Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-10-22
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDNSOTOOL
LESSON
my 4. o. SELLERS. Director Of Evening
Department. The Moody Bible Institute.
ChicaEol
LESSON FOR OCTOBER &c
sIN OF MosEs ANp AARoN.


Forty years have passed since Isreal
committed It's fatal mistake OF DISC
bedlence. This lesson is a three-sided
picture. murmurlng. 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.
I. The peoples petition, w. t-5-The
name OF this place was Meribah ".
13), which means strife. II was not
the fault OF God nor the desired lead
ings Of Moses that brought these PEG
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-i5. What a terrible
sin ingratitude is and how incredibly
ungrateful these people are. They
chode, l. o. strove ". p with Moses
as though he we're the guilty one. How
we seek to place the blame upon 9TH
ers for the results that come from our
dlsobedience. There is here also the
complaint against threatened material
loss, our cattle shall die" also the re
bellion against discomfort ". 81.
Their Usual Plan.
II. Gods Plan, w. &c. 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 w. 81.
Other times Noes had had this same
experience, CHI. 1875; 1884, Elk. 1874.
etc. 1t is an inspiration to recall the
multiplied times God has used these
common agencies In the hands Of his
conseerated servants to work his
mighty deeds-an ox-goad, a boys
sling, a lamp and a pitcher, a few
lOayes and two small fishes. Il 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-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 extenuating
circumstances or great provocation,
But Moses, for he takes the place OF
leadership, made a four-fold mistake
which was too serious to be over
looked or to go unpublished. % 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
words, but those OF his own coming
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 mol
the wisdom OF the sages. To stea
the livery OF heaven and serve thC
devil, to give a stone for bread, {
serpent for fish, or scorpion for al
egg will surely meet Just retributioT
from a Just and righteous God. q,
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 worl
, to convict Of sin (Jno. 1873 r. W
! Jesus commanded that we Judge not
, and adds the reason why, Matt. 7:1-6
and James (ch. All, 12) comments OIL
this same principle.
Considered Them Rebels.
Moses in his pride separated him
self from the people. He assume,
, "holier-than thou" attitude H
! looked upon the people, over this lin
Of separation, as being rebels, and Co
! will not allow Christian leaders t
. hand out admonition upon platte
of anger. (3) He took the glory t
= himself. This was more serious sti
! and was in direct violation of tn
spirit of those laws he had receive
q upon the Mount, Elk. 20:5. Must W
fetch you water" is quite differer
,, from Thou shalt bring them forth
= This Is that which has set aside man
. Christian workers. We must not lea
to our own understanding nor fail
! acknowledge that 1t is God that work
!. and to him be the glory. Look u
Gen. 4O:S Dan. 2:2S-SO; Acts S:12-1f
/. Cor. 8:7. (4) Moses smote tn
rock. God had told Moses to "spea
unto the rock" ". 81 whereas
Il smote the rock as though the powt
were in the rod or the strong arr
:, back OF the rod. Exact obedience
expected by God and to do anythin
: else is to doubt his power, to refie,
upon his word and to draw attentio
away from him and upon ourselve
: Our attention has been called to ii
>. fact that on a previous occasion, E
17:5, 6, God had commanded Nose
. to smite the rock, that the rock su
- gests Christ e. Cor. 10:4), that he WI
to be smitten but once and thereaft'
nearly a word Of prayer would brir
forth water, see Luke 11:1S. No ma
L is essential to Gods plan though God
% plans are always worked out throul
u men. When men fail to see tn
u God speedily sets them aside and a
8 points other leaders. Moses al
" Aaron fell through unbelief ". i
~ and Moses is compelled to give up b
Is place Of leadership and is not allow
IN to enter the land of promise thoul
N graciously granted view Of it, (Del