The Brinkley argus., 1913-08-22
INTERNATIONAL. S[JqNSCIlOOL LESSON
 10S~c -
LESSON FOR AUGUST "A.
THE BREAD OF HEAVEN.
<By E. O. SELLERS Director of Even ing Department The Moody Bible h. stitute of Chicago)

THE BREAD OF HEAVEN.
 LESSON TExT-Ex 16:2-15.
 GOLDEN TEXT-"Jesus saith unto them, am the bread of life. John 6:35.
 The Psalm of praise (Ex. 15) is fol lowed by the sorrows of sin. After leaving the bitter waters of Marah (1k:2a26) the Israeltes encamped for . time at Film (v. 27). They then en- tered the wilderness of sin 06:D This name is certainly suggestive for it was the sin of unbelief that lay be hind their murmurings.
 l. Despair, w. 2, 3. We sometimes censure the Israelites for their com plaining within month after their miraculous deliverance from the Red Sea, but If we examine ourselves closely we will not be surprised at their lack of faith nor at the Savior's delight when he discovered faith (Luke 7:9). Their song. Chapter 15. 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 "fesh-pots.' v 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. Feel. 1:8. Truly Moses and Aaron had . task on their hands for "the whole congregation murmured." They had to bear the brunt of it all for they were Gods visible representatives (Ps. 69:9; Rom. 15:3). Human na- ture is ever the same. Rather to die by the hand of Pharaoh with a 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 that moral backbone, that fixedness of purposss 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. Deliverance, w. 4-10. 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 Il will rain bread from heaven" But to guard against oriental improvidence or ex' cess. they were directed to gather al days portion for the day (v. marg.) This provision was also to be test to see If they would obey him. walk in my law, or mo-" Some of them failed at the very first. and that which they attempted to keep over spoiled, rec w. 19. 20. To hoard is to lose. to uso is to increase. Prov. 11:24. 25. 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 a super natural gift and was a type of Christ, John 6:31-33. 35. The mama sustain a life for day at time; he, Christ, oustains forever. John 6:5S. Notice, God did not place the mama in their mouths. each must gather, appro- priate, for himself. so also must they who feed on the bread of life. Christ Jesua. and as they were to gather daily 90 also musta we feed anew each day on Jesus, Matt. 6:11.
 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 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 deliy- erance, they were commanded to fill . vesael with mama as a visible con vincing proof tv. 32). Nor did this supply fail as long as 1t was needful, V. 35. Phil. 4:19.
 llI. Delight. w. 11-16. What emo tions must have filled the hearts of the Israelites when at evening they beheId the quails and in the morning ' the mama. The mighty God who 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 tha, prOceedeth out of the mouth of the Lced.s Dsut.. 3. Do not lose time s apeQnlating upon what the mama was lik4 simply read w. 1437 and Mum lit 8. Strangely enough not all NGro satlsned with the bread from 5 heaven (Num. 21:5) but they had tc oat 1t or die. Some cried out for the food of Egypt. (Num. 11.5, @ even al foday some who profess to be Chris ' f1nna are not satisfied with Christ Al nen1nst these feelings of delight there ,. nm have been g sense of rebuke tv 5 n when God through Aaron com nnnnded the Israelites to "come neal hoSote the Lord"
 tW The Teaching. The gift Of the sa mauna taught the Israelites that they nut depend upon God. Elan not onl, noo6e spiritual relationship but mate tlal sustenance Tor the maintenance s q M life.
 T1lo words or the golden text wer' Uoo1ion 'n connection with our Lord'i X Xf6o6kng the multitude. He is able t
 rovide for the physical. and also t tfSfy the deepest spiritual needs 0 who put their trust In him.
 sIk h usually not so much tn,
 ootnoas of our trouble as the little # G0 of our spirits which makes u F 1aav n--Iaremv Taylor