The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1926-09-30
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1926.
ISRAEL JOURNEYING To-
WARD CANAAN.
Numbers 10:11-36.
Come thou with us and We will do thee
goOd.-Numbers 1929.
THE YEAR BOOK.
Genesis and the family, Exodus and
the Church, Leviticus and the school
book bring enc to the story of teach
ing in Numbers. 1t is exactly the
order that one expects and is sign
of the wonderful care with which the
Bible has been put together. There
is unity in all its pages, but there is
orderly advance as well. The book OF
Numbers has its name from the num-
behring's of the Israelites at its be-
ginning and at its close. 1t divides
itself into three sections; the prepa-
ration for the advance made at Sinai
following their passover celebration in
the spring after their leaving Egypt
and included within the first ten chap
tiers, the wilderness of Paran cover
ing thirty-eight years Of varying ex-
periences in chapters II to Fl, and the
march from Kadesh to the Jordan in
the remainder of the book.
This school term starts with what
we always find: an enrolment of pu-
pills matriculating in the class. Again
at the close of the session there is
another listing to determine how
many have stuck through the course.
And all that lies between may well be
the record found in the Year Book of
the class. For it is the gathering up
of varying experiences along the way,
of directions given that supplement
earlier settlements, of changes in the
faculty and such things as would be
of permanent interest to later schol-
ars in the School Of God. There had
been vast changes wrought by the
stay at Sinai and standards had been
set up that were to be long unreached
but they were to be goals toward
which advance might be made. Forms
into which the religious and social life
was to be poured had been fashioned
and motivation had been provided for
their doing. Now we get the account
of the dedication of the tabernacle
and the arrangement of the marching
parties. The sense of Presence rested
upon the whole assembly, for God
had grown very near during those
days, and now the Tent of Meeting
kept its cloud and fire, a perpetual
sign of Coda whose word they moved
or stayed.
THE GUIDE OF THE DAY.
God was leading. That was the
outstanding thing in the history of
these Israelites, as it is the necessary
thing in any great movement today.
America was born under the deep
rooted conviction that God was lead
ing His people into land of prom
Use where they might build homes
and rear churches that gave free
dom for the whole life. Slavery van
ished from the lagal phrases Of Amer
lea long after it had been outlawed in
other places, but it did not bulge un-
til it was attacked as contrary to the
will of God for his children. The sa-
loon dominated our land until con-
science cried against it. That sense
of the leadership of God is the essen
tial thing in any democratic progress.
To Undue the mass of people with the
knowledge of His will, to quicken the
conscience of the crowd, to call men to
advance with God, is that task of the
Church. And Israel at Sinai learned
to look for God to make His will
known. They had grown better ac-
quainted with Him and were watching
for His advance. Then came the day
when there was no longer question of
what was necessary to do. 1t followed
their celebration of the Passover. the
though of Gods leading was fresh
ened IN the minds of all and it was in
that high hour of quickened spirit
that the signal came 1t is ALWAYS
true of both nations and men. God
needs the attentive mind that His
orders may be perceived. So the
camp was broken up and each day
found them following the commands
OF the Eternal. There may be no
cloudy pillar for US, but there is al
ways the Guide. Out of the PRAYER
hours OF Jesus emerged the sure GER
talnty of direction for His day. It
came at His baptism in a conviction
that He was pursuing the right
course. 1t came at the TRANSPORTATION
IN the same thing. The temptation
was the illumination of memory that
gave sure guidance and the choice of
the twelve followed upon a night of
payer that illumined His Judgment.
The same spiritual guidance is offered
now as then and we may have it if
we will to follow it for che that will
eth to do my will shall know"
THE GUIDE OF THE WAY.
This was not the motley throng that
LETT Egypt setting out upon another
Journey. 1t was an ordered nrooae