The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-10-28
IN THE RELIGIOUS WORLD
What the Church Folk Are Thinking About and Doing.
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON AND YOUNG PEOPI Es
TOPICS.

IN Ill i I
ass, it never would have
seiected this perplexing passage from
the history OF srael' ~Wander:ngs for
the study OF the Sunday Schools of
the world. The tale is one for theo-
iosians 10 cudgel their brains over;
the average member of the Sunday
School will scarcely get beyond the
talking donkey, and the tremendous
contradictions which lie upon the face
of the story.
Inc FASHION IS to rail at Balaam,
as a false prophet and a hireling.
ILLUSIONS IN subsequent scriptures.
especially in the letters of Peter and
jude, are the warrant for this. To
read narrative in the book of
Number is to admire Balaam. Glow
shall we curse him whom Jehovah has
not cured?") A sheer, open discrep-
ancy is encountered in the mat
ter of the ASA nd the angel,
BALKAN had been instructed Of Jeho-
van TO go to Balak and speak of his
unwelcome message of truth, which
was quite the opposite OF what the
Moabite king wanted. Then his riding
animal baked repeatedly at an an
gel in the way. (Part Of the interest
in the story lies in the fact tina the
dumb beast could see further into
the spiritual realm than this great
prophetD Thus dramatically brought
to behold the interposing angel. Ba-
laam would have turned back, but he
was hidden to go Forward with his
message message which servant
OF God in all ages since have been
glad to quote as divine truth. Surely.
here are ~incongruities enough to puz-
zle the wits Of even the most simple
minded reader, who is content to look
up every allusion to Balaam in Holy
Writ, and let the nimble II in
glorious commentators alone.
An Un~purchasable Man.
Like every other man whose mes
sage to men is worth needing, Ba-
laam went apart in solitude When
the first deputatiOn brought him the
kings invitation. The word he re-
Ceived from Jehovah was to heed
them not. But Balak would not be
refused; he sent a larger and more
imposing delegation of princes
(churches seeking to draw a pastor
from another field understand this
t method well,) with promises Of rich
reward. We should like to feel that
, the answer represents the real Ba-
laam: IF Balak would give me his
t house full Of silver n gold, [ can
not go beyond the word Of Jehovah
my God, to do less or more"
This centre of the story can best
Q be set forth without comment in the
words Of Scripture. Only then will
y many readers become acquainted with
the famous story OF Balaam and the
e ASS.
u "And God caTae unto Balaam al
= night, and said unto him, if the mer
arc come to call thee, rise Up, &c
with them; but only the word that
speak unto thee, that shalt thou
do.
"And Balaam rose up in the morn.
ing, and saddled his ass. and wen
with the princes OF Moab. Ant
Gods anger was kindled because ~
" went: the angel OF Jehovai
placed himself in the way for an ad
Al versary against him. Now he wa:
b riding upon his ass, and his tw'
servants were with him.. n tn
. ass saw the angel Of Jehovah stand
at ing in the way with his sWort
&c drawn in his hand; and the as
turned aside out Of the a an
went nto the field; and BALKAN
way. Then the angel Of Jehova
stood in a na1Spw path between tn
Iis vineyards, a Wall being on this side
Of and a wall on that side And tn
ass saw the angel Of Jehovah, an
she thrust herAelf unto the wall, an
crushed Balaam's foot against tn
le. wall, and he srnote her again.
Oh Anu lAC dhSCA "a W.
IN further, and stood in a narrow piac'
where there was no way to tur
" either to the right hand or to tn
left. And the ass saw the angel {
lis Jehovah, and she law down unde
Balaam, and Ba1aam's anger VIZ
,st kindled, and he smOte the ass wit
al his staff. And Jehovah opened tn
u mouth of the ass, and she said un'
as Balaam, What have l done uni
lie thee, that thou has smitten me thos
ess three times? And Balaam said uni
o's the ass. Because thou hast mocke
he me: l would there were a sword
get my hand. for now I had killed the
WIS And the ass said unto Balaam, A
as not l thine ass, upon which tho
I'm hast ridden all thy life long uni
ad this day? Was l ever wont to {
SO SO unto thee? Ana he asld, Nay.
emit Then Jehovah opened the eyes
ny --- - ..-.---