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Jesus (1 Cor. 11:23-26). Easter and Christmas should be to Christian boys and girls days on which to think more about the Lord Jesus than about gifts and new clothes. LESSON FO R F E B R U A R Y 10 The Disciplines of Experience (Temperance) L E S S O N M A T E R IA L : Num . 14:11-24. G TO LD EN T E X T : "W h o m the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth” (Prov. 3:12),
For the Children A H appy F east D ay L eviticus 23:1-3, 39-43
But Moses loved this people and was not tempted by the offer of personal greatness in heading another nation. II T he P lea of M oses (Num. 14:13-19) Moses began by pleading for God’s honor (vs. 13-16). Throughout the heathen world, it was known that God had delivered this people from Egypt with the intention of bringing them into a n o t h e r l and . And it was
MEMORY VERSE: "The Lord hath done great things for us; whereoi we are glad” (Psa. 126:3). APPROACH: Do you know why we Americans celebrate the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, and other na tional holidays each year? These spe cial days are all set aside to help us remember the important things that have been done in the past in our country.
common knowledge that the Lord was in the midst of this people in the pillar of cloud and fire. If now the Lord should destroy them, the natural conclu sion of the unbelieving nations would be that “the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them.” Moses might have expressed it thus: “What will become of Thine honor among other peoples if Thou didst im plement Thy threat?” He went on to plead the Word of God (vs. 17, 18). The Lord had de clared Himself to be “longsuffering, a n d o f great mercy.” Moses well knew that God had proven Himself so to be;- again and again He had mani- ested longsuffering with this stiff-necked people, and had dealt in great mercy with their perver sity. But Moses pleaded for them as if this were a first offence. He went on to remind the Lord that this people were His by H is own choice (v. 19), and boldly pleaded for their forgive ness on the basis of the greatness of His Mercy. He was finally obliged to ac knowledge that God had often forgiven them after they came out of Egypt, but he persisted in his in tercession for pardon once
While Moses was upon the mountain talking with God, he was told that the Children of Israel should have certain feast days on which to remember all that God had done for them as He led them from the land of Egypt to the new land that was to be their home. LESSON STORY: T h e first day which God com manded the Children of Israel to keep holy was the sabbath day, the sev enth day of each week. On the first six days of the week they were to do all of their work, but the seventh day was to be a day of rest and worship. On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after the fruits and grains of their new land had been gathered, the Children of Israel were commanded to keep a feast unto the Lord for seven days. On the first day of this feast, they were to cut branches from trees, and to make from them booths, or little one- room houses, in which to live during the feast. For seven days each year, they were to rejoice before the Lord. In this way, their children and grandchil dren and great-grandchil dren would learn about the wonderful way in which God had brought them out of the land of Egypt.
The Sunday School T ea ch er ’ s P ra y e r By William Barrett Millard T HAVE my pupils but an hour a week; But every hour they hear the tempter speak. Oh, precious moments1 giving me the chance Their love oi truth and honor to enhance. I must prepare to make each moment bright. Though tempted to neglect by joys at night. And patient must I be whate'er they do, Rememb'ring days when I was restless, too. A major fault if dull the moments seem. For all things sacred then are dull, they ween. The Bible let me show in its true light. Its glowing pages to arouse delight. May Moses, Samuel, David, Peter, Paul, Be not dead teachers old, but heroes all. How can I show the wise and winning Jesus As Saviour, Brother, Friend, who hears and sees us? My task to show that Christian faith is glorious. O'er sin and shame, and even death victorious. That evil is not smart, nor sin a joke. And lawlessness the best in life will choke. Not what I say, but what I am will weigh; Inconstancy will cancel all I say. Not Sunday only, but each weekday, too. My interest in my class should follow through. The future of the class is in my hands; God, make me equal to Thy high demands.
God does not expect Christians living today to keep the feasts which He gave to the Children of Israel. But there are certain days which He has asked us to observe. His Word tells us that each Sunday we are to meet with other Christians to worship Him, to learn more about Him, and to thank Him for all that He has done for us (Heb. 10:25). We are also told to keep the Lord’s Supper, or the Communion Service, in m e m o r y of the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord
Outline and Exposition I. T he T hreat of the L ord (Num. 14:11,12)
more. What a defense! What self- forgetfulness! What zeal for the hon or and reputation of the Lord!* III. T he P ardon of the P eople (Num. 14:20-24) The plea of Moses on behalf of the children of Israel was successful and they were pardoned as he requested. But he could not save them from punishment. Retribution naturally re sults from unbelief; it is not arbi-
The Lord threatened to disinherit His people because, by their persistent unbelief, they provoked (or, despised, R. V.) Him. He declared that He would cast them off and begin over again with Moses from whom He would pro duce a greater and worthier nation.
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