The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1907-09-05
THE BRAZEN
SERPENT
Sunday School Lesson Tor Sept. 8, 1907
Specially Prepared for This Paper
Specially Prepared for This Paper

LESSON TExT.-Numbers n:s Mem
ory verse o.
GOLDEN TExr.-.A, Moses lifted up
the serpent In the wilderness. even 20
must the Son Of man be lifted up: that
whosoever believeth in him should not
perish but have eternal hfe."-John
2:14-i5.
TIMD.-More than 3s years after our
last lesson. Aaron died on the first day
OF the ffth month duly August) OF the
fortieth year since leaving Egypt (Num.
8:ss). The fiery ssrpents attacked the
people . few weeks later. in September
%. G. 1859. according to the common
chronology
PLACE.-Aarou died at Mount Hor. on
the border of the Edom range. along the
sastern border Of the Arabah. The SER
pents were In the great deep and broad
valley called the Arabah. south Of the
Dend sea. and extending to the EASTERN
arm OF the Red sea.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
We left the Israelites, in our last les.
son. at Kadesh Barnea, on the border
OF the south land of Palestine and the
northern border OF the great desert of
Paran They had refused, through
fear and unbelief, to, go up and take
possession OF their Inheritance, and
were condemned to remain In the des-
ert for 80 years longer, till all over 20
years Of ago had died.. They arrived
at kadesh about a, year and three
months after the exodus. and left IL
nine months, before taking possession
OF Canaan. During, these years ''Ka.
desh was probably their central nu.
oleus or rendezvous. They would nat
urally change their locality from time
to- time. like the Bedontns of all ages.
but still cherishing ths hope Of event
ually becoming possessors Of the land
on promise. Meantime they are not to
bs conceived as, dwelling. In their In
tervals OF repose. In. . compact Damp.
which the. nature Of the country for
bade to such an immense multitude.
but ss expatiating, In bands. here. and
there. over the adaaeent country, still
having the tabernacle as the osnter
and the rendezvous. to which they
would return."--Bush Some OF these
wanderings are given In Mum. 3S: 10.
s6. extending as far south asi Ezion
Geber on the eastern arm. OF the Red
sea Il Kings 9t26l.
Some of the, events recordsdi during
his period are, 1. Korahis Rebel
lion Numbers ts). which grew out of
the long delay and disappointed hopes.
2. Aaronis rod budded plumbers
~ to prove that Aaron, Vas the dt,
vinely chosen high priest.
8. The death Of Miriam. the sister
of Moses (Num. 20:1).
I. Water from the rock at Meribah
and the sin OF Moses that kept him
from entering the promised land
mum. 2Or 2.13).
And the people spake against God.
and against Moses" Their bitter feel
lngs grew so strong that they were ex.
pressed In words. Their former mur-
murings at Kadesh had been treated
leniently. and water had been sup
piled. apparently at their angry de-
mand. They seem to have interpreted
the miracle there as an instance of
mercy In spite of their wicked course,
but as a response to II; and they there
fore now repeated the experiment of
tnsurrection.
Thus the israelites tempted God Il
Cor. 1853: Heb. 3:9). They put his
patience and forhearance to the test.
and did all they could to make him
give them up as hopeless.
The Fiery serpents Of sln.-No bet.
ter emblem of the results of sin could
have been given to the Israelites, or
to US. "rhe true. peculiar. peruicious.
fiery serpents were their murmuring
disposition and complaints against
Jehovah. ."-Iange. Sin Is like a fiery
serpent. often beautiful In appearance.
and secret In Its approach. But the ef.
fects are pains that only nre can ex.
press.
Repentance and SaIvstion.-Vs. TO.
Confession. v. Z. I'VE have sinned."
The evil effects OF sin made them feel
conscious OF their sin and its great.
ness. The real evil Is the sin. and not
the punishment But II Is only by the
punishment that men realise the evil
OF sin itself.
Against the Lord. and against
thee" All crimes against man are
sins against God. And all sins against
God work wrong to man.
"And Moses prayed for the people.
expressing their desires and feelings
There is real power In intercessory
prayer. Their praying made II wise
and safe to give blessings that would
have been an injury to those who had
not the spirit OF prayer. One Of the
objects OF the punishment was to turn
their hearts to God. taei,i,.t.
, The curs.---Note In what . peculiar
and yet blessed way the prayer was
answered.: not by removing the ser
pents. as they probably expected. but
by q way that healed their souls a.
we'll as their bodies. So Psul's "thorn
In the fesh" was not removed. but
Gods grace was made to abound ~ q
blessed fruit growing on that stem.
A the Elm and punishment Of the