The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-08-24
The International
Sunday-School Lesson
Third Quarter. Lesson VIII. Nun
< tl-l3 2D-3B August 25 1907,

Third Quarter. Lesson Wiz. Num-
hers X. 1l-I3. e0-36. August a5. 1907.
ISRAEL GJoURNEYING TO CANAAN.
Gods school at foot of Sinai was out.
after II twelve months term. Three million
scholars started for recess in the wider
ness Little dreamed they that 1t would be
o. forty years duration.
We have at this point glimpse of the
domestic lie and relationships of the Leader
of this mighty caravan. Just after the de-
feat of Amalel. and before the arrival at
Silai. Pethro, the priest OF INDIAN. Moses
father-in-law, had come to the camp. bring
ing with him zipporah. Moses wife, and
his two sons, Gershom and Eltezer. 1t may
be. Hobab, Moses brother-in-law, was of
the party. II SO, he was in The camp al
most a year
Fortunate visit that for Hcbab! What
pr.vileges! He ate of the manna, drank OF
the water from the stricken rock in Horeb
heard the Voice, saw the wonders of Sinai
learned the Decalogue, grew familiar with
tina speaking symbolism OF the tabernacle.
But circumstances now required n decision
at his hands. He must needs cease being
guest and become fellow-cItizen In this
immigrant nation, or quit them altogether
70. his own land and Kindred.
The tabernacle had been taken down, and
packed In smallest possible compass. The
porters stood waiting the orders to lift.
Tho clans We're forming IN their appointed
marching order. The impedimenta We're
In position. All the while there was n
ttlnult In tho Midlanites heart. 1t was
fairly torn asunder Aud Moses knew IL.
With characteristic kindness, though him
sell at that moment oppressed with great
responsibilities and hnrassed by interminable
minutiae. so far from forgetting his broth
err law, he actually took time to hunt
him UP.
couched In more attractive terms than
Noses Invitation to Hobab. There is moth
Ing tentative about 1t. y rings With the
joyous optimism OF faith, There is n
place for us. 1t must be good since Je-
hovah gives 1T, There can be no flaw In
title, no failure In possession, since omnlpo-
tence leads the way. Come. share our happy
fortune with usl"
Racial feeling gets the ascendency for q
moment in the foreigners heart. He
blanky refuses tho invitation 50 deftly
given He announces his purpose Of going
bnck Immediately to his country and coun-
trymen. The noble host is not piqued by
this brus1ue declination. He plies a new
motive. Hobab cannot only get good, he
can do good. Tho tire-cloud pillar only
u take. not how 1t was 70 deplos on halt
Ing This desert born and bred youth With
a Bedouin eye, trained to detect at dis
tarce tokens of water and pasture, could be
with him for Md In the mighty task OF
taking these millions across the wilderness
to their new homo In Canaan.
Moses prevailed. Such an Inference Is
fair In tho caRe Of tho youth rioh ruler
who came to Jesus for terms of disciple
/ ship, It Is distinctly stated that no Went
AWAY No such historic comment Is made
| In the instance of Hobab. He probably re-
mained Iris gains were lnoalculabe Going
back to Midian would have been going back
Is haathenism, Going ON to Canaan WAS
going on to God. and being helpful to the
largest possible number on the way,
Now all things were ready, Gods. signal
| In tho sky moved ma1estically slowly, BAT
SELF moves. Moses. In sight OF the people
! spread his hands to heaven and intoncd
1.-THE morning prayer OF tho militant host
| "Rlse UP, Lord, ana let Thine enemies BIT
/ scattered. a{f
And let them that hate Thee .hea before
| ~ Thee"
| When at length the cloud stood still