THE KING'S BUSINESS
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IV. T he R edemption : 1. Passover Blood. 2. Passing the Flood. 3. Provision of Food (atonement, baptism, suppliés of grace). V. G race or W orks . 1. Liberty (until the law note that the Lord did not reprove
the people but patiently “bare” them and bore with them). 2. Law (in accepting which they “fell from grace,” the liberty wherewith Christ had made them free. Gal. 5:1). 3. Lapse (they broke, the law and made the golden calf their god).
The Fourth Quarter LESSON I.—October 5.—M oses ' C ry tor H elp .—-Num. 11:4-33. G olden T ext : Love envieth not, love vauntetk not itself, love doth not behave itself unseemly. —1 Cor. 13:4, 5.
I. T he C ourse of E vents . —Num. 9—10. 1. The Second Passover. —9:1-14. One year at Sinai. Passover anniversary. Cere monially defiled men excluded. A sub sidiary Passover provided. The provision perpetuated; called “The Little Passover.” No formal defilement prevents Christians— but sin. An immediate part in the feast may be had (1 John 1:7-9). If an Is raelite felt unfit from physical defilement, shall Christians go on in forms of fellow ship uncleansed, unconfessed, unrepent ant? 2. The Cloud of Presence. —9:15-23. The Cloud and Fire abode on the Tabernacle (see Exod. 40:34-38). When it rose they broke camp; whither it moved they march ed; where it rested they pitched the camp. This is the way of the Spirit and the Church. We have the Guide, and the guid ance if we seek it, and obey it (Prov. 3:6). 3. The Silver Trumpets. —10:1-10. Gos pel types: Gathering the assembly; an nouncing the march; sounding alarms; pro claiming the atoning sacrifice and the joy ous festival; spreading glad tidings (1 Thess. 4:16; 1 Cor. 15:52, cf.). 4. The Journey Renewed. —10:11-28. The national organization complete—with civil and .religious code and cult,—the leaving Sinai, the Cloud and camp moved on to ward the land. So the Church was school ed in first principles before it moved to the conquest (Acts 2-15), and so the soul before it finds its. rest (Heb. 6:1-3). Is
rael did not foresee the long delay with its spiritual fluctuations-on account of unbelief and a lack of courageous zeal (Num. 14: 1-45). History is repeated in Church and individual (Heb. 4:11). Thé distribution of responsibilities and order of the march illustrates 1 Corinthians 12:7 ; 14:33, 40. God is not the author •of confusion but order. 5. Hobdb Joins Israel. —10:29-32. Moses saved his brother-in-law. “Come,” he said, “with us, and we will do thee good. Je hovah will give, and thou shalt share.” Hobab hesitated, Moses persisted, “Leave us not, I pray thee,”—good evangelist he was. When Hobab saw that he would not only get good, -but have opportunity to do good, he consented. Hobab was a Gentile. Moses realized that Gentiles should be fel low heirs, fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God (Eph. 2:19). Why did they need Hobab for “eyes,” with the Pillar to guide? Men may be co-work ers with God (1 Cor. 3:9). Hobab knew the region, the obscure but verdant vale: the hidden springs; the secreted wells of the Arabs. The Spirit was the Pilot, Hobab the man at the wheel. II. M oses ' C ry for H elp . —11:4-33. 1. The People Murmur. —vs. 1-3. God’s mercies are boundless (Ps. 86:5). Man is not worthy of the least (Gen. 32:10) yet never satisfied with the best. The Lord hears them that cry unto Him (Ps. 107: 10), and shall He not them that criticize Him? And rightly His anger is kindled
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