The Red Cloud chief., 1913-10-09

love vauntcth not Itself, is not pufred up.
doth not behave itself unsecmiy."-l Cor.
In order the events from Sinai TO
Kadesh Barnea were: D The march.
ing host. Nu. 1911; (2) The fire Of
the Lord at Taberah I1:1; (3) The
lusting after Egyptian fleshpots.
11:4: U The complaint OF Moses.
11:10; 60 The selection Of elders.
11:16; (6) The two irregular prophets,
1I:26; ca the quails and the plague,
1881. and tS) Sedition, chapter IL,
which forms today's lesson.
Miriam's Leadership.
I. The Accusation, w. I, 2. This
is not the first nor the last time
marriage has caused family quarrel.
Who this Ethiopian woman was we
are not told though we are inclined
to believe that II was Zipporah (Ex.
2:2D, and not n second wife whom
Moses married recently. or all peo-
pie we would least expect jealousy to
show itself In this family circle.
among these the chosen leaders OF
Israel. Nothing so hinders the work
OF God, or gives more delight to the
devil. than just such n situation as
this one. II brings confusion and de-
lay ". 15). The occasion was not.
however, so much the wife Of Moses
as 1t was envy of Moses (See Luke
22:24.26: Cor. 1:11-15, and 3 John
8. 100. II may have been that Moses
was culpable. for no man Is perfect
from. 3:23). but Miriam and Aaron
were not his judges. We must re-
member In this connection last Sun.
days lesson wherein we had present
ed such radical change In the form
of government. Miriam and Aaron
were desirous Of having an equal
place with Moses and because he did
thing they could not understand
they criticised him (Rom. 143. 4;
Jude 81.
u. Tho Arrest, w. 4, s. "The Lord
heard II" ". 2, 1 c.) God hears what
we say In criticism OF those whom he
has set over us. Instead Of being
Jealous of the preference accorded to
others we ought to rejoice (Phil. 2:3).
Though we are free to admit such q
course often proves the measure OF
his grace in our hearts. God did not
let this matter stand nor run the
course Of idle gossip. He at once.
and in person. came down to cham.
pion the cause Of Moses ". s. SCI
also 1920. 2D.
He Saw jehovah.
~. The Arralgnment, w. 6-8. Je
aovah pointed out very clearly not
only the difference between them and
Moses. but also between Moses and
all other prophets. They were proph.
cts, so was Moses, and more. To the
prophets God revealed himself In
visions (see Eek. IL. Isa. 6:1, Dan
8:2. Luke 1:1D, and many other sinh
lar instances. but with Moses God
spake mouth to mouth even mani
testify" that is. others heard Gods
voice speaking audibly to Moses (Ex
1919 and 33:11). This voice was
clear and distinct, It did not demand
any Interpretation. Verse 8 does not
imply that Moses had a full revela
ton Of the person Of Jehovah. but he
did have a visible manifestation OF
the similitude ("form" r. w. Of God
John 1:1S).
~. Judgment, w. 0, 10. The de
parting cloud from off tho tabernacle
was token Of Gods displeasure. Let
US not forget that future time when
It will be others who will depart
Matt. 25:4D. The lifted cloud re
vealed to Aaron Miriam smitten with
leprosy. that most terrible of all dis
eases, loathsome. contagious. incur
able. Read the stories of Naamar
and Uzziah.
Aaron's Sin.
v. IntereessIon, w. f1.16. Aaror
In his appeal to Moses acknowledge
his equal transgression with Miriam
his foolishness and his sin, and II
turn Moses revealed his noble Christ
like character. Christ prayed for hi
enemies duke 23.3D. Moses wa
not overcome OF evil but overcam'
evil with good Rom. 1879. Hi
prayer was an effectual one (Jame
5:l6). Some have viewed this cpl
sode in typical light. Moses repre-
senting Christ Is rejected by his owl
people: the Ethiopian bride as tn
church. chiefly Gentiles: Aaron ant
Miriam as Jews opposed to any sucl
union; the leprosy as divine jude
. ment upon the Jews who are inter
, ceded for by those whom they oppose
the Christian church: Miriam shu
out OF the camp. the period OF Ii
raels rejection after which perio,
, she will be restored to her land an
, her God In Christ Jesus.
This lesson Is q great teaching O
, the jealousy OF Jehovah for thos
, upon whom he confers honor. w
, serve him by his appointment an
he will defend us. We should thin
\. highly Of any service to which h
, calls us and say with Paul, ~ magnif
mine Office" God will not hold thos
!. guiltless who call in question tn
xytcdov,, nP hic oppot M IN ante nr III