health Of our coun-
tenance and cur God.