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T h e K i n g ’ s B u s i n e s s
August 1932
Here the ark was the leader, because the ark was the representation o f God. It seems that while ordinarily the ark re mained in the center o f the camp, when journeys were taken, its place was at the head o f the march, seeking “out a resting place for them.” Thus it was not the abil ity o f Moses but the Lord’s guidance that found the proper resting places for Israel. In this we see the patience o f God with His people, always going before them, even though He knew they were a stiff necked and rebellious people. Having brought them forth from Egypt, He would not leave them to find their own way through the wilderness but would go be fore, seeking out resting places for them. And thus He leads on today. Having res cued us from the bondage of Satan, He goes before, day by day, seeking out the good places for us to rest in, and main taining us in the journey until, at last, we shall see Him face to face. Perhaps nowhere else in the record of Israel is the graciousness, goodness, and compassion of God with His people so markedly manifested as in His dealings with the people in their journeys through the wilderness. Even when they turned from Him again and again, His continued grace and goodness followed them through all the years. This is a picture of His unwearied patience and sufficient grace for His people today. W e are no better than Israel o f old; we try His pa tience ; we turn to our own ways; we com plain o f His providences; and in every way, we vex Him as Israel did. But the same unfailing grace follows us as fol lowed them. . “And the cloud o f the Lord was upon them.” This speaks of the protecting care o f God over His people as they journeyed from place to place. The burning sun of the desert would quickly have depleted their strength and dried up the springs o f their enthusiasm. The cloud extended over the whole congregation, from the place of the ark at the head o f the march to the last and feeblest child in the rear. The cloud spread out like a huge umbrella, warding off the rays of the sun and thus offering protection for the people through all their-wanderings. This a picture o f the Lord’s protection o f His own today. While they do not need the physical protection from the burning rays o f the sun, there is need for protection from the fierce attacks o f Satan and the world. These attacks are ever present, and the child o f God needs the protection that only the “cloud” o f the Lord can offer. And we should remember that the protection is found only in the line of the Lord’s path, but walking there in, we can confidently look for all needed care. While it is true that the Lord never leaves our path when we leave His, it is only in His path that we find the over shadowing o f the “cloud.” In His path, His vigilant eye is upon us, His powerful hand is underneath us, His loving heart forms our resting place, His ample pro vision is purs for every need, and His infi nite wisdom is present to guide every step o f the way. The lesson closes with Moses’ words spoken before and. after the journey was undertaken. Before the company set out, he could say, “ Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered.” The enemies o f the people were the enemies o f the Lord Him self. What assurance this would give to Moses as he viewed whatever obstacles might rise in the path! The obstacles would be thought o f as erected against the
BLACKBOARD LESSON
days o f Moses than there is now. Yet it was none too plentiful for such a horde as was traveling with him. Hence it was the part o f wisdom and prudence for him to prevail upon Hobab, a native of that dis trict, to come with them, and to guide them on their way. Outline and Exposition With this lesson begins the period of thirty-eight years o f wilderness wander ings which was marked with human readi ness to turn from God and His provision, because o f unbelief; and by divine faith fulness, patience, and answered prayer, be cause o f the love o f God for His people. Hebrews 3 :1 to 12 should be read in con nection with this lesson and next Sunday’s. I. T he B eginning of the J ourneying (11-13). There was a definite time and a definite signal. The time was chosen by the Lord, and the signal was given by Him. There was nothing left for the ingenuity o f the people to find, either concerning the time or the sign. Today we need not be in dark ness concerning our path; God stands ready to reveal His time by an unmis takable signal. The children o f Israel removed to Paran from Sinai. Had they known it, this was in the line of direct passage to the prom ised land o f Canaan. Paran was near to Kadesh, from whence God would open the door and allow the people to enter their own land. The manner o f the beginning o f the journeying is strikingly suggestive. The Lord Himself was the director, and the human medium was Moses. “ They took their journey according to the word o f the Lord by the hand o f Moses.” How very simple and easily understood 1 Today we do not have the same kind of guidance, but we have that which is equally sure. The Lord leads us now by His Word, to give directions; by His providences, to open the path before us; and by His Spirit, to discern both the meaning of the W ord and the place of the path. No one needs err today any more than in that day. W e sometimes think it would be easier to follow a cloud which could be seen. But “ if any man will do his will [is willing to do the will o f God] he shall know” (John 7:17). This is as true today as when it was written. All that is needed is the willing heart to do what God desires, and that heart will be made aware o f the path that God chooses. When the W ord of God, and the providences o f God, and the Spirit o f God, are all in agreement, we may be sure we have the path o f God for our feet to walk in. II. T he H esitation before the J ourneying (29-32). As though considering nothing but H o- bab’s good_, Moses proposed that he [H o bab] go with Israel (v. 29). Moses knew where they were going—to the promised land—but he did not know the way. He knew, however, that if linked with Israel, there would surely be good that would come to Hobab, because the Lord had “ spoken good concerning Israel.” Thus we, too, may promise good to all who will journey with us, because we know that God has promised good for us. This is a favorite text to bring others into fellow ship with ourselves as we journey to the place o f which God has spoken. But we must be careful that we see what really
underlies the seeming solicitude of Moses for Hobab. Moses was thinking not so much o f Hobab’s good as of the good of Israel. But Hobab, though related to Moses by marriage, was a Midianite and a dweller in desert places. He would not at first accept the invitation, but announced his intention of returning to his own people and his own land. Whether he intended to defi nitely cut off relations with Israel is hard to tell. The later story appears to suggest that he did finally accompany Moses, but o f this we cannot be certain. A fter Hobab’s refusal, Moses spoke plainly and revealed that the real reason that he wanted this man to accompany them was because of his value to Moses (v. 32). But why, we might ask, should Moses desire the aid o f Hobab, when he had God’s promise o f guidance? The an swer is found in the human desire to have something seen to rely upon rather than something unseen. Hobab could be seen, but God could not. It is difficult for us to walk by faith and not sight (2 Cor. S : 7). And yet we are never really content until this difficult lesson is learned. Moses implied that the eyes of Hobab would be better than the eyes of God. The “Hobab” that can be seen always looms larger and appears more substantial than the God whom we cannot see. Without question, Moses should have had faith' to believe what God had said without the necessity of seeing anything. He should have had a readiness to follow, even though he could see only one step o f the way. And he should have had the spirit o f obedience that would rise at once and step out even in the dark at the word o f the Lord. But before we find fault with Moses, let us search our own hearts and see -if there is not present there also a spirit o f unbelief and reluctance to step out alone with the unseen God. III. T he S ufficiency for the J ourneying (33-36). The “ark of the Lord went before them.” Prized Above Others I assure you I would not want to be without T he K ing ’ s B usiness , for I prize it above all others. —L ong B each , C alif . I received your letter, also the sample copy o f your magazine, T he K ing ’ s B usiness , and I must say that it is the most wonderful maga zine o f its kind I have ever seen. I have sample copies o f other maga zines here to select from, and though they, too, are good, yet I much pre fer T he K ing ’ s B usiness . —K ansas C ity , Mo.
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