The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-03-05
HAS LIVING MESSAGE
Story Of the Wandering OF the
Israelites Conveys Meaning
10 Us Today.

III
! Testament that SO many OF its most
beautiful incidents contain an eternal
principle III ls Is the reason why.
through all phases OF religious opin-
iOn, u still brings TO u n message
spiritually true. and that message
comes fresh. as with the dew OF tho
earlier day. yet vivid With the un-
changing reality OF It's constant appeal
70 the heart aud conscience Of man
kInI Undoubtedly you will admit
that this IL the case with the great
typical narratives. as IL 10 with many
OF the minor events. recorded IN the
Hebrew Scriptures Whatever our
varying human theology may make OF
II. they bear within them that seed
Of ia mortality which has preserved
and will preserve God given innu-
ences. as primal sources TOT the
higher life OF man
Such points We surely hnd ia the
memorable story OF the wandering OF
the lsraclites after they escaped from
Egypt ull a. last they reached the
land OF Canaan II 10 story not
only picturesque aud beautiful Ia
Itself but With a great meaning for
faith aud Twins message today.
a more human story We can hardly
ind. nor one that more steadily sug
gcsts It's parallel In our ordinary ex-
perience Of life How like ourselves
those faron people we're Forget
their strange speech. their curious
dress. their unfamiliar Ways. forget
the desert setting. the oyer.archins
eastern shy they remind US OF our
common ancestry they compel US 10
reflect how little time aud place AZ.
feet our common human experience.
because In the tumult OF their
thoughts Is the same contradiction OF
trust and OF fear. OF patience anS OF
hurry. OF faith and ~ unbellef. which
still vexes us all No doubt their
experience was specially trying. but
II served. as II Was intended. TO bring
out their weaknesses. that through
their weaknesses they might be made
narrative Of the childlike swaying OF
their feelings from the strong simple
ity Of strong confidence In God to q
faithless repininE against his dealings
with them Yet through all this con
iiict Of human emotion. there came q
steadying influence. consciousness
which was long after expressed In
sacred song. that they were committed
to him who would surely lead his
people through the wilderness. for
his mercy eudGreth forever
Best Of All Guidance.
Yet this leading OF which We read
VAS not exactly such as we in eur
narrow human way would look for
and expect For instance. II was not
that kind OF thing which We 80 often
Wayering direction toward a definite
goal II was rather. We in our Ian.
guage would call, a moral and spiritual
guidance from God yet 1t Was none
The less real and none the less con
slant Every day brought the assur-
ancc. every night confirmed IT, that
the Lord vas their guide lie took
not away the pillar OF cloud by day.
nor the pillar OF FIRE By night. from
before the people. As sure as the sun
rose over the mountain crest. with It's
promise OF new life and beauty. so
surely seemed that presence OF God.
yelled as In a cloud. to permeate the
ranks OF that wondering. wandering
company As sure also as night de
scended and thousand stars looked
down on their silent tents. 80 surely
did that presence seem TO blaze forth.
Illuminating through the surrounding
darkness the path by which they
must go.-Rev. A. W Wallace. D ID