Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1913-10-11

GOLDEN TExTl.aThe SPECIFICATION of
righteous man avaiieth mucn IN IT'S
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
L.eyiticus cover perhaps one or two
years, whereas those recorded in Num-
bers occupy about 3S years. Read inthis
connection Ps 95s10 and Cor. 10. 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. 1874 The other two we're
at -Hazeroth, 1915, 16, and Kadesh,
1926. This book is full of impress
i've warnings about worldliness.
Moses Was Human.
I. 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 esti-
mate of his character, 1873 Moses
had been subjected to a terrible strain,
the details of his leadership, the con-
slant murmuring of the people I'M
der this load he gave way. just as he
had previously yielded to impulse, Elk
PIP, and as he did subsequently, CHI
| 20:10-13. The IsFaelites are strik-
ing illustration of the natural discon-
| tent of the human heart Any af-
Fiction, and discomfort or privatfon,
and we forget Gods marvellous works
on our behalf. His wonderful good
ness. That God was displeased is in
/ NV hq1t 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
moment Gods sustaining grace,
Cor. 1873; Phil. ABB. The language
here used, W. 12-14, 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
| y. ~,
such thing from him. The height of
his petulance and bitterness is reach
ed when he exclaims, kill me 1 pray
thee and let me not see my
wretchedness," v. Is.
Burden Distributed.
II. Comfort and Counsel. Wv. 1913,
"a, rs. Moses had been warned not to
bear the entire burden of leadership
by his father-in-law, Jethro, Elk. 1877,
10. 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 a reliance usually brings a currse
not a blessing upon those who seek it
Jer. 17:5 God dealt in mercy wit.
Moses. Notice how gently he passe'
by this exhibition of infirmity an,
Notwithstanding this lapse, bears ties
timony to his faithfulness (12:D. Ye
he is impartial in chronicling his faults
and thereby giving us an incidenta
} and thereby giving us the truth
; What a suggestion in the words Sc
will come down and talk with thee,
yet that is the privilege of the believ
err in Christ, John 14:16, IL and 16: Ii
God calls tent meeting ". 16 R. "
but before he meets them they mus
sanctify themselves, for SO only i
one prepared to meet God, Elk 10: IL
Is, %. These people had been lus
ing for the food of Egypt even as tt
day many. who have protested to az
cept Christ are forever longing for tn
pleasures of time and sense. The
forget the bitterness of past slavery i
! the privations of the present, entir'
, ly forgetful of the goal of luxury an
freedom, Rom 10: Is, Cor. 4:17- Go
granted their request, v. Is, to the
sorrow, " 20 The whole trouble wa
then rejected the Lord v. 20 r.
The granting of material prosperit
: tends to leanness of soul, Ps. log: 1
1t frequently happens that God doe
not answer our prayers because b
: knows that to answer them actual
: and literally would spell disaster
our lives.
{ Conclusion. This lesson bring
Moses very near to us. Such +
markable man as he is he sometime
seems to be far removed from OF
4 actual experiences in life Yet as v
{ consider him faltering for momei
beneath his staggering, crushing bu
4 / Hon Of reepouSibiTify with strpng1