Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1943-09-17

LESSON TEXT-Numbers 20:l.l3. 81,
10.
GOLDEN TExT-Be ye angry. and sin
not.-Ephesians $;26.
+, Sin 10 q serious matter. and even
though men in our day may not eau
IL by its real name. it Is As much
here a. II was IN the days Of Moses
i--and It 10 Just a. awfully sinful ~
ever.
| Sin Il universal: 1t appears not
only among the people. but also
among their leaders. Cots dealing
with It 10 on the basis Of greater
privilege. greater responsibility"
No leader. especially In Gods cause.
can expect special consideration Of
his weakness. He must meet God
and answer tor his sin.
! ]. fhs Unbeiief Il Ne People tvv.
l-O.
Il 10 well to bear In mind that
the people Of Israel who were now
at Kadesh-B arnea. on the border.
land Of Canaan. had been here once
before-40 years before. Here they
had rebelled against God In unbeliei
because Of the report Of the spies
Concerning the land. Because Of
their unwillingness to take God at
His word. they had been sent to
wander 10 years In the wilderness
until the complainers had died. Read
that graphic and instructive story
In Numbers l3 and IA.
Now they were back at Kadesh---
and q new generation shows that
the spirit Of unbelief and distrust
has hold on humanity. and makes
son like father.
They had run short Of water. The
spring which had served their ia
theirs on the previous visit to Kadesh
had run dry.
One would have supposed that all
the mighty dealings Of God In their
deliverances over and over again,
would have indicated the need of
faith; but they had only a wailing
criticism Of God and His leaders.
II. The Answcr--God's Power
wv. 6-8).
Moses and Aaron, now old men
but still Gods chosen leaders, took
their sorrow TO Him ". g.. 1t was
the right place 10 60, for power be-
longeth unto the Lord CPS. GELD.
Instead Of Furnishing the people
for their unbelief. God calls upon
His servant Moses to show them
that He God Is able. At word
from Moses, the rock would bring
forth water before their eyes.
Is not that the perfect answer to
all mans questioning and lack OF
faith--the revelation OF the omnipo-
tence Of God?
But Gods purpose Is defeated tat
least In a measure) by the
iii. Unbellei Of the Leaders (vv.
OLD.
Instead OF taking their place as
the servants and subordinates Of
God. Moses ana Aaron claimed that
they would provide water ". 10y.
Instead Of showing Gods power by
speaking to the rock, and His mercy
in providing for the people, they ut.
tered a rehuke; and then, by smit-
ing the rock. took to themselves the
honor that really belonged to God.
When called upon TO act for God,
they acted for themselves, and In
their own name. They used for their
own glory the power delegated to
them by God. Let us beware that
we do not fall into the same error.
Let us also note that if the pun
ishment seems severe, we should
recall that they had broken type Of
Christ Christ was the Rock. He
was to be smitten at Calvary, that
the water Of life might flow forth.
But He died once for sin q Cor.
10:4 and is not to be smitten again.
We need now only speak to Him in
faith and receive life. "-.".
/ In Exodus IT'S, 6, Moses smote
the rock. presenting the first hall
Of the type foreshadowing the work
Of Christ; now he was to speak to
1t, fulfilling the type, and In unbelief
he destroyed Gods picture or type OF
redemption. II was grievous sin.
Nv. The Acknowledgment wv.
IL, Is. II, 28).
Moses and Aaron we're not to be
permitted TO enter the promised
land, because Of their failure. No
doubt 1t was true that their depar-
ture to be with the Lord was In a
sense tar better" for them; and
yet II cannot be denied that there
was disappointment In not seeing
the conclusion Of their long and ar
duous Iabors.
The lesson Is clear. We may serve
God ing and faithfully. but that Is
not any excuse for letting down" In
our closing years. We dare not
presume. as though our intimate
touch with God and place Of leader
ship gave VI an inside track" 4
right to take II easy. spiritually or
morally.
Sin Ii always sin; and II Is espe.
cially grievous In one who has the
privilege of high position and Of
power with God.