The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-08-19
IN THE RELIGIOUS WORLD
What the Church Folk Are Thinking
About and Doing.

their own shortcomings
Marah Bitter Springs

MARIAN DUCT SPTInSS
The FIRST loud groWl Of the Israel
tics arose when they found the spring
at Marian bitter. They wanted all the
comforts Of home in the wilderness.
Their protest was childish ana unrea-
soning. But the patient leader sweet
ened the waters for them. Inc me-
dent has come to stand for the bitter
waters OF grief, Of which we all must
drink. 1t suggests these obserVa-
tons:
Marah was on the way to Canaan.
We should be grateful for every land
mark that is on the way home.
Better far to hav drunk at Marah
than to have died thirsting for life.
We come to the sweet by way OF
the bitter.
Bitter experiences oft-times sweet
en- life; while wholly sweet exper-
fences may embitter it.
1t is asy to sing over the crossing
Of The Red Sea; it takes faith TO be
glad for the bitter experiences.
There are no bitter springs of eX-
perience that God cannot make sweet
and also use for the display of his
providence.
Help AS We Go.
This whole story is a commentary
on the philosophy Of going forward.
The future is to be trusted. Progress
brings providence. The way appears
as wei ollow it. Nobody can see the
end from the beginning; nevertheless,
he should greatly dare. There was no
mention Of mamma in the advertised
programme Of Moses. This was one of
Gods surprises The unexpectedness
OF Gods bounty is one Of its sweetest
qualities
The past is put into pledge by God
for the future. Hitherto he has
helped US; therefore he will not fail
henceforth. He leads by ways we
know not-but he never fails to lead.
Like an explorer traversing an old
. route, dotted by caches full Of sup
plies, God guides all who follow him
to storehouses Of plenty. His re-
mama and quail, and everything else
necessary.
When mans limit is reached, then
Gods beginning is found. After We
have come to the point where we can
no longer help ourselves. then we
. find his help awaiting us. This Snn-
e day school lesson will have been
r studied in vain if it does not teach
e us the old. old. simple, basic lesson
t Of dependence upon God for the ne
s cessities of life. It's golden tex,
e might well be Have faith in God
Our Daily Bread.
That the host which Moses had LED
G out of Egypt was full Of weaklings
4. was made clear by their early whim-
J pering2 They r~ebelliously and un.
gratefully sighed for the sure com
e forts of Egypt. Better a full stomach
n, than a free spirit, was their base
Sc creed. Nevertheless. amid all this dis
er creditable elamOr, God saw that her
)r was the making Of a nation, h begin
ne nings Of a people who should bear t
i all the world the supreme truth o
TX the revelation OF the one God.
Of A miracle brought mamma to tn
We We need not bottle
es about the how Of it, nor about tn
he exact character Of the mamma, an
re what natural agencies, if any, wer
or used in its production. Back Of a
e providences is the Provider. GU
Of daily bread is no less from God
rs hand because it comes through hal
vest and mill The lines of Maltbi
at D.. Babcock will bear repeating:
or Back of the loaf is the snowy hou
isl And back Of the flour the mill;
ey1And back Of the mill is the whe;
and the shower,
And the sun and the Fathers will
Wis Whatever comes into life may /
an accepted as mamma. and of Gods sent
W. ing. This is the lesson Of the ]esso
Of When We have come to the limit
N our powers, we have but touched II
OF. edge of Gods providence. He do
,ur better than We desire or design. Gas
i'd ing all your care upon Him. for +
,ur careth for you"