The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1907-08-24
Israel JOurneying
to Canaan
Sunday School Lesson for Aug. rs. 1907
Specially Prepared for This Paper

cloud, to lead them the way; and by
night in a pillar of fire, to give them
light "--Ex. 1921
TIME.-B c. 1890 according to the
common chronology. Scholars are di-
vided between this date and 200 years
later. The second stage of the wilder
ness journey, the new start from Sinai,
began on the 20th of the second
month of the second year after leaving
Egypt May. They had spent about a
year at Sinai (the Goth day Of the sec
ond month was May q in 1902, and will
be May 4 in 19l5)
PLACE.-They started from Sinai near
the southern point OF the peninsula be-
tween the two northern arms of the
Red sea- They moved In a northerly d.
reetion into the wilderness of Paran, or
the Tih (Tee), the great barren region
between Sinai and the southern border
OF Palestine.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
The Israelites had now remained
nearly a year at Sinai, where they
were safe from attack from Egypt on
the scattered population of the desert
All this time they had been in Gods
school preparatory to their longer
training and discipline in the wilder
ness.
The people left Egypt mere crowd
of fugitive slaves, with only the rudi-
ments of national organization, and
the dimmest religious ideas. But the
interval had effected an immense
change They had now become an or
ganized people, with laws, constitu-
tion or covenant a priesthood, a relig-
ious ritual, and house of worship; and
with a political and military organiza-
tion, upder judges and officers placed
over thousands, hundreds, fifties and
tens (Ex. 1925; Duet. 1:15), and a
general council of 20 elders (Ex. 24:1;
Mum. 1916, 24-26) which the rabbis
believe was the origin of the San
hedrim
Make a record of their experiences
during this year, and show how each
one was preparation for their COM
ing life.
According to the census of Numbers
/ and 2, there were 603,55 men, 20
years old and upwards, besides the 22,-
273 Levites. This would naturally inn
ply about 100000 in all. But Prof.
Willis j. Beecher. of Auburn Theolog-
ical seminary, in lecture not long
ago suggested that the enumeration
may have been technical. just as we
count an army A regiment consists
of 1000 men, while often in various
ways not more than 400 or 500 are
present, and yet we call it a regiment;
600000 may be equivalent to 600 reg
imenrs, "the thousands" containing
but few hundreds. so that there may
not have been more than 100000 men
or 100000 persons in all.
This schooling was like a prepara-
tory school education for young peo-
pie.
The Pillar Of Cloud and of Fire.
Two symbols of God always went be-
fore the people on their march. The
ark of God, containing the two tables
of the Law, the coveAant of the peo-
pie with God; and over it the guiding
pillar of cloud by day and of fire by
night, rising high above the host,
conspicuous object that could be seen
not only by the marshaled host, but
by the scattered companies of women
and children, as they fed their flocks,
and followed afar off the marvellous
signal OF the divine presence. A great
host marching through country with
out roads or other marks of civiliza-
ton, must be provided with some con-
spicuous object to serve as a signal
to the main body, and to all struggling
parties connected with it.
Hence, the round CRATE, full of kin
died fuel, elevated on a pole, which
was carried before caravans and
armies in the east. The ancient Per
SLAMS carried sacred fire in silver
altars before their armies, and other
ancient nations observed a similar Gus
tom. For fuller description see Mum.
s:15-2S.
A Strange Guidance.-The Lord was
guiding the people to the promised
land. We can imagine them saying.
Now that the Lord guides us we will
be led only in pleasant ways, in green
pastures, and besides still waters,
away from dangers and enemies. away
from serpents, and drought, and hun
ger. and we will reach the promised
land by the shortest route. in the
quickest time. But, as matter of
fact. the Lord had led them into the
trouble by the Red sea, into the dry
and thirsty land where no water was.
Giving the Invitation.--Ev Chris
tian should be able to give just such
an invitation as this. He knows
whittier he is going, and what joys
are sure at the end of the journey.
The power of the invitation lies in our
own appreciation of the blessings of
the Christian life.
God wants you to be Christian
not only because it is best for you, but
because there is work for you to do in
his kingdom; there are multitudes to
help, battles to fight. victories to gain,
the kingdom of God to come, the world
to be redeemed.
Practical Points.