Newspapers / The Christian Sun (Elon … / March 30, 1893, edition 1 / Page 2
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The Pulpit. ►x xtx xV xV xtx xtx xtx xtx xix xfe xj Moses Invitation to Hobab. BY REV. JAMES MAPLE, D. D. -And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses Father in law. We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel. And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred.—Num bers 10:29,30. There is some difference of opinion among learned men as to who Hobab was. Some think that it was Jethro Moses father-in-law, but the most probable opinion is that he was the son of Jethro, and Moses brother-in law. When Moses reached Sinai his father-in-la^ came to see him, and after remaining some time returned to his own land. It is probable that he left his son Hobab with Moses - where he remained as long as the Hebrews were at Sinai, but now they were to march on towards Can aan; and Moses wanted him to go with him. This would take him away from his father and bis home, and he was not willing to do this. This invitation of Moses to his brother-in-law shows the deep inter est that he felt in him, and the desire that he had to have him share in all the blessings God had promised to Israel. This is the feeling of the Christian towards all his friends. He is on a journey to heaven, and he wants them to go with him. I. The analogy between the de liverance of the Hebrews from their bondage in Egypt and their journey " to the promised land* and the deliv erance of the Christian from the slav ery of sin and his journey to heaven. me neDrews were aeiiverea from cruel bondage in Egypt. Their condition was a hard one. They had to make bricks without straw, and were at the mercy of their masters. The Christian was in the slavery of sin, and had a hard master. (John 8:34; Rom. 6:16-18; Prov. 5:22; 2 Pter 2:19; Rom. 7:17-22 ) ——— Moses was sent to deliver the He brews from slavery and set them free. In this he was a type of Christ who camejto redeem man from the slavery of sin. (Isa. 49:9; 61 ;-3.) 2. The Hebrews^commenced their journey to the promised land where they were delivered from their bon dage in Egypt. Then they started for Canaan. The Christian commen ces bis journey for heaven when he is converted. Before this he is travel ingjiway from heaven, but at his conversion turns around and starts for it. Then, like Lot he turns his back on the city of destruction. (2 Peter 1:5 11.) This was the com mencement of a new life with the Hebrews, and they were animated with new loves, new desires, and new hopes. Thus it is with the Christian. (2 Cor. 5:1V.) 3. The Lord provided a guide to direct them in their journey to the promised land. This was a pillar of cloud by day, and of tire by night. (Exod. 15:21-22.) God has given us a divine guide in the Bible. (2 Tim. 3:16-17.) He has given us his spirit to bring the instructions of his word to rememberance, and to help us un derstand it. (John 14:26 ;16:17.) The pillar of cloud never led them astray, and thus it is with the Bible. Every man is conscious that if he follows it he will do right. 4. God sent his angel before the Hebrews to keep and protecf them. (Exod. 27:20-23.) This angel was Christ. (Isa. 79:9.) Christ is our leader. (Isa. 55:4.) God employs his angels to protect his people. (Heb. 1:14; Psal. 34:7. We cannot see them now, nor understand how they do their work; but we will. The cealing in one of the old cathedrals of Europe when a man first looks up at it seems to be a confused mass of clounds, but after looking for a time its beauty comes out and it is seen to be a multitude of angeL. 5. God supplied all the wants of the people in their journey, gave them manna from heaven, food from the desert, and water from the solid rock. The clothing that they had on when they left Egypt lasted them to the end of their journey. God supplies the wants of his people now. (2 Peter 1:2-4; Psal. 84:11.) He has given us his Word, Spirit, Grave, and hope of heaven. 6. The Lord enabled them to triumph over all their enemies. He rolled back the waves of the Red Sea, gave them the victory over Pharoch’s mighty host, and the army of the Amlekites. Thus God ena bles the Christian to conquer all his enemies. (Ephe. 6:11-17.) The cap tain of our salvation is always present with us, and this ensures victory. The city of-, with a garrison of 40,000, surrendered to Napoleon without firing a gun. Such was the terror inspired by his name and pre sence. On the same day his navy was entirely destroyed in the battle of Frafalgir. When he heard this he said, “1 cannot be present every where at once.” Our leader can. 7. Their journey ended when they arrived at the promised land. The long weary march was at an end, and they rested. The Chris ti ms journey |ends at death. (Revl. 2:10; 14:13; 2 Tim. 4:6-8.) To en joy the blessings of Canaan the He brews had to kebp on until they reached it. Thus it is with the Chris tian. (Rev. 2:10.) II. The land to which they were journeying. “We are journeying i nto the place which the Lord said, I will give it you.” 1. It was the land oi promise. (Gen. 12:7; Heb. 4:9.) Heaven is the Ghristians promised home (Isa 33:16 17; 75:10; John 14:10; Luke 12:32; Psal. 16:11.) Canaan was promised only to the Hebrews; Heaven is promised only the Christian. 