The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-09-30
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNlNSCnOOL
LESSON
Department. The Moody Bible Institute,
Chicago
LESSON FOR OCTOBER 5
MOSES CRY FOR HELP.

LESSON TEXT-Numbers 11:10-1s "a. 25:
GOLDEN TEXT-'The supplication OF
D righteous man availeth much in ttS
working. flames SIG.
This lesson Is taken from the book
Of Numbers, the book of journey
Ings," or aptly called the book Of muir
murings.," The events Of Exodus and
Leviticus cover perhaps one or two
years, whereas those recorded in Num-
bers occupy about 38 years. Read in this
connection Ps .95: 10 and Cor. TO- From.
Sinai to Kadesh-Barnea are found four
general murmurings. The first was
at Taberah, 11:3, and the events Of to-
days lesson which occurred at
Kibroth, 1884. The other two were
at Hazeroth, 1915, 16, and Kadesh,-
1926. This book is full of Impress
i've warnings about worldliness.
Moses Was Human.
|. Complaint and Controversy, w.
1915. Moses was great but he was
human. No man Is faultless, and in
this lesson We have another incident.
illustrating the weakness Of Moses.
Yet despite all this we find inserted
in the very next chapter Gods estt-
mate of his character, 1873. Moses
had been subjected to terrible strain
the details of his leadership, the con-
slant murmuring of the people IN
der this load he gave way, just as he'
had previously yielded to impulse, Elk
2:12, and as he did subsequently, CHI
20: 1913. The Israelites are a strik-
\
tent Of the human heart. Any af-
Fiction, and discomfort or privationa
and we forget Gods marvellous works
on our behalf. His wonderful good
ness. That God was displeased Is in.
Dictated by verse 10, but that did not
imply that Moses, too, was to lose
his temper, to resort to murmuring-
and to accuse God Of being respon-
sible for the burden or that he would
not help to share the load, v. IL. God
placed great honor upon Moses by
calling him to this task Of leadership
and now he complains, and doubts for
a moment Gods sustaining grace, z
Cor. 1879; Phil Alb. The arguage
here used, Wv. 1914, is wonderfully
suggestive. The utter weakness OF
the Israelites, the promised goal, the
hunger of soul and body, the sorrows
OF affection are all graphically set
before US. Moses own weakness is
revealed ". 49, by his words, where
should have flesh to giVe?" He seems
to forget absolutely Gods dealings
with Israel before they reached Sinai
eek. 49,, as though GOO expected any
such thing from him. The height OF
his petulance and bitterness is reach
ed when he exclaims, kill mel pray
thee and let me not see my
wretchedness," V. Is.
Burden Distributed.
|, 1t. Comfort and Counsel. Wv. f6-1S,-
| "a, IS. Moses had been warned not to
bear the entire burden OF leadership
by his father-in-law, Jethro, Elk. IS: 17s
| ID. Now that he is unwilling to take
! the full honor of undivided leadership
God most graciously grants his re-
quest and appoints others to share the
burden and responsibility. There was
no more power, however, but more
machinery. God distributed the bur-
den and revealed the fact that Moses
power was in proportion to his burden.
Human nature always looks for the
arm of flesh upon which to rely, but
such reliance usually brings a curse
not blessing upon those who seek it,
Jer 17:5. God dealt in mercy with
Moses Notice how gently he passes
by this exhibition of infirmity and
Notwithstanding this lapse, bears tes-
timony to his faithfulness I2:D. Yet
he is impartial in chronicling his faults
and thereby giving us an incidental
and thereby giving US the truth
What suggestion in the words"I
will come down and talk with thee
yet that is the privilege Of the believ-
eF in Christ, John 14:16,N II and 16: Is.
I God calls tent meeting" v. 16 r. V,
but before he meets them they must
sanctify themselves, for so only is
one prepared to meet God, Elk 10: 10
Is, %, These people had been lust
ing for the food of Egypt even as to
day many who have professed to &C
cept Christ are forever longing for the
pleasures Of time and sense They
forget the bitterness of past slavery in
the privations of the present, entire
ly forgetful of the goal of luxury and
freedom, Rom 1923, Cor. AIT. Goo
granted their request. ". Is, to theil
sorrow, V. 20. The whole trouble was
then rejected the Lord" v. 20 r. v
The granting of material prosperity
tends to leanness Of soul, Ps. 10S: Is
1t frequently happens that God doei
not answer our prayers. because b,
knows that to answer them actual,
and literally would spell disaster il
our lives.
Conclusion. This lesson bring
Moses very near to US. Such re
markable man as he is he sometime
seems to be far removed from gu
actual experiences in life. Yet as W
consider him faltering for momen
beneath his staggering, crushing bul
den of responsibility. with sfrengt
and courage gone, we share our syn
pathy with him and he seems to ente
into the actualities of our daily life
: | Il ~