The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-10-28
,uE PREACHER, THE DONKEY,
THE PROBLEM.
aqa International Sunday School Les
son for Nov. 2, is "Balak" and Ba-
la,m"-Numbers 22:1-23:1O
BY William T. Ellis.

preacher ana ms message announcer
FONTS the miracle question. An
eastern magic. Still anothar faces
~Mesopotamia and the possible traces
a-hich Abraham's monotheistic faith
Ief in his old home in Haran- The
ttr,est window of all confronts the
foolish spectacle of a proud, rich
ling trying to thwart Jehovah and
his A very small window
portrays the prophet, true to his mes
SAGE. yet STOPPING in the end to sug-
rrst "A vile and heather strategem to
the enemies of Israel; and, afar, Ba-
taam dying in battle on the side of
tho Nidianites. Like many another
preacher, he did not live, up to the
truth he taught; but his message was
true. none the less.
The Man OF Mystery and Magic.
4 man Of mystery was this Balaam.
He had great fame as a wise man
of the East, a seer, a necrOmanCer.
His home was in az Hittite city, far
across the desert, on the other side Of
the EuphrateS. One is tempted to
diereSs here concerning magic in the
East. which persists to this present
day. In the same. region, I recently
watched a fantastically-clad witch
doctor with a wand making the
rounds of the Arab village, and with
mutterings, lamentations and songs,
conjuring away the evil spirits. From
Mcsopotomia l brought home several
Jewish Incarnation bowls" of great
antiquity. which had been translated
and written about by Prot Montgom-
cry OF the University Of Pennsylvania
Museum. Balaam belongde to an old
and honored profession.
\ startling fact about this cele-
brsted BALKAN was that he had a
knowledge of the one Supreme God,
Jehovah. Now the ~Israelites had
been In a hard school down in Egypt
learning this lesson How came Ba-
laam, far away in upper Mesopota-
mia, TO possess this supreme truth
The answer Is romantic, and fraugh1
with many lessons, Balaam lived neal
Haran, the home of Abraham, who
had gone thither in obedience to the
bidding of the one true God. Tha
region IL stin filed with apochrypha
traditions Of Abraham; what is X
Ier than that Abraham's faithful wit
ness to the great truth of which h
was custodian had continued until Ba
iaam's day2 We know the uncann,
persistence Of stories and customs IL
the East. If Balaam a not com
to his knowledge OF Jehovah through
the agency Of Abraham, o else di'
be get 1t?
"bSS AAAA8 NSNNS AAC1JafS%
Forever and everywhere it is
higher office to be a man Of Go
than to be a great man among mer
IL - a loftier function to speak, with
out fear or constraint, the truth learn
cd from God, than to stand befor
Kings, loaded with royal favOrS. /
all hnal issues, the earthly potential
must seek the help Of the spiritus
messenger. Balak, King of Moal
sending In his extremity for BALKAN
the prophet Of the unseen world, is
type true to all times. ObseryaI
persons have not lost the significant
or the fact that ia the present crist
in the history Of the United State
orce a man who, by lifelong hab
N essential character, is a preacht
or righteousness The need Of tn
nour ls not for a greater array
practical politicians, but for leas
ers who see deeply into the spiritu
springs OF life.
The plight Of Balak vas simpl
me lsraelites, now near the end
their long pilgrimage, had overru
Noah. They were victorious for II
present, and their further power po
tended ill for the Moabites in Il
future. Amid the fertile fOothil
end valleys and perhaps rich pla
Just east OF the Jordan, the no
were encamped. / have person
cause to remember we'll this turb
lent region, for three years g l W
attacked by a highwayman VIII
camping there. The Jordan Is lie
mar a days march distant Nebt
mountain doomed above them. t
height from which Moses was to 6
MS own view Of Canaan. The Je'
were In an exultant mood. Balak w
correspondingly depressed. The al
or valor having failed him, he h
recourse to spiritual power: and
Ne sent a deputation Of prOmine
men on the long journey to Peth'
on the Euphrates. to purchase at a
Price, the aid OF Balaam the Sc
Como now therefore, / pray tn
curse me this people; for they
Zoo mighty for me-. for I KIN
mat he whom thou blessest is bic
ed. and he whom thou curSest
cursed"
Was BALKAN Good or Bad?