The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1913-08-22

them. am the bread OF life."-John 6:35
The Psalm of praise eek. 15) Is fol-
lowed by the sorrows of sin. After
leaving the bitter waters Of Marah
(16: 1926 the Israelites encamped for
a time at Elm ". 2O. They then en-
| tered the wilderness Of sin (16:D.
This name is certainly suggestive for
1t was the sin of unbelief that lay be-
hind their murmurings.
!. Despair, w. 2, 3. We sometimes
censure the Israelites for their COM
planning within month after their
miraculous deliverance from the Red
Sea, but If we examine ourselves
closely We will not be surprised at
their lack of faith nor at the Savior's
delight when he discovered faith
duke 7:9). Their song, Chapter Is,
of deliverance has scarcely died on
their lips when a new danger con-
fronts them, viz, that of privation.
How many today fail at just this point,
and think only of the "flesh-pots."
They complained more over the priva-
tons of Gods service than over the
slavery of Pharaoh, though as mat
ter Of fact the man in Egypt does not
have bread to the full" John Alb.
Eccl. is. Truly Moses and Aaron
had task on their hands for 1.-The
whole congregation murmured" They
had to bear the brunt of it all for they
were Gods visible representatives
FPS. 500; Rom. 1879. Human ma
ture Is ever the same. Rather to die
by the hand Of Pharaoh with a full
stomach than to live in a freedom
which was accomplished by any priva-
tons. The trouble was that having
everything done for them they lacked
that moral backbone, that fixedness Of
purpose, which great principle in
spires and moves men to suffer and to
overcome. The life of slavery in Egypt
had made the Israelites craven.
Gods Answer.
u. Deliverance, w. 40. God an
swered their grumbling with a most
gracious promise. He met their bitter
cry with a bounteous provision OF
bread. That they might know 1t was
he who provided, God said IL will rain
bread from heaven" But to guard
against oriental improvidence or ex-
cess, they were directed to gather a
days portion for the day ". marg.)
This provision was also to be q test
to see II they would obey him. walk
in my law, or no." Some Of them
failed at the very first, and that which
they attempted to keep over spoiled,
see Wv. 10, 20. To hoard Is to lose, to
use Is to increase, Prov. 11:24, 25.
To hoard wealth, whether 1t be tenn
poral or spiritual, is to distrust God,
and it was this very distrust which
God was combating. 1t was a super
natural gift and was type Of Christ,
John 6:31-33, 80. The mama sustain
cd life for day at a time; he, Christ,
yustains forever, John 6:5S. Notice,
God did not place the mama in their
mouths, each must gather, appro-
pirate. for himself, so also must they
who feed on the bread of life, Christ
Jesus, and as they were to gather
daily, so also must we feed anew
each day on Jesus, Matt. Gil.
Visible Proof.
That the Israelites might realize
fully that Moses and Aaron were not
working some trick of necromancy. or
taking advantage Of some botanical or
pathological knowledge Of the coun-
try, God revealed to all, at the break
of day, his glory, v. 10; and that their
descendants might see and know OF
Gods marvellous goodness and deliv-
erance, they were commanded to fill
a vessel with mama as visible con-
vincing proof ". 32) Nor did this
supply fail as long as it was needful,
v. 35, Phil. 4:19.
III. Delight, wv. 11-16. What emo
tons must have filed the hearts OF
the Israelites when at evening they
beheld the quails and in the morning
the mama. The mighty God who
brought them out of Egypt has again
shown his power. The mama was to
teach them that man does not live
by bread alone but by every word that
proceedeth out of the mouth Of the
Lord" Deut SO, 3. Do not lose time
speculating upon what the mama was
like, simply read Wv. 1887 and Mum.
11:7, s. Strangely enough not all
were satisfied with the bread from
heaven (Num. 21:5) but they had to
eat It or die. Some cried out for the
food Of Egypt (Num. 11:5, 81 even az
today some who profess to be Chris
tians are not satisfied with Christ. AS
against these feelings of delight there
must have been a sense Of rebukeN ".
81 when God through Aaron COM
| manded the Israelites to come near
before the Lord"
w. The Teaching. The gift Of the
mama taught the Israelites that they
must depend upon God. Man not only
needs spiritual relationship but mate
rial sustenance for the maintenance
Of his life.
The words of the golden text were
spoken in connection with our Lords
feeding the multitude. He IL able to
provide for the physical and also to
satisfy the deepest spiritual needs OF
all who put their trust in him.