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its shiinmering )ireadth. It is warn,, but
as they gaze a shudder runs through her
form and she stands closer to him as though
afraid. "It is a cruel river. It feeds on the
children—the children of our people! They
are its food! I am afraid lest it reach out
its cruel, damp hands and take''—"No, be
not afraid. Our child shall live. His name
shall be Joshua, for he shall be a Savior to
our people."
They speak no m-ore but their hearts are
full, for the angel of His presence has spoken
within them and tbey believe that it shall
be ever so.
Slowly -they turn upon -the path and pass
within the hut. The pallet calls them now
and the tired limbs will hardly bear them.
They close their eyes.—"He shall live and
our people shall follow him -into the promise."
It is the last word between them. They sleep
to dream of the land of milk and honey.
Without the stars shine on. God has made
THE CHRISTIAN NATION.
the people into the promise. Nun, my hus«
band, I go to be with Him which, is far better.
It is not for long. You will not be
long in coming. You are near the hght. It
is the path that shineth more and more. Can
you not see the light ahead?
"Fear not, my husband, to be left alone.
See, I give you good tidings of great joy
which shall be to all our people, for to us
is born this day a Savior. We shall call
his name Joshua, for he shall lead his
people into the promise. And this shall be the
sign unto you. See!"—and drawing back the
cloth she showed him the babe. And when
she had done that she departed from him
and went to be with God.
And the man took the babe in his arms
and stood again in the doorway looking up
at the stars. And the stars were bright tohim,
for he loved God for the babe that
nestled against his breast. But the babe was
brighter than theni all, for he was a day
star from o-n high.
them so. T'hey must shine even as the man
and the woman must hope.
So the child grew and they all loved him,
Months pass. The time draws near. It is for he was strong and good. And he was
night. The stars shine as they had shone a slave, as his father was, but his soul was
before. Again the man is in the doorway free. He built cities for Pharaoh and planned
with his eyes toward God. The woman is a kingdom for his people. He spent his
within, behind him; not at the mill, now, days at the brick kiln and his nights with
but on her pallet moaning. It is the hour God. In serving others he learned to command.
of -the promise. But to the man in the doorway
with his white drawn face turned toward
Thus did Joshua, the son of Nun, spend
the stars, the .promise is dimmed by his years in Egypt until Moses had delivered
the shadow of death.
the people from bondage- After that he became
the leader of -his people and led them
"O, my God! it must not be! Is this the
price of life? Does the coming of the Savior to victory against their enemies, and at last
mean suffering a.nd death? O, my Father, brought them safely into the promised land.
is this dark path the way of the just that
shineth more and more unto, the perfect day?
Vol. 69.
1
ro, in which is to be found some of the fur
damental principles of civil government ,an
sage advice to the Lord's workers, who ar
dissipating their enemies over too wide i
area, and are attempting to attend to m^r
things in the civil sphere or matters of i
secular nature, which others could do a
well as themselves, and which should b'
left to them to do in order that they may givi
themselves more to .prayer and the spiritua
side of life.
I. ISRAEL BEFORE THE MOUNT
(v. I, 2.)
"And there Israel encamped before thf
mount." About seven weeks had been speni
On the march through the desert since the^
had left Egypt. Tbey had been brought into
a desolation which stood out in bold contrast
with the green valley of the Nile. Ai
last they reached Sinai, where they were tc'
remain about eleven months. As they drew
near to the mount tbey were closed 'in or
either hand by precipitous mountain's- of rec
sandstone and variegated granite, withou"
verdure or trace of life. They were now
enclosed within a sanctuary of temples nc?
made with hands. Their surroundingsweri-^
totally different from anything which thei:"
fathers had ever realized in Egypt or Pal:
estine. They were wrapt in a silence thagave
full effect to the thunderings and thfvoice
that spake to them out of the mount'*
Israel was now shut off from the world ani'
shut in- with God.
i#i
II. MOSES IN THE MOUNT, (v. 3.);'
"And Moses went up unto- God—." Mose'-
seemed at home at Sinai. Here he had me-'
with God when he kept the sheep of Jethrohis
father-in-law. And the fact that Goi'
Why do the stars shine if she must die?
^S^^^ Sabbath School
had fulfilled His promise to bring bim-intithis
moimt as he led Israel out of bondage'
The light of my Hfe! Must it go out! O, Lesson IX. Aug. 31, 1913.
my Father, the night presses down upon
By the Rev. W. A. Aikin.
gave him encouragement and freedom, in ap
me ! I am in darkness !"
ISRAEL AT MOUNT SINAI.—Ex. 19: proaching God at this time. No doubt, hh
His head bows down. His knees bend. 1-6, 16-21.
was also encouraged to draw nigh to- Goi"
FaUing prostrate upon the hot earth he hes Golden Text.—Let us have grace, wherehy
by a voice from the mount. Encourageraen i
motionless upon his face. The s-tars shine
we may offer service well pleasing to God and strength were needed by Moses at thi;
down upon him. The night breeze blows with reverence and awe. Heb. 12:28. (R. time. Israel was about to be "incorporatei.:
over him. It is the Father's caress—the
touch of the comforter. He loves the man.
V.)
Psalms.;—24:1-5. IIS.; 93:1-5. S. M. 139:
as a church and nation, under the govern;
ment of God, and in covenant with him; having
hitherto been, first a single family, ani;
The hours pass. Still he moves not. The I, 2, 13. L. M.
woman within moans gently in her pain. It Time.—ln\ the third mo-nth of the year. then a muhitude of slaves," and Moses wato
be God's agent in organizing this natioi-:
is not dark to her. The promise makes all This would be about the firstof June.
bright. Again and ajg-ain she repeats thes Place.—In the valley of Er-Rahah at the and establishing in their midst the institit;|
words "He shall lead the people into the foot of Mt. Sinai.
tions of church and state. ;
promise." There.is peace within. The price ANALYSIS AND COMMENT.
III. GOD'S COVENANT WITH IS
is nothing. She is satisfied.
The three notable incidents occurring between
last lesson and the one before u's, may In the words of these verses we have th
RAEL. (V. 4-6.)
ill
At last she calls. It is only a whisper,
for she is weak., but the man hears. Plis be briefly noted, (i) The bringing of watter
from the rock, which foretold the opening gave to- Israel to- govern them in church ani-
preamble to th© body of laws which Got.
mind was still awake to her while his body
slept. "Nun, my husband !"—"Yes, I come!" of -a fountain of life in Christ Jesus; and state. ITere we -have the bond which unitet,
Rising quickly from the ground he passes which was also used by God as an occasion God and his people Israel in that intimat;
within. There on the pallet she lies. He for humbling the self-confidence of Moses and holy relationship which was a means 0,^
kneels by her side. He looks into her face. to the dust . (2) The overcoming of revealing the holy (character of God am^
"You shall live. You must live for me—for Amalek, with its lesson to believers as to bringing untold blessings upon Israel. It ma;
the child!"
how the victories of the church are to be
be divided into three parts:— ;
"Yes, I shall live, but not here. I go to won by the giving of their moral support
1st. Its incentives. "Ye have seen wha,
live with Him who gives us the child. My to their spiritual leaders in upholding the
I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bar,
work is done. I am satisfied. He shall lead banner of truth. (3) The counsel of Jethyou
on eagles' wings, and brought you unt(