Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1943-09-10

lot action. hntu Sol says, AoNc
forward" His people are to arise
and be on their way.
| Israel, who had now been more
than year on the way from Egypt
TO Canaan, had been resting for a
time at Mt. Sinai, there receiving
instruction and being organized into
a nation. They had set up a place
of worship in their midst, and now
they we're ready TO so on, That is
Gods will for His people. They
are to
I. Move Toward the Goal wv IL.
10.
God had schedule, He wanted
them to move forward on certain
day tv. IL. Since the Jewish re-
ligious year. referred to here. began
with the spring equinox, this was
about the middle of May, The dr..
season was ahead--a good time TO
travel.
These who think the purposes OF
God for men are nebulous and un-
certain, and that He has no real
plan for us. are obviously mistaken.
His plan is good and acceptable and
perfect; let US find and follow it.
We do not have a pillar of cloud
and fire TO move before us. We do
not need it, for we, unlike the Is
raelites, have Gods Word for our
guide. and His Holy Spirit as the
One who will tell every responsive
soul when and where to SO.
The important thing is to obey.
promptly and willingly, and we shall
have the blessing of God.
II. Bring Others With You wv.
29-32).
Those who 30 up to the promised
land should not 60 alone. they should
bring others with them.
Moses, who had been In touch with
the family Of h,Sa father-in-law
tknow1 both as Jttl and Raguel
kur. ne1eD. now secs be value OF
having with him his brether-in-law,
who was so acquainted with the
great and terrible wilderness
through which they were TO pass
that he could be invaluable as a
guide and helper.
In giving him the Invitation, how
ever. Moses stressed the opposite
thought--that 1t would be good for
Hobab II he came with them. That
was doubtless true. but ii was not
the right approach.
Men do not respond to the oppor-
tunity for advantage In spiritual
things as readily as to the challenge
to usefulness, The motive Of acquisi-
ton is strong, but the best folk are
not as interested in what they can
get as what they can give.
The chlsch may stress too much
its value as place of refuge and
not enough the unparalleled oppor.
tunity it affords for sacrihcial serv-
ice.
When Moses changed his plea and
revealed his need of Hobab, the re-
Spouse was immediate. He had
thus won friend and a helper.
Ill. Follow Gods Guidance wv.
1880.
God gave special guidance on this
occasion. The ark which common
iy was found In the midst of the
people, now moved out before them.
II was the symbol of Gods pres.
ence. AS they went out into the
wilderness (Which Deut. l:l9 calls
great and terrible'D 1t was as
though God Himself went before
them.
Is not this always true? The
captain Of Our Salvation" Jesus
Christ, is not One who tarries in
safety at the rear and sends up or.
ders for us to attack lifes prob
lens. He goes before usl
The pillar Of cloud lowered over
the people as though to give them
shelter from the beating sun Of the
desert God is mindful Of the road
HIS people must travel, and in His
loving-kindness provides for their
protection and care.
n, In our day there are many who
tempted to question whether
ID knows Of their trials and at
hictions. He does, and He will not
permit them to be tried beyond
their ability TO bear it.
When the ark went forward their
leader. Moses. addressed God in the
stirring words Of verse IS. The PEG.
pie whose God Is the Lord may
count on Him TO scatter their ene-
mics.
All Of human life Is either q jour.
ney or a battle, and often il is both.
We must arise and make valiant
war against the forces OF evil II VIC
are to move forward for God. Blu,
we must recall that our foes, as
Christians, are also Gods foes.
The battle is not ours, bu, Gods
and we do well to call on Him to rise
Up and smite the enemy.
Note that after the forward march
came a time OF rest. God always
gives His people an opportunity for
naeded rest