Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-10-23

LESSON TEXT-Numbers 20.1-ls
GOLDEN TEXT--"Let the words OF my
mouth and the meditation OF my heart
be acceptable III Thy sight o Jehovah,
my rock and my redeemer." Ps. 1874.
Forty years have passed since tsreal
committed its fatal mistake of DISC
bedience. This lesson is threshold
picture. A murmuring, blindly DISC
bedient people; God, the righteous d.
rector Of the affairs Of men; Moses
and Aaron. the divinely appointed but
Borely tested leaders of the people.
|. The peoples petition, w. 1-5-The
name of this place was Meribah w.
49,, which means strife. 1t was not
the fault of God nor the desired lead
ings of Moses that brought these peo-
pie to this place. Forty years of wan
dering seemingly had not taught them
this lesson. Many people accuse God
when they themselves are to be
blamed for the evil that comes upor
them. James 1:13-15. What terrible
sin lngratitude is and how incredibly
ungrateful these people are. They
chode, |. g., strove ". p with Moses
as though he were the guilty one. How
we seek to place the blame upon 9th
ers for the results that come from our
disobedience. There is here also the
complaint against threatened material
loss. our cattle shall die also the re-
bellion against discomfort e. 81.
Their Usual Plan.
II. Gods Plan, W. 6-s. Moses and
Aaron followed their usual, and the
wisest plan of taking their difficulty
to God Separated from the people
they throw themselves upon their
faces before him and he graciously
manifested himself unto them and
gave them explicit directions ". 81.
Other times Mes had had this same
experience, oh. 14:5; 1914, Elk. 1874,
etc. 1t is an inspiration to recall the
multiplied times God has used these
common agencies In the hands of his
consecrated servants to work his
mighty deeds-an oxgoad, a boys
sling a lamp and pitcher, few
loaves and two small fishes. 1t is not
the instrument nor the agent who
uses the instrument, but Jehovah who
is ready to work through his servants
using these instruments Moses rod
is never mentioned after this occa-
sion.
III. Moses and Aaron's Pride, w.
e-f3. These servants began very prop
erly to carry out Gods Instructions
They took the rod from God, "as com
manded" (v. 81. They gathered the
people together in the right place be
fore the rock" But then began their
failure. Some may plead extenuating
circumstances or great provocation
But Moses, for he takes the place of
leadership, made four-fold mistake
which was too serious to be over
looked or to go unpublished Is He
deceived the people. He had just
come from tent of meeting (v. g.
and, as heretofore, the people expect
ed some message from Jehovah,
whereas he gave them not Gods
words, but those of his own coming.
This ought to be warning to minis
tiers and teachers, viz, that the people
have right to expect from their God
called and instructed leaders, his
word, not the opinions of man nor
the wisdom of the sages. To steal
the livery of heaven and serve the
devil, to give stone for bread,
serpent for fish, or scorpion for an
egg will surely meet just retribution
from just and righteous God. CD
He made miserable display of pride.
1t is true these people were rebels"
but 1t is not for him to make the
accusation. 1t is the spirits work
to convict of sin (Jno. 1873 r. W.
Jesus commanded that we Judge not"
and adds the reason why, Matt. T:1.6,
and James (ch. Ali, 12) comments on
this same principle.
Considered Them Rebels.
Moses in his pride separated him
self from the people. He assumed
a "holier-than thou" attitude. He
looked upon the people, over this line
of separation. as being rebels, and God
will not allow Christian leaders to
hand out admonition upon platter
of anger. 60 He took the glory to
himself. This was more serious still
and was in direct violation Of the
spirit of those laws he had received
upon the Mount, Elk. 20:5. Must we
fetch you water" is quite different
from "Thou shalt bring them forth
This is that which has set aside many
Christian workers. We must not lean
to our own understanding nor fail to
a olyrnxuladera MOI ic ,of
and to him be the glory. Look up
Gen. 40:S; Dan. 2:2S-30; Acts 3:12-16
l. Ger 3:7 (4) Moses smote the
rock God had told Moses to speak
unto the rock" ". 81 whereas he
smote the rock as though the power
were in the rod or the strong arm
back Of the rod. Exact obedience is
expected by God and to do anything
else is to doubt his power, to reflect
upon his word and to draw attention
away from him and upon ourselves.
Our attention has been called to the
fact that on previous occasion, Elk
1875, 6, God had commanded Moses
to smite the rock, that the rock sug-
gests Christ CT. Cor. 10:4}, that he was
to be smitten but once and thereafter
nearly word of prayer would bring
forth water see Luke lib. No man
is essential to Gods plan though Gods
plans are always worked out through
men. When men fail to see this
God speedily sets them aside and APP.
points other leaders. Moses and
Aaron fell through unbelief " 49,
and Moses is compelled to give up his
place of leadership and is not allowed
to enter the land Of promise though