The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1932-09-08
IMPROVED
lUNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
CUNDAy1
IOCHOOL Lesson
I tRy REV. P. q. FITzWATER. D. D.. Menu
/ Der Of Faculty. Moody Bible
Institute of Chicago.l
| &c. 1892, Western Newspaper Union.l
Lesson for September II
ISRAEL JoURNEYINc TOWARD
CANAAN

GOLDEN TEXT-And Moses said
unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the
Midianite, Moses father-in-law, We
are journeying unto the place OF which
the Lord said, will give 1t you: come
thou with US, and we will do thee
good: for the Lord hath spoken good
concerning Israel
LESSON TEXT-Numbers 1o:11-S6.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Following Shin.
ing Cloud.
Road.
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR
TOPIC-Camp Life in the Wilderness.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
1c-How God Guides His People.
!. Marching from Sinai at the Hand
Of Moses wv. 1929.
The nation had now grown to a
great host-the army itself was 60S,-
$50 strong. Allowing three persons to
every soldier there would be 1,810,650.
The moving of such a host required
thorough organization. The army was
organized into four divisions with
three tribes to each division. Each
tribe had a commander and an en-
sign.
1. The signal given to march ". 1D.
The lifting of the cloud from off the
sanctuary was the signal for the camp
to be broken and the march to begin.
2. The signal given to rest ". 12).
Just as the sign to march must be
recognized, so the sign to rest must
be Obeyed.
8. The commander ". 13). God
was the commander through his serv-
ant Moses.
4. The order of the march wv. H.
2S). AS they marched, the division
led by Judah went forward followed
by Gershon and Merari bearing the
bulkier part of the tabernacle. Then
marched Reuben's division followed
by the Kohathites bearing the sacred
utensils of the tabernacle. These
were followed by the divisions of
Ephraim and Dan. The ark occupied
a central position with the caravan.
u. Moses Seeking the Help Of Ho-
bah wv. 29-32).
Hobab was a shrewd child Of the
dessert. Moses therefore thought that
his knowledge would be helpful. The
children Of Israel, however, were 60
ing forth under the guiding care Of the
Almighty. Surely he could be trusted.
It Is a sad thing, indeed, when God
is dwelling in the midst of the people
that the one whom God had set over
them should seek the wisdom and
guidance of a man. There seems to
be no doubt as to the grave mistake
which Moses made in this case, but 1t
is quite certain that he was actuated
by a proper motive. Moses made
double plea before Hobab:
I. 1--WE will do thee good" Moses
had faith in Gods promises to Israel
and could we'll assure Hobab that good
would come to him by identifying him
self with Gods covenant people. All
Christians can say to sinners, Come
thou with US and we will do thee
good" Hobab's reason for refusing
the invitation Of Moses was his love
for his kindred and home.
2. "Thou mayest be to US instead Of
eyes" Moses still insisted that Ho-
bah should go along, not only for the
good he could get, but for the good
he might do. The sinner should come
to Christ because he needs salvation,
not primarily that he may be Of some
good by joining with Gods people.
Hobab seems afterward to have yield
. ed to the entreaty of Moses Judges
1910.
III. Marching to Canaan With the
Lord as Leader wv. 1886.
Even though Hobab did 60 with
Israel we never hear of his leading
the people. Observe:
i. "The ark of the covenant Of the
Lord went before them" ". 33). The
ark, the symbol Of the divine presence,
moved out Of its place in the midst of
the camp and took its place at the
head. It went before them in the
three days Journey to search out a
resting place for them.
2. The cloud Of the Lord rested upon
them ". 34). This was an indication
that God was not only leading, but
governing and protecting his people.
8. The Lords vindication wv. 35,
36). Moses unbelief brought reproach
upon the Lord. This action on the
part of God INDICATED his leadership.
God is the actual and only suffi-
cient leader whose heart is never
faint, who never sleeps. Moses gave
recognition to this act of God in iden-
tifying himself with his people. When
the ark set forward he exclaimed,
"Rise up, Lord. and let thine enemies
be scattered: and let them that hate
thee flee before thee; and when it
rested, Return. o Lord, unto the
many thousands of Israel" When we
fail by unbelief, may we, like Moses,
quietly and graciously accept the re-
buke Of the Lord and give him recog-
milton as our leader.