S C R I B N E R ' S M A G A Z I N E Important ... - Rparchives.org
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October 29, I9i3.<br />
A MMiLY PAPEJiH<br />
the world; and that his sepulchre might not<br />
i)e turned into a shrine, and his bones mad;<br />
relics for AAorship.<br />
III. WELL PRESERVED BO'DY. (v.<br />
7.)<br />
"And Aloses Avas a hundred and twenty<br />
vears old when he died; his eye Avas not dim,<br />
nor his natural force<br />
abated.!' Aloses' life<br />
naturally divides itself into three periods of<br />
forty years each.<br />
First as a courtier, second<br />
as a shepherd, and third as a prophet, laAvgiver<br />
and leader in -Israel.<br />
Moses outlived<br />
most of his contemporaries, even though he<br />
had had a greater burden to carry than any<br />
other man in his day. No doubt, the remarkable<br />
vitality of Moses in his old age<br />
was due to his hfe oT meekness, purity and<br />
faith. Moses' vigor in old age is an admonition<br />
to all the servants of God to strive for<br />
a gentle spirit, a life of holiness, and a life<br />
of close communion Avith God, that their vitality<br />
be not consumed, and the physical man<br />
wrecked by the Aveighty responsibilities of the<br />
office of the ministry.<br />
IV. A GREAT LAAIENTATION, (v,<br />
8.)<br />
".And the children of Israel Avept for Moses<br />
—thirty days," Grief laid hold upon Israel,<br />
and the whole nation was stirred and rent<br />
as when a great storm sweeps over a forest.<br />
The whole nation of Israel, that at tiniies had<br />
murmured and complained against him, and<br />
in a measure had at times entered into rebellion<br />
against him, was now stricken with<br />
a terrible grief, Moses, their noblest patriot,<br />
their greatest lawgiver and judge,<br />
their wisest and most tender leader,<br />
had been taken from them. They were<br />
called now upon to drink of the cup<br />
in which Avere the recollections of all his<br />
wisdom, his kindness and patience mingled<br />
with the heart aches and pains which they<br />
by their faithlessness and stubbomess<br />
had caused him. They were called<br />
to pass through the throes of anguish<br />
and sorrow of a people who have lost<br />
the presence of a great and godly leader, and<br />
who are only awakened by his death or departure<br />
to all that he has been to them, and<br />
their failure to appreciate and respect hira<br />
when with them. It was the death of Lincoln<br />
that awakened both the North and the<br />
South to the Avorth of their martyred chief.<br />
And it has not been until many a mother,<br />
lather or minister has been taken away that<br />
those who have been the subject-of their ministrations<br />
have ,ibeen awakened to realize<br />
their priceless AA-orth,<br />
V. A SUITABLE SUCCESSOR, (v. 9.)<br />
'"And Joshua the son of Nun w'as full of<br />
*he spirit of wisdom." Joshua, the successor<br />
01 Moses was honored in the privilege of<br />
t.vpifying Christ, in whom are hidden the<br />
treasures of Avisdom, Joshua received his<br />
endowment of Avisdom when Moses, by divine<br />
command, had laid his hands on him<br />
and ordained him to the office of a r,uler in<br />
Israel, He needed a rich abundance of wisdom,<br />
as he had a peevish people to rule and<br />
very shrewd enemies to overcome. Joshua<br />
had been for a number of years under the<br />
training of Aloses for leadership. It was<br />
only a step from the position which he had<br />
occupied in Israel before the death of Aloses<br />
to the place he was now called to fill. He<br />
Avas acquainted with the duties of the oflice,<br />
and the people were acquainted Avith him as<br />
a ruler. So there was no break in the civil<br />
affairs in Israel at this time. Herein is a lesson<br />
for the church, that God raises up leaders<br />
suited to take the place of those called<br />
away, but that it is her duty to take steps to<br />
prepare them for leadership before old and<br />
recognized leaders are Avithdrawn. Then<br />
Zion Avill never cease to prosper.<br />
VI, A GREAT PROPFIET, (v. 10-12,)<br />
"And' there arose not a prophet since in<br />
Israel like unto Aloses," Aloses was not only<br />
a poet, patriot, and historian, but he was<br />
also a prophet. He was the firstand foremost<br />
prophet of the Jews. He enjoyed the<br />
closest intimacy Avith God. The (Lord talked<br />
with him face to face. Thus he saw more<br />
of the glory of God. None of the other Old<br />
Testament prophets wrought such great sigms<br />
and wonders as did Moses, In all this he<br />
Avas a type of Him of whom Moses said: "A<br />
prophet shall the Lord your God raise up<br />
unto you of your brethren, like unto me;<br />
him shall ye hear,"—Acts 7:37.<br />
Eskridge, Kansas.<br />
Lesson VII, November IC, 1913,<br />
LESSON FOR THE CHILDREN<br />
By Anna Pritchard Ge<strong>org</strong>e,<br />
THE DEATH OF MOSES,<br />
Deut. 31:1-8; 32:48-52; 34:1-12,<br />
How many of you boys and girls have had<br />
friends who have died? "My father died," Yes,<br />
Elmer, and Francis' mother and Helen's sister<br />
have gone home to God, Some people are afraid<br />
to die. They think it is a terrible thing. It is<br />
terrible for bad people—for those who do not<br />
