11 "AND it came to pass in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, that the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle of the testimony. And the children of Israel set forward according to their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud abode in the wilderness of Paran. And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses."
29 "And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Reuel 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. And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou shalt be to us instead of eyes. And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what good soever the Lord shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee."
33 "And they set forward from the mount of the Lord three days' journey; and the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them three days' journey, to seek out a resting place for them. And the cloud of the Lord was over them by day, when they set forward from the camp."
35 "And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, O Lord, and let Thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate Thee flee before Thee. And when it rested, he said, Return, O Lord, unto the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel."
Golden Text.—"For Thy name's sake lead me and guide me." Ps. 31:3.
Special Helps.—"Patriarchs and Prophets," chapter 33, pp. 374-376; article "Journeying," page 6 of this paper.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) What special date is mentioned in this lesson? What event occurred on that date? How long was this after the departure from Egypt? Verse 11. Note 1. (2) What followed the lifting of the cloud? Where did the cloud again rest? Verse 12. (3) According to whose commandment did the people move? Verse 13. Note 2. (4) What invitation did Moses extend to his brother-in-law? On what did Moses base his promise? Verse 29. Note 3. (5) What was Hobab's reply? Verse 30. (6) How then did Moses vary his appeal? Verse 31. (7) How did Moses still further show his earnestness? Verse 32. (8) How many days' journey was it to Paran, where the cloud rested again? What was the position of the ark during the march? Why was it thus carried? Verse 33. Note 4. (9) What was the position of the cloud? Verse 34. Note 5. (10) As the ark set forward, what did Moses say? Verse 35. Note 6. (11) What did Moses say when the cloud rested? Verse 36.
NOTES.
1. The Israelites had been encamped at Sinai eleven months and five days. It was not a waste of time, however, for much had been accomplished. Moses had spent nearly three months of the time in the mountain with God. He had received much instruction about the organization and drilling of his untrained hosts, and about the building of the tabernacle. The organization had been completed, the tabernacle built, and the people had been sufficiently instructed to warrant a successful journey to the promised land—provided they would walk humbly in the light that had been given them.
2. The march was now conducted in the order prescribed by the Lord. In the successful movement of such a large body of people—men, women, and children—together with all their belongings, more than ordinary executive ability was necessary. In the lesson, verses 14-28 are omitted; these verses contain the order of march by tribes, and the names of their leaders.
3. "We will do thee good" was a promise made on the strength of God's promise to Israel. Moses believed the promise of God, therefore he could confidently extend the promise to any who would join Israel. This is true missionary work, just what every true Israelite should do to every unbeliever. There was already in sight the visible earnest of the promise. There were the manna, the guiding pillar, the tabernacle, and the people themselves who had been rescued from Egyptian bondage by divine power. These were all-sufficient vouchers for the further promises of God to His people. If any individual feels the need of assurance that God's Word is sure, he has only to remember the daily benefits received from His hand.
4. The ark, containing the commandments of God, went ahead to indicate the way of the people. With Christ in the cloud watching over and protecting them, and the law of God going before to seek out a resting place for them, we have a people typical of those who, in the judgment day, will be found keeping "the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14:12. No trouble ever befell Israel as long as they trusted and obeyed their Deliverer. "Great peace have they which love Thy law; and they shall have no stumbling block." Ps. 119:165, margin.
5. "The cloud of the Lord" spread out as a protection from the sun's hot rays in daytime, and became a great pillar of light at night. The protection of the Lord in time of trouble is referred to in Ps. 91:1 as "the shadow of the Almighty." See Ps. 84:11.
6. "Rise up, O Lord," etc. David takes this expression of Moses as the text of the sixty-eighth psalm, the first verse of which is, "Let God arise; let His enemies be scattered; let them also that hate Him flee before Him." The seventh and eighth verses also refer directly to the scene described in this lesson; indeed the whole psalm is based on Israel's deliverance from Egypt and portrays the antitypical redemption of the true Israel.
