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2 “THE GREAT REVOLT” Wednesday flight 'Bible Lecture by 'Ret). Len G. Broughton, B, D., of Christ Church, London Reported for The Golden Age by M. P. H. —Copyright Applied For. « 1 '<■ tMf* flEb i i&SL CHRIST CHURCH. LONDON. Scripture XXI-XL. Special Text: 32:26, “Who is on the Lord's Side ? ’ ’ [w] 1 E are now to close the study of the Book of Exodus. The points of inter est are numerous, but we will be con- tent to simply mention most of them that we may have time for a more detailed consideration of the most striking and sug gestive ones. Following the giving of the 10 command ments, Moses proceeds to give their applica tion to the problems of daily life. This is the purpose of all true teaching. Never rnind how beautiful and striking a principle is, un less it is applied to daily life, it is worthless. The great object and aim of all teachers should be to apply their principles, for a principle merely enunciated, without application, will soon pass out of the mind of the pupil and will leave no trace that it has even been there. So what we want to do is to see that we do not enunciate further than we apply. Moses was a splendid example for teachers. Whenever you find him enunciate a great prin ciple, as in the ten commandments, you may lest assured that very soon you are going to find him giving a great deal of care to the matter of application. So the whole of these chapters will be largely given up as we shall see to the matter of application in which Moses is endeavoring to apply to the solutions of the problems of the daily life among the people, the great principles enunciated in these com mandments.. First, he applies his principles to servants. He shows how they are to be regarded, and treated. And then he applies the teaching to 'crimes of violence both among man and beast, showing us how we should care for one another, and even care for beasts. This is followed by further regulation of civil and religious conduct. Then, following this is a renewal of Jehovah’s promise made to Abraham to give Israel the land of Canaan, and a new covenant is made with Israel. After this Moses is again called up into Sinai where Jehovah gives him directions for building the ark of the covenant, and also the building and furnishing of the tabernacle. THE GOLDEN AGE FOR JULY 31, 1913 It would be very interesting to stop here and see how minute are these plans that Moses gives forth to the people, but, mark you, his plans are not more minute than are God’s in structions to him. God does not leave out a single detail, but gives himself to the very smallest little insignificant details. God is al ways interested in all the details of his people; the great problems that are ahead of us, and alike in the smallest little bit of a problem that ever'comes up and throbs upon our brains. And it helps me very much to realize God down here, by my side, really interesting him self in the everyday problems of my life, not letting anything escape him. Just as he was interested in giving Israel details of the taber nacle ,so he is interested in giving to us the details of the line of life he would have us follow. Then follows Jehovah’s delivery of the com mandments to Moses on stones. These you know had been written by the Almighty on two tablets of stone corresponding to the two divisions of the law. This is followed by the great revolt of Is real and their open idolatry. They are, how ever, finally won back, and then Moses begins the work of building the tabernacle upon which these Israelites work until it is finished. This closes the story of the Book of Exodus. Now I desire to return to the great revolt to idolatry, and the call to renewed consecra tion. Observe the circumstances. Here was Moses upon the mountain top, it was the sec ond time he had gone there, the first time to receive the law, and this time, he is gone there that he might receive from the Lord the law which had been written by him on these two tablets. While he is on the mount, the children of Israel are under the immediate care of Aaron his brother, who had been by Jehovah asso ciated with him in this march. Aaron is in charge of these people. They begin to fancy that Moses has left them alone to suffer and die. They were like many churches I know today. If their pastor is out a little longer than was expected they begin to fancy every thing is going to the bad. Lots of churches feel that they have got to have a minister punching them in the short ribs all the time, else they will go to the bad. And never mind what a minister is up to, he might be off some where receiving some special communication from God, that does not make any difference. They just want him around where they can look at him and have him look at them! Oh, how selfish most of us are in our church de sires! And so these Israelites began to com plain because Moses stayed too long for their liking on the mount, and finally they pro posed a scheme to make them one who would stay on hand, a kind of a pastor, a sort of a shepherd, who would be on hand to help them in their cares and trials. It was agreed, and Aaron joined in with them, instead of hold ing up Moses’ hands as he ought, and promised. He joined in with the cry of the populace, because it was popular, against Moses. And what do you think they did! They took their jewelry and threw it into a furnace and from it made a calf, to take the place of Moses and God. In it they had one who would stay at home. No doubt about that! He would be on hand all the time. They could gather around it and pour out all their trials and tribulations, and it would be on hand sure. The church which has got a shepherd who is always on hand better look out —he may be on hand because no one else wants him. They had a shepherd now; a golden calf; a well dressed, nice looking shepherd; but oh he was not worth anything! And Moses, when he started down the moun tain side with the tablets in his arms, heard music and dancing down there in the valley and did not understand it. There they were singing and dancing and praising and wor shiping to this thing that could help nothing. And Moses lost his temper. Did I say “lost his temper?” I think he rather found it, and used it; I do not think he is to be blamed for what he did. He dropped the tables of stone. God forgave him and gave him some frSsh ones. Think about what they had come through. The bondage in Egypt; the hardest bondage a people had ever experienced. The Red sea, by the marvelous deliverance of the hand of God. so much there could be no mistake about it. Through Marah with its bitter waters, where they had this bitter water experience transformed into sweet waters. And through beautful Elim with its cooling springs and palm shade. The wilderness, thus far. where they had food from heaven, the gift of God himself. All this back of them, and yet now simply because Moses stayed a little longer than they expected, they turned their backs upon all this and made an idol, a calf, out of their jewelry and worshiped it, forgetting God and taking to idols in so short a time. That is what a blundering, sinning, people this was. And yet, let us be very careful that we see ourselves along with them. When Moses got back he shouted, I fancy, at the top of his voice, and there was a note in it that Israel never forgot: “Who is on the Lord’s side? Let him come unto me.” There we have authority for giving invita tons at meetings. People sometimes say to me “I do not approve of giving invitations of that sort at meetings; it is new fashioned; it is modern methods.’ Yes. It is very modern; it began with Moses. That is how modern it is. Moses said, “Who is on the Lord’s side let him take his stand,” come out from the others. And that is not all he said. When they came out —and some did—he turned to them and said: “Put ye every man his sword upon his thigh, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man, his brother, and; every man his com panion and every man his neighbor—and con secrate yourselves today to Jehovah, yea ev ery man * * *” By that he meant “Fill your hands (as you will see in the marginal rendering) this day unto the Lord.” Now this question is just as important wth us today as it was in the days of Moses. If I know anythng of present needs, it is this, that God’s people turn from their idols. That give God and his cause first place in their lives. We ourselves as Christian people are to a great extent idolatrous. That leads me to ask this question: “What (Continued on page 15.)