Evening star., 1924-02-09
Sunday School Lesson

failure of any country is moral
tragedy. Progress is always condi-
toned by humanity's obedience to the
| heavenly vision. The worlds great
est need today is not for great lead
ers, but for great followers in hours
of disappointment difficulty and dis
couragement to follow the leadership
that is inspired by the presence
of the Lord and n desire to do His
will.
The liberated slaves were in no
mood to attempt a warfare With a
warlike foe. They were nearly all
The heads of the families. who had
assembled to hear the commissioner $
report. gave up in despair before they
had attempted to strike one blow for
God and their promised possessions
Lacking courage to attack the enemy,
they did not fail to criticize Moses
and Aaron. Not satisfied with nur-
muring against Gods servants, they
brought shameful charge against
Jehovah, which was an exhibition OF
their frenzy and mob spirit. More
than half Of the troubles that God s
people complain about never mate
rfalize except in their evil imaglna-
tion.
FILLED with the mob spirit" that
swept them into q rebellion, they pro-
posed to reject the leadership or the
| Lord and appoint new captain Win
| the view of returning to Egypt, where
| heavier oppression. When they show
ed that they preferred TO die as GRIM
! inals under Gods justice rather than
! to live as conquerors in His favor by
| their open revolt against HIS govern,
ment Moses and Aaron both PLEADED
with the people without success.
Joshua and Caleb tried to stem the
| tide of rebellion in vain. They pulled
, open their clothes at the neck and ex-
posed their chests in an effort to
crush the rebellion. They pleaded that
/ the nation should not rebel against
Jehovah, and urged them to eliminate
| their fears by putting their trust in
the Lord and doing His will; Their
| ing driven from the camp by the
stones of the mob, who tried to kill
| the men of faith, who revealed their
| faith in the Lord by expressing the
| courage of their convictions.
Kadesh-Barnea was a watershed in
| the history of Israel. They proved by
| their cowardice and lack of faith that
| they were not prepared for entering
| into the promised land and becom-
| ing blessing to other nations. They
had reached the door of opportunity,
but turned back to wander for about
| thirty-eight years in the wilderness.
| During that period Kadesh- Barnea re-
! manned their headquarters. The
fountain of sweet and abundant
/ water made it an oasis. The city ex-
1 lists today under the name of Ain
| kadiS.
| If it had not been for the patriotism
| ted out and Jehovah would have rais-
| ed up a new nation from the seed of
| the great leader. While the thought
| might have appealed to a grasping
| and ambitious man, Moses pray
prayers were answered. During the
| reaction that came to Israel they
| tried to capture certain sections of
| Canaan, even when warned against
so doing. They met defeat because
promised land in accordance with
| Gods will.
Every great leader has experienced
| the trials that filled Moses with sor-
| row at Kadesh-Barnea. He leads a
| community, church or country to the
parting of the ways, when they are
| summoned to follow Gods vision or
| retreat for a season. Sometimes that
| opportunity passes by, forever. Like
! Israel, when we refused to heed the
/ ture open to us, we enslave those who
sin. Israel failed at Kadesh- -Barnea
| because they were Influenced by a
materialistic view OF the land, when
they stood at the gateway entrahce
Germany and the nations associated
| with her were largely moved by ma
| terialistic conceptions. The chaos
that fills the world today can be
traced to the fact that after fighting
! for lofty ideals the allies have fol-
lowed the error of Germany and an
cient Israel. We as a nation have
not been free from the folly Of look.
| ing upon the practical side Of affairs
We have neglected to follow Christ's
commands and precepts at every mo-
danger appears let US not fail to dc
| Gods will.