The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-08-19
INTERNATIONAL
SUNl(HISC[I(]OL
LESSON
(By E. o. SELLERS, Director of Even
ing Department The Moody Bible In
stitute of Chicago)
LESSON FOR AUGUST "a.
THE BREAD OF HEAVEN.
.EssoN TExT-Ex. 1928.

GESSON IEA1-EX. lo.Z-lo.
GOLDEN TExT+"Jesus saith unto
them, 1 am the bread of ife."-John 6:@
The Psalm Of praise (Ex. 49, is fol-
lowed by the sorrows of sin. After
leaving the bitter waters of Marah
(1a: 1926 the Israelites encamped for
time at Elm ". I'D. They then en-
tered the wilderness of sin (16:D.
This name is certainly suggestive for
it was the sin of unbelief that lay be.
hind their murmurings.
!. Despair, w. 2, 8. We sometimes
censure the Israelites for their COM
planning within a month after their
miraculous deliverance from the Red
Sea, but IL we examine ourselves
closely we will not be surprised at
their lack of faith nor at the Saviors
delight when ne discovered faith
duke 7:9). Their song, Chapter 10,
of deliverance has scarcely died on
their lips when new danger con-
fronts them, viz, that of privation.
How many today fail at just this point,
and think only Of the "fiesh-pots."
They complained more over the priva-
lions of Gods service than over the
slavery of Pharaoh, though as a mat
ter Of fact the man in Egypt does not
have bread to the full" John Alb,
Eccl is. Truly Moses and Aaron
had a task on their hands for "the
whole congregation murmured." They
had to bear the brunt of it all for they
were Gods visible representatives
Cps. 69:9; Rom. 1879. Human ma
ture is ever the same. Rather to die
by the hand of Pharaoh with full
stomach than 20 1--we in a freedom
which was accomplished by any priva-
TORS. The trouble was that having
everything done for them they lacked
that moral backbone, that f1xedness 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.
II. DeliveEance, wv. 40. God an
swered their grumbling with a most
gracious promise. He met their bitter
cry with bounteous provision of
bread That they might know it was
he who provided, God said 81 will rain
bread from heayen." But to guard
against oriental improvidence or ex-
cess, they we're directed to gather a
days portion for the day ". 4 marg)
This provision was also to be test
| to see if 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 W. 10, 20. To hoard is to lose, to
use is to increase, Prov. 11:24, rs.
To hoard wealth, whether it be tenn
poral or spiritual, is to distrust God,
and it was this very distrust which
God was combating. It was super
natural gift and was type of Christ,
John 6: 31-33, IS. The mama sustain
| ed life for a day at time; he, Christ,
gustains forever, John 6:58. 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 OF
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
vessel with mama as a visible con-
vincing proof ". 32). Nor did this
supply fail as long as it was needful,
". 35, Phil 4:19.
Ill. 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 mamma. The mighty God who
brought them out of Egypt has again
shown his power. The mama was to
teach them that ''lnan does not live
by bread alone but by every word that
proceedeth out of the mouth of the
Lord" Deut.. So, 8. Do not lose time
specializing upon what the mama was
like, simply read w. 1887 and Num-
l1:7, 8. 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 as
today some who profess to be Chris
tians are not satisfied with Christ. As
against these feelings of delight there
must have been sense of rebuke ".
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 Islaelites 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 LORD s
feeding tie multitude. He is able 10
provide for the physical, and also 70
satisfy the deepest spiritual needs OF