The southern news., 1943-09-11

There is a time to wait before
God, to be instructed and prepared
for holy living. There is also time
for action. When God says, Move
forward" His people are to arise
and be on their WY.
Israel, who had now been more
than year on the way from Egypt
to Canaan, had been resting for
time at Mt. Sinai, there receiving
instruction and being organized into
nation. They had set up place
of worship in their midst, and now
they were ready to go on. That is
Gods will for His people. They
are to
1. Move Toward the Goal wv. II,
12).
God had a schedule. He wanted
them to move forward on a certain
day ". ~. Since the Jewish re-
ligious year, referred to here, began
with the spring equinox, this was
about the middle of May. The dry
season was ahead-a good time to
travel.
Those who think the purposes of
God for men are nebulous and I'm
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 go.
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 go up to the promised
land should not go alone, they should
brlng others with them.
Moses, who had been in touch with
the family of his father-in-law
known both as Jethro and Raguel
or ReueD, now sees the value of
having with him his brother-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 it would be good for
Hobab if he came with them. That
was doubtless true, but it 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 church may stress too much
its value as a place of refuge and
not enough the unparalleled oppor-
tunity it affords for sacrificial serv-
ice.
When Moses changed his plea and
revealed his need of Hobab, the re-
sponse was immediate. He had
thus won a friend and helper.
III. Follow Gods Guidance wv.
1886.
God gave special guidance on this
occasion. The ark which common
ly was found in the midst of the
people, now moved out before them
1t was the symbol of Gods pres
ence. AS they went out into the
wilderness (Which Deut. 1:19 calls
great and terrible') it 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 life's prob
lens. He goes before US!
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.
In our day there are many who
are tempted to question whether
God knows of their trials and af-
fiictions. 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 peo-
pie whose God is the Lord may
count on Him to scatter their enc
mics.
All of human life is either a jour
ney or battle, and often it is both.
We must arise and make valiant
war against the forces of evil if we
are to move forward for God. But
we must recall that our foes, as
Christians, are also Gods foes.