The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1919-02-06
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Especially Prepared For Readers of
The Republican.
SUNDAY. FEBRUARY 9.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9.
Jethro's Counsel. Exodus 1871 81.
Read chapter II.
Bear We one another's burdens, and
so fulfil the law of Christ. Gal. 6:2.
U. S. WRIGHT.
On TIE ROAD TO REST.
Peace came into the hearts of the
marching throng with the realization of
Gods supplies for the way. Their
bread was assured. Anxious care for
. the journey was at an end and they
faced forward once more with the pros
pect of rest ahead. Rephidlm, Places
of Rest, was the attraction toward
which Moses led them for amid the
towering cliffs colored like fantastic
ralnbows there stretched out lateral
ravines within which were cool streams
and pasture for the flocks No doubt
he had led his own flock there many
times and all eagerly looked for the
hours of leisure. But there came the
surprise of finding the way blocked by
otherti who wished to get the benefit of
that same rest spot. Halted on the
Waterless outskirts on the land of de-
sire they doubted whether Jehovah was
really leading them. but thirst was
quenched as easily as hunger and they
faced their haven with new determine
ton. Not rest but struggle was to be
theirs. This is the great surprise of
life for when we have gained a bit of
leisure temptation leaps at US as it
never did in our hours of work. Man
does not fall while busy but afterward.
When the days toll is ended the saloons
fill, brothels prosper, crime breeds.
Here comes our vital problem with the
passing of the prohibition amendment
for .Napoleon's maxim still holds, ITO
conquer is to replace" We must plan
to fill that new leisure with satisfying
things for the destiny of America will
be decided in our Rephidim as Israel's
was in hers. Peace has her problems
no less greater than war. Amalekites
throng both Versailles and Washington.
Church membership whose rest we
sought proves battle ground instead.
Even loves garden hides a sword.
THE WINNING OF REST.
The fierce warriors of the desert dis
puted lsrae's possession of the springs
and grass. The challenge was accept
ed and men were picked for battle.
''The Lord will fight for you" had been
the assurance at the Red Sea; now it is,
Choose out men and 60 out, fight with
Amalek." God made the world and
then said, to man, "Subdue it. " Chrlst's
Calvary and Easter He wrought alone;
afterward He said, Build these into
your own life and into the life of your
world" Amalek began the fight for
we need often to.be prodded into our
possessions. 1t was Germany that
changed the punctuation in the SEN
tence, 1--WE are too proud to fight" in
to I'VE are, too, proud to fight" But
more than the sword was needed for
Moses upon the hill with his hands lift
ed Godward in prayer for the men who
struggled below shared all the pains of
battle. The American soldier who tells
the story of seeing an officer with the
eagle OF General upon his worn uni
form kneeling for three quarters of an
hour upon the floor of battered church
within the lines and upon following him
into the open finding it to be Marshall
Foch came face to face with another
Moses fiinging forward a line of men
that stretched from Flanders to Pales-
tine and praying their movement into
victory. Haig and Pershing, Lincoln
and Washington won by the Bonded
knee as much as by the crooked arm.
Both prayer and sword are needed in
winning rest.
THE UNBURNING BUSH.
Having obtained possession the oasis
visitors flocked into camp. Jethro came
with the wife and children of Moses
who had been kept safely thru all the
days of perilous movement and they
had royal welcome. All the story of
the experience of the way was told and
the camp fires must have died long ere
it ended but Jethro was brought to
open praise of Jehovah. Then he offer
ed the sacrIfical lamb and a great com
pany shared with him in his sacrifcal
meal. In Bereham's striking phrase
Sermons and sandwiches lie close to-
gether." Afterwards he watches his
son-in-law act as Judge over the af-
fairs of the tribes and spend his days
in hearing and settling their differences
and their inquiries as to Gods will. The
shrewd old shiek offered his advice and
suggested a sharing of these duties
with others among the men of Israel.
And Moses listened and new chapter
was written in the legislative life of
the people. in the book of national de-
velopment and in the records of de-
mocracy. Moses had cleared his eyes
enough to find Gods message an un.
blazing huSh thu If uoe onl,, n do.ort