love God, but it is grand for one of God's children<br />
to be taken home to Him, When a good<br />
boy or girl dies—one who loves Jesus—they go<br />
to live with Him where there is no more pain,<br />
no sickness, and they do not tire any more as<br />
your mother did so often, Francis. Everyone is<br />
always happy and well, and all love each other,<br />
and together with Jesus they watch over and care<br />
for us till we go home to heaven too.<br />
Today's lesson is about the beautiful death of<br />
one of God's saints. Ruth, when Balak sent for<br />
Balaam to curse the Jews, had the Children of<br />
Israel crossed the Jordan into Palestine? "No,<br />
they were in the plains of Moab," They are still<br />
there in today's lesson. You remember that all<br />
the Jews who believed the false spies forty years<br />
before this time, and refused to cross over into<br />
Palesfne, were to die in the wilderness. So these<br />
Jews are the children grown up.<br />
On the table hollow out the sand for the Dead<br />
Sea and the course of the Jordan. Pile up the<br />
sand for the mountains five miles east of the Jordan.<br />
This high mount east of the northern end<br />
of the Dead Sea is Mt. Nebo. All these sticks on<br />
the plains of Moab are for the Joavs. Across the<br />
river form these stones into a square for the walled<br />
city of Jericho.<br />
Moses is a grand old man now, with snowy<br />
white locks—120 years old. Here he stands on<br />
this little hill talking with the Jews. Has he<br />
worked hard, James? Yes, he has served God all<br />
his lile and has been leading the Jews through<br />
the wilderness for forty years. Was that easy,<br />
May? "No, the Jews were always growling and<br />
complaining." Was Moses cross with them, Elmer?<br />
No, Moses was the meekest man. He<br />
only f<strong>org</strong>ot himself once. Who can tell about<br />
that? Yes, Ethel, He smote the rock for water<br />
when God told him to speak to it. And so, for<br />
this sin, as good a man as Moses has to suffer,<br />
even though God hag f<strong>org</strong>iven him. He cannot<br />
enter-the Promised Land.<br />
God has told Moses he must soon die, so he is<br />
sayaig good-bye to the people. Is he afraid, Buster?<br />
'He never was afraid of anything." And<br />
now he knows he is going home to heaven. Why<br />
should he be afraid? He says, "I can no more go<br />
out and come in * '' '• Joshua, he shall go<br />
over before thee: * -i- * Be strong and of a<br />
good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them; for<br />
the Lord thy God, He it is that does for with<br />
thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."<br />
Moses calls Joshua to him. Here he comes. Moses<br />
says to him, "Be strong and of a good courage;<br />
for thou must go with this people unto the land<br />
which the Lord hath sworn unto their fathers to<br />
give them; * * -• fear not." Even at the very<br />
last of his life iMoses' heart is with the people<br />
he loves, thinking and planning for them—the<br />
people who have been so cruel to him. That is<br />
one reason God loves Moses so much—because<br />
he is so f<strong>org</strong>iving.<br />
Now God calls Moses. "Get thee up * * •* unto<br />
Mount Nebo." So Moses climbs this very high<br />
mountain. Here God points out to him all the<br />
Promised Land which the Jews are soon to enter.<br />
Here is Jericho with beautiful palm trees. He<br />
can see far away to the north and the south, and<br />
away over here to the west. Moses sees the land<br />
that it is beautiful and prosperous, and he is<br />
content. He knows God will help the Jews conquer<br />
it, and that the people whom he loves and<br />
has served so faithfully will enter into their own.<br />
Moses' work on earth is finished. He is ready<br />
to go. God has other work waiting in heaven<br />
for Moses to do.<br />
So when Moses has seen all the Promised Land<br />
and is satisfied, God takes him home with Him.<br />
"Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in<br />
the land of Moab, according to the word of the<br />
Lord." No one with him but God and the angels.<br />
Just quietly he slips away home with God. No<br />
pain, just happiness. And there in heaven he will<br />
Avatch while God leads the Jews under Joshua<br />
into the land of promise.<br />
After our friends have died, we bury their<br />
bodies in which their souls have lived here on<br />
earth. Who will bury Moses' body? Listen to<br />
what the (Bible says: "And he (that is God)<br />
buried him in a valley in the land of Moab over<br />
against Beth-peor; but no man knoweth of his<br />
sepulchre unto this day," God himself buries<br />
Moses. Is there anything to fear in a death like<br />
this, Ellsworth? Moses has lived so near to God<br />
all his life, and has talked with Him face to face,<br />
that it is far better to go than to stay. So it is<br />
with every child of God. No one who lives close<br />
to God will be afraid to die. You are not afraid<br />
to place your hand in your father's and go where<br />
he may lead. So if you love God and keep your<br />
hand in His all the time, when it comes time to<br />
die. He will just lead you over into heaven and<br />
you Avill be, oh so glad to go. "Precious in the<br />
sight of Jehovah is the death of his saints."