The farmer and mechanic., 1915-10-19
THE PREACHER WHO CAPTURED
AN ARMY.
The International Sunday School Les
son for October 24 is "EliSha'S
Heavenly Defenders"
(By William r. Ellis.)

Sunday School Lesson which we are |
now studying tells a more dramatic |
tale of an Intelligence department"
than any of them. Also it narrates |
q capture more spectacular than any |
incident Of the days world war |
Most important of all, the Lesson is |
a timely reminder that when condi !
tions seem hopeless, when force and
evil appear to be having their ruth |
less way God still has unexpected re-
sources, which turn seeming evil in
to great good. In this day, when
there is added to a world war the
worst persecution of Christians that
has been witnessed for thousand
years, with atrocities rivaling those
of Nero and DiOcletian, the comfort
OF this Old Testament story is pre-
CiOus.
The Bible episode which forms the
lesson deals with the invasion of Is
rael by the King OF Syria, and how
they were thwarted by the watchful-
ness and knowledge Of the Prophet
Elisha, until at last, in climax. the
man Of God, with his heaven help
ers, led the whole Syrian army cap
tive.
Who Is the Spy?
Somebody was revealing all the
military secrets of Syria concerning
Israel whenever the king planned
n foray into the territory Of the
Jews, he found that they were fore
warned Of 1t. So he suspected a spy
in his councils. He was in the
plight of more than one of the great
military commanders of our own day,
whose plans have been revealed pre-
maturely by the secret service of the
enemy. Baff1ed again and again, the
King of Syria demanded that the spy
be pointed out.
whereupon one of his shrewdest
heutenants reported that the informer
was no spy at ALL but Elisha, the
prophet and seer, who was able to
understand even the secret whispered
in the Kings harem. Knowing no
other argument than force, the Sy-
rian King joined that large company
Of men in all ages who have sought
10 combat spiritual things by ma
terial might, and he ordered an army
sent against Elisha in the little town
OF Dothan.
Hunting the Preacher With ChariOts
Then followed a great spectacle
a host of soldiers, with horses and
chariots, sent out to hunt down one
lone man Of God! That was a com
pliment worth having, Brother Eli
sha. And you, too. Mr.. Present-Da,
Preacher, when the liquor men de-
fame you and try to blow up your
house or waylay you on a darl
night-count it far more OF a tribute
than anything the mothers in Israe
may say about your sermons. Let u
not pity the man who has made tn
forces of unrighteouSness his activ
enemy; pity, rather, the Christian
minister who has never raised
srowl or yelp from the evil pack
elisha was unruffled by the army h
knew to be advancing.
Not so his servant. When tina
young man arose early one mornin
and, with the sleep scarcely out. G
his eyes, saw the city Of DOthan en-
tirely surrounded by Syrian soldier
he collapsed in panic. alas, IN
master. how shall we do!'
Right In the midst of alarms, wit
the Syrian cohorts on every hant
Elisha took time to preach to h
helper a sermon-the sermon whic
most Of US need to hear. Fear no
for they that be with US are MOI
than they that be with them TT
prophets servant was in the plgl
of many person today who seen
wholly surrounded by evil men, ar
who can scarcely believe that &C
has majority anywhere.
Eyes and No Eyes.
Poor eyeSight was the caus
Elishas servant suffered from tn
commOnest Of all defects of vision. il
ability to see spiritual realities, al
in their due proportion. Because '
cannot see Alright we spend our liv
in pursuit Of second-rate gains al
second-rate pleasures; and we
Our hours with Second-rate deco
second-rate books, and second-ra
thoughts. This young Israelite hi
the form Of blindness which ST. Pet
later described as Seeing only tn
which is near
Open eyes would solve most Of Q
perplexities and soothe most of O
fears. So Elisha prayed that t
servants eyes might be opened, a
they were, "and, behold the mou
tain was full of horses and chari
Of fire about Elisha"
. weary ones, ye may not see
Your helpers in their downwa