The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1913-10-24

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be acceptable in Thy sight. o Jehovah,
my rock and my redeemer." Ps. 19:14
Forty years have passed since Isreal
committed its fatal mistake of DISC
bedience. This lesson Is a three-sided
picture. A murmuring, blindly DISC
bedient people; God, the righteous d.
rector OF the affairs Of men; Moses
and Aaron. the divinely appointed but
sorely tested leaders of the people.
!. Tho peoples petition, w. 1-5-The
name Of this place was Meribah ".
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 upon
them. James 1:13-15. What terrible
sin ingratitude is and how incredibly
ungrateful these people are.
Their Usual Plan.
u. Gods Plan, w. SO. 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 Moses had had this same
experience, oh. 1875; 1874, Ex. 17:4,
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 ox-goad, a boys
sling, a lamp and pitcher, a few
loaves and two small fishes.
III. Moses and Aaron's Pride, w.
9-13. These servants began very prop
erly to carry out Gods instructions.
They took the rod from God, "as COM
manded" ". 81. They gathered the
people together in the right place be
fore the rock" But then began their
failure. Some may plead extenueting
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looked or to go unpublished. 1) He
deceived the people. He had just
come from tent Of meeting" ". 81
and, as heretofore, the people expect
ed some message from Jehovah,
whereas he gave them not Gods
This ought to be warning to minis
tiers and teachers, viz, that the people
have a right to expect from their God
called and instructed leaders, his
word, not the opinions Of man nor
the wisdom of the sages.
Considered Them Rebels.
Moses in his pride separated him
self from the people. He assumed
"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 a platter
Of anger. (3) 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
acknowledge that it is God that works
and to him be the glory. Look up
Gen. 4O:S; Dan. 2:28-30; Acts 3:12-16;
/. Cor. 3:7. (4) Moses sfnote 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 a previous occasion, Elk.
17:5, 6, God had commanded. Moses
to smlte the rock, that the rock sug-
gests Christ Il. Cor. 10:D, that he was
to be smitten but once and thereafter
/, nearly a word Of prayer would bring
forth water, see Luke 11:13. 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,
1 and Moses is compelled to give up his
,, place Of leadership and is not allowed
to enter the land Of promise though
, , graciously granted view of 1t, (Deut-
1886; 32:49, so; S4:D. Moses
: "spake unadvisably with his lips"
Moses had also to suffer for Israel.
w. Tho chief points. There are
three great teachings in this lesson.
The wrong Of having a provoked
spirit, one contrary to that of the
God Of Mercy and Grace 1t is hard
to learn that God is hindered by those
who profess to be his servants but
who manifest such a spirit Again
God must be represented, glorified,
by those who profess to be his serv-
ants. To let our methods, our per-