The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-17
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON
For January 10 is, The Passover"
Exodus 11:1-12:36.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
At the Sign of the Blood


Even a superficial consideration of
the history of our own times reveals
strange world tides, which find their
explanation in-God. There are mani
fest movings of human life in contem-
porary events which betoken to the
discerning observer the presence of
that Spirit whose hand first shaped
the spheres, and has ever since guided
the currents of history. This is the
deeper meaning of the days news; it
is consciousness of this tremendous
fact which sobers and makes reverent
many men who have been called upon
to play an important part in the
worlds work. Every man from the
trenches brings back new conviction
that God is doing things in the earth
today.
of the great Old Testament story of
the Passover: Jehovah is in the event
The aweSome wonders of that still
celebrated night which witnessed the
birth of a new nation. were merely
evidences that then, as ever,
"Standeth God within the shadow,
Keeping watch above His own"
As Bunsen says, 'It is admitted that
the Exodus is not only historical, but
the true beginning of history for man
kind" The nation which then so dra-
matically emerged from slavery has
had the longest distinct existence of
all the peoples that have ever lived
upon earth: and even to this hour
their persistence in undiminished
identity and rejuvenated national con-
seriousness is a witness to the provi-
dence of the God of Abraham and
Moses. Remove Jehovah as a factor,
and who can explain the Jew?
Hard Apprenticeship.
More than four hundred years had
elapsed between the day when Jacob
and his train left the famine-scourged
fields of Canaan for the granaries of
Egypt. and the day when God spoke
to Pharaoh thru Moses, saying, Let
my people go" In those years the
shepherd clan of Joseph had become
great host. Their strength had
come to be regarded as menace by
the, Egyptians. who had subjected
them to onerous slavery and cruel op-
preston In the furnace of affliction
they were welded into oneness, await
ing Gods hour of deliverance.
There are no meaningless blank
spaces in life or history. The provi-
dence in all these years of bitter DESC
lation is now plain: even as we already
see great blessings being wrought by
the war When He had prepared
| Israel, and had prepared a man for
the hour, God moved for His peoples
I
seem long II striking, but it always
strikes. Like many mortals, groanine
beneath a fortune which hardly can
| be borne. Israel cried in travail and
disbursement" How long? o Lord
/ How long?" ut the dawn was surely
/ drawing nigh. even tho the night was
| a its blacklist We who are at the
daybreak of the world. and p 1e t.
glimpse the high Providences in the
war, should be revercnt before the
faith that held out thruout the mid
/ night experience.
! A Stubborn Kings Hard Lesson.
Kings do not learn easily; that IL
why their ranks have recently been sc
dramatically thinned- Pharaoh woulf
not listen to the plea of Moses, the di-
1 vine amba ssador. that the overworkec
/ Hebrews should be permitted to go of
/ for a period to worship their Deity
he who will not heed Gods pleadines
and warnings must be made to fee
His judgments. There is no escap pins
| God, who is incarnate and inevitable
/ justice. Great aggregations OF mater
I ial wealth have thought themselve:
above the law. and immune from
/ those obligations which society lay:
! upon individuals; but they have beer
brought to book. in a manner not dis
| similar from the experience of Pha.
raoh- The inevita bleness of Coo
/ should be accepted as a basal prin
| cipie by whoever seeks a lie of peace
No one can evade Him or DEFY Hin
or ignore Him The plaques of Egyp