The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-10-07
LESSON FOR OCTOBER II.
JEALOUSY AND ENVY PUNISHED.

JEALOUSY AND ENVY PUNISHED.
LESSON TEXT--Numbers. chapter 12j
| GOLDEN TEXT-'Iove envieth not .
love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up
doth not behave itself unseemly"-I Cor
2:4. r. V.
In order the events from Sinai to
Kadesh-Barnea were: ~ The march
ing host, NJ. 1911; (2) The fire Of
the Lord at Taberah, I'LL; 60 The
lust1ng after Egyptian f1esh-pots.
liza; "a The complaint Of Moses.
11:10; go The selection of elders,
11:16; go The two irregular prophets,
11:26; I'd the quails and the plague,
1881, and 81 Sedition, chapter IL,
which forms today's lesson.
Miriam's Leadership.
]. The Accusation, wv. I, z. This,
is not the first nor the last time a
marriage has caused family quarrel.
Who this Ethiopian woman was we
are not told, though we are inclined
to believe that it was Zipporah eek.
2:2D, and not a second wife whom
Moses married recently. OF all PEG
pie we would least expect jealousy TO
show itself In this family circle.
among these the chosen leaders OF
israel. Nothing So binders the work
or God, or gives more delight to the
devil, than just such a situation as
this one. It brings confusion and de-
lay ". 5). The occasion was not.
however, 50 much the wife of Moses
as 1t was envy OF Moses (See Luke
22:24-26; I Cor. 1:11-15, and 8 John
y, 100. 1t may have been that Moses
was culpable, for no man is perfect
(Rom. 1929, but Miriam and Aaron
were not his judges. We must re-
member in this connection last Sun
days lesson wherein we had present.
ed such radical change in the form
of government. Miriam and Aaron
were DESTROYS. Of having an equal
place with Moses and because he did
a thing they could not understand
they criticised him (Rom. 14.3, 4;
Jude 81.
II. The Arrest, w. 4, s. 1.-The Lord
heard it, ". 2, c. God hears what
we say in criticism Of those whom he
has set over us. Instead of being
Jealous Of the preference accorded to
others we ought to rejoice (Phil. 2:3l.
Though we are free to admit such a
course often proves the measure of
his grace in our hearts God did not
let this matter stand nor run the
course of idle gossip. He at once,
and In person, came down to cham.
p1on the cause Of Moses ". 5. see
also 1920, 21).
He Saw Jehovah.
III. The Arraignment, w. 6-a. Je,
hovah pointed out very clearly not
only the difference between them and
Moses, but also between Moses and
all other prophets. They were proph.
cts, SO was Moses, and more. To the
prophets God revealed himself in
visions (see Eek. IL, Isa. 6:1. Dan.
S;2, Luke 1:1O, and many other SINH
lar instances, but with Moses God
spake mouth to mouth even mani
testify" that is. others heard Gods
voice speaking audibly to Moses (Ex.
1878 and 33:11). This voice was
clear and distinct, 1t did not demand
any Interpretation. Verse does not
Imply that Moses had a full revela.
ton OF the person of Jehovah. but he
did have visible manifestation Of
the similitude ("forra" R. w of Goo
John 1:1S).
w. Judgment, Wv. 0, 10. The de-
parting cloud from Of the tabernacle
was token Of Gods displeasure. Let
us. not forget that future time when
lt Will be others who will depar&
Matt. 25:4D, The lifted cloud re.
Vealed to Aaron Miriam smitten with
that most terrible of all dis.
eases. loathsome, contagious. incur
apie. Read the stories of Naamap
md Uzziah.
Aaron's Sin.
v. intercesslon, w. 11-16. Aaron
n MS appeal to Moses acknowledges
lis equal transgression with Miriam,
lis foolishness and his sin, and in
urn Moses revealed his noble Christ.
Ike character. Christ prayed for his
enemies luke 23-34). Moses was
lot overcome Of evil but overcame
'Vl with good rom. 12:12). His
prayer was an effectual one DANES
':16). Some have viewed this epi.
ode in typical light. Moses repre-
enting Christ Is rejected by his own
'eople; the Ethiopian bride as the
hurch, chiefly Gentiles; Aaron and
diriam as Jews opposed to any such
Inlon; the leprosy as divine judg.
lent upon the Jews who are inter.
eded for by those whom they oppose.
ne Christian church; Miriam shut
ut of the camp, the period of Is.
aeFs rejection after which period
be win be restored to her land and
er God in Christ Jesus.
This lesson is great teaching Of
ne jealousy OF Jehovah for those
pom whom he confers honor. We
erve him by his appointment and
VIII defend us We should think
lghly OF any service to which he
ais US and say with Paul, 81 magnify
Iine Office" God will not hold thcss
uiitiess who call in question the
isdom of his appointments or the
ne &c