The Red Cloud chief., 1913-10-23
LESSON FOR OCTOBER 2e
SIN OF MOSES AND AARON.


LESSON TEXT-Numbers co:,-1S
GOLDEN TExT-'tet the words Of my
mouth and the meditation Of my heart,
be acceptable In Thy sight. o Jehovah.i
my rock and my redeemer." Pa. 1914
Forty years have passed since Isreal
its fatal mistake Of diso-
bedience. This lesson Is a three-sided
picture. A murmuring. blindly DISC
3edient people; God. the righteous di.
rector Of the affairs Of men: Moses
and Aaron. the divinely appointed but
sorely tested leaders Of the people.
!. The peoples petition, w. 1.s-The
name Of this place was Meribah w.
13). which means strife. II was not
the fault of God nor the desired lead.
ings Of Moses that brought these peo-
pie TO this place. Forty years Of wan.
dering seemingly had not taught them
this lesson. Many people accuse God
when they themselves are to be
blamed for the evil that comes upon
them. James 1:13.15. What q terrible
sin ingratitude IL and how incredibly
uh6i otCiui SuSoc pCVpic oIc.
Their Usual Plan.
u. Gods Plan, w. GO. Moses and
Aaron followed their usual. and the
wisest plan Of taking their difi,culty
to God. Separated from the people
they throw themselves upon their
faces before him and he graciously
manifested himself unto them and
gave them explicit directions ". 81.
other times M~-es had had this same
experience. ch. 14:5; 1874, Eek. 1874.
etc. It Is an inspiration to recall the
multiplied times God has used these
common agencies In the hands Of his
consecrated servants to work his
mighty deeds-an ox.goad. a boys
sling, q lamp and q pitcher, few
loaves and two small fishes.
~. Moses and Aaron's Pride, w.
els. These servants began very prop
erly to carry out Gods instructions.
They took the rod from God. "as com.
manded" ". 81. They gathered the
people together in the right place "be
fore the rock" But then began their
failure. Some may plead extenuatins
circumstances or great provocation
But Moses. for he takes the place Of
leadership. made fourfold mistake
which was too serious to be over
looked or to 60 unpunished. ~ He
deceived the people. He had just
come from "tent Of meeting" ". 81
and, - heretofore. the people expect
ed some message from Jehovah
whereas he gave them not Gods
words. but those Of bis own coming
This ought to to warning to minis
ters and teachers. viz, that the people
have q right to expect from their God
called and instructed leaders. his
word. not the opinions Of man MOI
the wisdom Of the sages.
Considered Them Rebels.
Moses in his pride separated him
self from the people. He assumed
q 'holier.than thou" attitude. He
looked upon the people, over this line
Of separation, as being rebels, and God
will not allow Christian leaders tC
hand out admonition upon a platter
of anger. (3) He took the glory tc
himself. This was more serious still
and was In direct violation of the
spirit OF those laws he had received
upon the Mount, Elk. 20:5. Must w
fetch you water" Ia quite differen
from "Thou shalt bring them forth
This is that which has set aside man!
Christian workers. We must not leaf
to our own understanding nor fail Il
acknowledge that It Is God that work.
and to him be the glory. Look vi
Gen. 40:S: Dan. 2:2S.30; Acts 3:12.16
]. Cor. 81. az Moses smote th'
rock. God had told Moses to "speal
unto the rock" ". 81 whereas h'
smote the rock as though the powe
were in the rod or the strong arm
back Of the rod. Exact obedience 4
expected by God and to do anything
else 10 to doubt his power. to refiec
upon his word and to draw attention
away from him and upon ourselves
Our attention has been called to tn
fact that on Q previous occasion. Ez
1875. 8. God had commanded Nose
70 smite the rock. that the rock sul
gests Christ II. Cor. 1850, that he wa
to be smitten but once and thereafte
nearly q word Of prayer would brin
forth water. see Luke 11:13. No ma
10 essential to Gods plan though God
plans are always worked out throug
men. When men fail to see thi
God speedily sets them aside and al
points other leaders. Moses an
Aaron fell through unbelief ". Is
and Moses is compelled to give up hi
place OF leadership and is not allowe
to enter the land Of promise thoug
graciously granted view Of IT, (Deu
3:2326; 32:49. 80: 34:D. Nose
"spake unadvisably with his lips.
Moses had also to suffer for Israe
~. The chief points. There ar
three great teachings In this lessor
The wrong Of having q provoke
spirit, one contrary to that Of tn
God Of Mercy and Grace. II is har
to learn that God Is hindered by thos