The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-08-21
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDNSCIIOOL
LESSON
LESSON FOR AUGUST "a.
THE BREAD or HEAVEN.
ny e. o. SELLERS. Director OF Even
Ing Department The Moody Bible In
stituts OF ChicasoD
LESSON TExT-Es. isay

them. am the bread OF fs."-John sB
The Psalm OF praise (EI i5) Ia fol.
lowed by the SORROWS OF sin. After
leaving the bitter waters OF Marah
Ut:2326) the Israelites encamped for
a time at Elm w. 27). They then en-.
tered the wilderness OF sin u6:D.
This name is certainly suggestive for
II was the sin OF unbelief that lay be.
hind their murmurings.
L. Despair. w. 2, 3. We sometimes
censure the Israelites for their com
planning within a month after their
miraculous deliverance from the Red
Sea. but II We examine ourselves
closely we will not be surprised at
their lack OF faith nor at the Sayior's
delight when he discovered faith
Luke 7:D. 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 "fesh-pots Z"
They complained more over the priva
tons OF Gods service than over the
slavery OF Pharaoh. though as a mat
ter OF fact the man In Egypt does not
have bread to the full" John tl3.
Feel. Is. Truly Moses and Aaron
had a task on their hands for the
whole congregation murmured" They
had to bear the brunt OF II all for they
were Gods visible representatives
(Ps. 6s9; Rom. 1879. Human ma.
ture Is ever the same. Rather 70 die
by the hand OF Pharaoh with a full
stomach than to live In freedom
which was accomplished by any priva.
tons. The trouble was that having
everything done for them they lacked
that moral backbone. that fIedness OF
purpose. which a great principle In.
spires and moves men TO suffer and 10
overcome. The life OF slavery In Egypt
had made the Israelites craven.
Gods Answer.
". Oeliveranee, w. 40. God an
swered their grumbling with a most
gracious promise. lie met their bitter
cry with a bounteous provision OF
bread. That they might know II was
he who provided. God said Il will rain
bread from heaven" But TO guard
against oriental improvidence or eI.
cess, they were directed to gather Q
days portion for the day ". 4 msrgD
This provision was also to be a 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 w. 10. 20. To hoard is to lose. to
use is TO increase. Prov. il:24. rs.
To hoard wealth. whether II be tenn
poral or spiritual. Is TO distrust God.
and II was this very distrust which
God was combating II was a super.
natural gift and was type OF Christ.
John 6:3i-33. IS. The mama sustain.
ed life for a day at a time: he. Christ,
sustains forever. John 6:5s. Notice.
God did not place the mama In their
mouths. each must gather. apprc.
pirate. for himself. 80 also must they
who feed on the bread OF life, Christ
Jesus. and as they were to gather
daily, 30 also must we feed anew
each day on Jesus. Matt. 6:li.
Visible Proof.
That the Israelites might realize
fully that Moses and Aaron were not
some trick OF necromancy. or
taking advantage OF some botanical or
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 we're commanded TO I'LL |
4 vessel with mama as a visible con.
proof ". 32). Nor did this |
supply fail as long as II was needful.
'. IS. Phil. 4:i9.
III. Delight. w. tt-1e. What emo |
lions must have flled the hearts OF
The Israelites when at evening they
beheld the quails and In the morning
he mama The mighty God who
brought them out of Egypt has again
shown his power. The mama was TO
each them that man does not live |
by bread alone but by every word that
out OF the mouth OF the
Lord." Deut $50, 3. Do not lose time
'peoulating upon what the mama was
Ike. simply read w. 1897 and Mum.
1:7. 8. Strangely enough not all
we're satisfied with the bread from
heaven Mum. 2i:0 but they had to
at II or die. Some cried out for the
God OF Egypt. Mum. 1i:6. 81 even as
oday some who profess to be Chris
ians are not satisfied with Christ As
Igainst these feelings Of delight there
must have been sense OF rebuke ".
y when God through Aaron com
handed the Israelites to come near
'efore the Lord"
w. The Teaching. The gift OF the
mamma taught the Israelites that they
must depend upon God. Man not only
leeds spiritual relationship but mate
hal sustenance for the maintenance
4 his life
The words OF the golden text were
poken In connection with our Lords
eeding the multitude. He is able to
'royide for the physical. and also to
atisfy the deepest spiritual needs OF
II who put their trust In him.
1T Is usually not so much the
,reatnaaa nj our trouhla Az tha littla- |