The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1907-08-22
Israel Journeying
to Canaan
SON TEXT. : Numbers ioii-ia
Sunday School Lesson for Auf. Is. 1907
Specially Prepared Tor This Paper

pefore them by day In pillar OF
cloud. to lead them the way, and by
light."-Ex. 1921.
TrME.-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 Goth OF the second
month OF the second year after leaving
Egypt (May). They had spent about
year at Sinai 0he goth day Of the sec
ond month was May a In 1904. and will
be May I In 1879.
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 northeriy d.
rection 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 q 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.
saniGed people. with laws, a constitu.
tion or covenant. q priesthood. q relig.
ious ritual, and house Of worship: and
with . political and military organiEa-
tion. under judges and ofacers placed
over thousands. hundreds. fifties and
tens lex. 1925; Duet. 1:16). and q
general council Of 10 elders (Ex. s<:1:
Mum. 11:16. 24-26) which the rabbis
believe was the origin Of the San
hedrim.
Make Q record Of their experiences
during this year. and show how each
one was Q preparation for their com.
ing life.
According to the census Of Numbers
and Q. there we're 603.550 men. 30
years old and upwards. besides the g..
273 Levites. This would naturally i'm.
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; /;
10000 may be equivalent to 600 reg.
iments, 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 q prepara.
tory school education for young peo.
Pile.
The Pillar Of Cloud and Of Fire.
Two symbols of God always went be-
fore the people on their march. The
Of the Law. the covenant Of the peo-
pie with God; and over II the guiding
pillar of cloud by day and of fire by
night. rising high above the host, a
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 fiocks.
and followed afar on the marvellous
signal OF the divine presence. A great
host marching through country with
out roads or other marks OF civiliza'
tion. must be provided with some con.
spicuous object to serve as signal
to the main body. and to all struggling
parties connected with 1t.
Hence, the round crate. full Of kin.
died fuel. elevated on 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
tom. For fuller description see Mum
9:15-23.
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 o
fact. the Lord had led them into the
trouble by the Red sea, into the dr.,
and thirsty land where no water was
diving the InvitatioW.--Every Chris
tian should be able to give Just sucf
an invitation a. this. He know,
whittier he is going. and what toyi
are sure at the end OF the journey
The power Of the invitation lies In oul
own appreciation OF the blessings o.
the, Christian life. vol gat
God wants you to be Christian
not only because II is best for you. bu
because there 10 work for you to do II
his Kingdom: there are nnultitudes Il
help. battles 10 nght. Victories TO gain
the kingdom Of God 70 come. the worlt
TO be redeemed. ~ fvsr