Evening star., 1915-01-16

to the fabric of society. the source 'i
our modern social weakness, like the
fall of Israel, can be traced to the love
of money that sacrifices and ne2lects re-
hgion for gold.
The fatal facility by which men forget
God is shown by the action OF Israel
whose failure to do His Will brought
upon them the Christening of the Midian-
ties. These wild Bedouin tribes, that
Israel had easily mastered during their
Journey through the wilderness. now an
nually swept across the land. destroying
the growing crops and carrying away the
accumulated a resources of their people s
labor. They left nothing behind them
when they returned to the wilderness
after their annual visits to plunder ana
punish Israel. as God had promised that
they would be, whenever they snouio
forsake Him.
Financial depression is usually followed
by a revival Of religion. When Israel had
been brought to the verge Of destitution
and want after the seventh annual
visitation OF the tribes from the desert,
they returned to the worship Of Jehovah,
seeking His protection. Up to a very
recent time plundering expeditions OF
Bedouin sheikS with their caravans ha se
visited Palestine, but they have not been
accustomed TO leave the country as
Gesolate as did the Midianites Of the
lesson The eminent German Catholic
priest. whose work as an explorer 1t
Capernaum during the last fifteen years
has contributed SO largely to our knoWl-
edge of the city wherein Christ did His
great works and deeds of mercy when in
the flesh amcng men, has the Bedouins
as his nearest neighborS. He complains
recently that they were not gentle
men," for they still retain the faculty
of helping themselves whenever they pay
him and his two servants neighborly
visit. The Washington pastors on their
recent tour. helped the lonely priest by
supplying his wants. caused by the
Bedouin thieves Israel. when driven by
despair to seek the help of Jehovah,
whom they had forgotten in their de-
votion to the worship of the gods of the
land, cried unto God and He heard their
petitions by first sending them a prophet.
who showed them how they were reap
ing the results of their idolatry. Jehovah
then showed His love for them by calling
Gideon as their deliverer.
Gideon Called.
The noblest of the Judges was sum-
moned while he was alone, secretly
threshing out his wheat In his wine
press SO as to avoid attracting the at
tention of the Midianites. They could
easily have seen him IL he threshed his
crop according to the custom of the
east. where the oxen thresh out the
grain by walking over it and drawing
a sled over the bundles that the reap
ers have scattered upon the smooth
limestone threshing floor. The toiler
working near the den or cave in the
mountains near Ferata, about six miles
southwest from Nablous. or ancient
Shechem. where his family had made
a fortress in the rocks, was uncon-
scious of being watched by the angel
of the Lord-who was none other than
our blessed Lord Jesus-when He came
and sat in Ophra under the oak tree.
Like Gideon, we are apt to be uncon-
scious of the fact that the all-seeing
eye Of God constantly sees US in our
daily tasks. We cannot escape from
His sight If we try.
God surprised Gideon, who evidently
was considering, while he prosecuted
with zeal the task of beating out the
grain with Il stick in the cramped. mar
row wine pness. the problems, perils and
possibilities of his people. with a call
to be Israers judge or liberator. Gideon
had proved his fitness for the task by
doing his best in adverse and desperate