The Red Cloud chief., 1913-08-21

The Psalm of praise (Ex. l5) is fol.
Owed by the sorrows of sin. After
leaving the bitter waters OF Marah
(lb.23-26) the lsraeltes encamped for
time at Elm ". 27). They then en-.
tered the wilderness OF sin C1G:D.
This name is certainly suggestive for
1t was the sin OF unbclief that lay be.
hind their murmurings.
!. Despair, w. 2, 3. We sometimes
censure the lsraelites for their com.
planning within 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 he discovered faith
Luke 7:9). Their song, Chapter Is.
OF deliverance has scarcely died on
their lips when a new danger con.
fronts them. viz. that OF privation
How many today fail at just this point
and think only Of the "iiesh.pots."
They complained more over the priva.
tions of Gods service than over the
slavery of Pharaoh. though as mat.
ter OF fact the man in Egypt does not
have "bread to the full" John 4:13.
Eccl. Us. Truly Moses and Aaron
had task on their hands for "the
whole congregation murmured." They
had to bear the brunt Of 1t all for they
were Gods visible representatives
Ups. 69:9: Rom. 1879. Human ma.
ture is ever the same. Rather to die
by the hand Of Pharaoh with full
stomach than to live In freedom
which was accomplished by any priva.
tions. The trouble was that having
everything done for them they lacked
tnat moral backbone. that fixedness of
purpose. which a great principle in
spires and moves men to suffer and to
overcome. The life Of slavery In Egypt
had made the lsraelites craven.
Gods Answer.
u. Deiiverance, w. 40. God an.
swered their grumbling with most
gracious promise. He met their bitter
cry with a bounteous provision of
bread. That they might know it was
he who provided, God said II will rain
bread from heaven" But to guard
against oriental improvidence or ex.
cess. they were directed to gather a
days portion for the day ". 4 marg.)
This provision was also to be q test
to see II 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 Wv. 10. 20. To hoard Is to lose. to
use ia to increase. Prov. 11:24. 25.
To hoard wealth, whether II be TEN.
poral or spiritual. is to distrust God,
and 1t was this very distrust which
God was combating. It was super.
natural gift and was type Of Christ,
John 6:31-33, 35. The mama sustain.
ed life for day at time; he, Christ.
sustains forever. John 6:5S. 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 or
archaeological 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
a vessel with mama as a visible con
vincing proof ". 1872. Nor did this
supply fail as long as 1t was needful
v. 35, Phil. 4:19.
III. Delight, w. 11.16. What emo
tions must have filled the hearts OF
the lsraelites when at evening they
beheld the quails and in the morning
brought them out OF Egypt has again
shown his power. The mama was to
teach them that "man does not live
by bread alone but by every word that
proceedeth out OF the mouth OF the
Lord" Deut 8:2, 3. Do not lose time
specializing upon what the mama was
like, simply read Wv. 1887 and Mum
11:7, 8. Strangely enough not all
were satisfied with the bread from
heaven Mum. 2l:5) but they had to
eat 1t or die. Some cried out for the
food OF Egypt, Mum. 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"
". The Teaching. The gift OF the
mama taught the Israelites 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 Lords
feeding the multitude, He Is able to
provide for the physical, and also to
satisfy the deepest spiritual needs OF