3. It was a land of rest. There they rested from their jouney and the silverings of the way. Heaven is a land of rest. (Rev. 14: 17; Heb. 4:9 ) This does not mean that the Christian will have no em ployment m heaven, for the Bible teaches us that its inhabitants are now actively employed. It will be activity without weariness. 3. It was a rich and beautiful land. Dent. 8:7-10.) Heaven is a beautiful country. There is the tree of life, the water of life; and the great white throne. The most beau tiful and sublime scenes in nature are used in the Bible to set forth the lovliness and grandure of heaven. It is nch in all that is good and glor ious. Canaan was filled with and sur rounded by enemies. It is not so wiih heaven. (Rev. 21:23-27.) We know more about what is not in hea ven than about what is. There is no night, no sickness, no sorrow, no tears, no sin, no death. III. The Christian desires to have, and has good reasons to offer why all his friends should go with him to hea ven. Christianity inspires the heart of the Christian with a love for his fel low men, and it is the highest plea sure of his life to do them good. He wants them all saved. In business men are sometimes envious, and try to monopolize every thing in their branch of business; but it is not so in Christianity. Moses was anxious to have Hobab go with him for the following reasons: 1. They could do him good. “We will do thee good.” Hobab could do them good. They needed him. He could be as eyes to them. What need, you ask, bad they for him when they had the pillar of clould and of tire to guide them? This led the way in all their travels, but not in special excursions. Parties took several journeys while the army lay still. (See chapter 17,20,31,32.) Ho bab was well acquainted all through that country, and could lead these parties. Thus men of business ca pacity who are now living only for the world are needed in the church. Their ability and the influence it gives them is needed in the camp of the Lord’s people. Every man needs the church as mucli as the church needs him. He needs it to help him live right. Union with the church brings man under induen ',es, and into asso ciaiions that give him moral strength and builds him up in his faith and hope. It is inspirit g to be associated with pure and good uien. Lord Pet erborough lodged for a season with Fenelon, Arch Bishop of Canbray, and was so delighted with his piety and virtue, that he exclaimed at part ing, “If I stay here any longer, I shall become a Christian in spite of myself.” How much greater the help when a man gives himself up to such influences by uniting with the people of God. There is a wonderful power in as sociation. This is illustrated in the tree toad. This changes to the color of whatever it is on. If the bark of the tree is brown, black, read, or green it changes to the same color. Thus men are changed in spirit and character by their associations. Evil companions help to drag a man down to moral ruin, but the companionship of the pure and good help him into a better life. 2. The Lord’s promise to Israel. ‘‘The Lord hath spoken good con cerning Israel.” He had promised them a devine guide, food, clothing, protection, and a home at the end of the journey He has promised the Christian wisdom, grace, strength, protection, peace, joy, and heaven in the ond. (Isa. 45:1-2; Psal. 16:11; Luke 12:32; John 12:26;17:24.) 3. Moses knew where he was go ing. “We are journeying unto the land of which the Lord said, 1 will give it you.” They were not delud ed but knew what was before them. There was a definite object before their minds, and thus it is with the Christian now. We know where we are going. (Heb. 11:8-10; 13; 14; 2 Cor 4:16-18;5:1.) Heaven becomes more and more of a reality to the Christian as he ad vances in life. Our friends go there, and we feel that there is some one there that we know. This brings us near to it. It does not seem like a strang distant land, but the home of our parents, children, and friends. Mother, since your child went there heaven has been more real than ever before. It is a grand and inspiring thought that we know what is before us, and are not left to uncertainty. One of the miseries of heathenism and in fidelity is that they cannot tell us any thing certain about the great future. It is all conjecture to them, and in this uncertainty there is nothing to sustain the soul in view of death and the future. Mr. Owen visited A. Campell, at Bthany, and they went to the family grave yard. Mr. Owen, said to Mr. Campell there is one ad
The Christian Sun (Elon College, N.C.)
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March 30, 1893, edition 1
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