The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-01-12

49, 11dh HoS II IIS
nina as l talked last night on a late
tram with a friend who is the execu.
1--WE officer Of a charitable society He
mad been attending a meeting where
IN experts had fearlessly and thor
ouShly discussed the problems of I'M
employment and poverty. The inn
menslty of the problem, and it's APP
conditions, was So weighing upon his
spirit that he was crying, with Sid
IF Jehovah is with US, why then
mas all this befallen us?'' Belgium
and the other countries at war might
Wen ask the same question.
Everywhere and always this uue2>
tlon q perplexed thinking people.
1t is the problem of evil in Eden.
Why should the godly suffer? TIL
Book Of Job deals with it, the Psalms.
the prophets and the New Testament
recur to it. At least his much we
may learn from the present story:
God does not want us to sit supine
and effortless. like Moslems, in the
presence of evils that Cypress us. Not
resignation under the ills of life, but
heroic effort to master them. is His
program. Gideon was not hidden by
JehoVlah's messenger, to be content
with his lot; he was melted TO rise
up and throw off the Midianite
yoke.
Equally, a just God never meant
that His children should be crushed
into lnactiOn by the weight OF social
injustices and expressions that bow
who believes that the function of re-
llg1on is to teach poor men to be
content with their lot and to be
dOcile under the actions of their in
dustrial and political superiors
does not know enough about the ways
of God with man to realize that he
himself is eXcoriated with some OF
the most clustering words in Holy
Writ. The word of Coo is clearly OF
the side of the social reformer
Jehovah plans better things for tbs
human race than it yet has found
His is still to Gideons t
rise up and deliver the people. Thi
lesson may quite properly be cOnsid
ered as n upon social justice.
Cautious. But Not CowardIy.
In several respects. Gideon is
good example for all reformers. Par
ticularly suggestive is his caution
He did not run rashly into erea
tasks, nor accept the conclusions 0
the hrSt radical he heard. A modes
man ana cautious. he made sure O
his commission and his call. l recall
a certain rich young woman who de
cided that she must go into CHART
work, abandoning her aged father
who sorely needed her care. He coul,
not understand why she deserted hin
saying that he would willingly hav
brought all the sick and poor tina
h could attend out TO their estate
II only she WOul stay by her father
That rash young WOrnan was NOR
; sentimental then sensible; becaus
her friend was called to live in tn
! slums, was no sign that she herse.
4 should fOrsake a clear duty for
predetermined mission.
Gideon asked three signs OF Jeh
G yah, one, the acceptance by fire OF h
f offering, and the other the victim
: Of a bunch OF fleece by dew on a dr.
floor night, n the keeping d.
g Of the fleece on a wet floor the ne.
G night. The signs were given. Go
g is always willing TO make His wi
s. clear to a sincere soul that seeks
G know it. He never sends forth Il
= servants without credentials.
Assured of his call, Gideon dare
4 incur the wrath Of his family ar
4 neighbors, by destroying the heathe
O symbols that had been set up und'
y the sacred tree. For CanaanitiS
:dOlatry q become mixed with II
" pure worship OF jehovah. This W:
IsraeIs besetting sin. God used Il
= MidianiteS mo Canaanites as SCourg
; for the backs of his disObedient 81
, rebellious children. He was ev
= insisting that he and he alone, mu
- have the place OF worship in the ii
- Of his chosen people.
y SO Gideon, as commanded, destro
IL ed the altar OF Baal and the AShera
"a using them to make a fire for
Is Offering to jehovah. h neighbC
a. threatened the young mans life +
n this; but the soldier in service +
We God counts his life not a prize to
retained, il it's possession Games !
tween him and duty. The very for
tude and nobility with which Glide
n came through this ordeal, prov
" him a leader to whom his les;
as brethren would rally. The man "
heeds the voice of God is the o
whose voice other lnen follow. NJ
on