Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

country!"again,"people"References: Num. 32:23; I Cor. 10:13;I Peter 5:8; II Peter 2:9a; Rev. 3:10.All of us at some time like to dressup and act like we are someone else.We put on different clothes, change ourhair style, talk with a gruff or a high,squeaky voice and even, for the moment, our whole attitude is transformed.This is just what the people of Gibeondid when they heard that Joshua had agreat armywas on his side.and that the God of IsraelYou remember Joshua's victories overJericho and Ai. Now the men of Gibeonhad heard of the destruction of Jerichoand Ai, and they thought that they toomight be destroyed. They were reallyfrightened.They went to see Joshua in Gilgal pretending they were ambassadors from afar country. The men of Gibeon didnot really live far away, so theyput oldsacks on their asses, put on old shoesand torn clothing, and carried old winebottles and stale bread. When theyreached Joshua's camp they lied, tellingJoshua they had come from a far country. They said their clothes had becomeold and their bread dry and mouldybecause of their long journey. Theybegged Joshua to make a league withthem that they might live.If a stranger, all worn out and hungry from a long trip, should stop at ourdoor some day, we would want to helphim and be kind to him. The people ofIsrael were fooledbecause they didnot ask God what to do. They made aleague with these people, promising tolet them live and dwell among the children of Israel.In a few days the Israelites reachedthe cities of these "strange people froma far Then they realized forthe first time that they had been tricked.But Joshua had promised before Godto let these people live, and a promiseought not to be broken. So the Israelitessaved these people, but from that daythey made them servants for the congregation and the altar of the Lord.It was wrong for the Gibeonites to doas they did. They acted a lie. Acting andtelling a lie are both wrong. If a boy inschool holds a text book before him sothe teacher thinks he is studying, yetis reading a story magazine or comicbook, he is acting a lie. If one is givensome money for collection at SabbathSchool or Junior Meeting, but keepspart, or all, to spend for himself, he isacting a lie. Children who deceive inthese and other ways may not be foundout at once by teachers or parents, butGod always knows and He hates suchconduct.Sins like these need to beconfessed and avoided the next time.September 21, 1955according to custom, it is not unlikelyIf the Israelites had put all theirSince His parents went every year lived in His humanity, according to thetrust in God, and had asked the Lord's that Jesus went with them other years.guidance when the "strange ap At the passover there were classes forpeared, they would have been shown children to attend and learn lessons bewhat to do, and they could have had the yond what they learned at home andcity and the land.from the priests. Attendance at theseWe often yield to temptations and classes in the twelfth year, was very imsins because we do not put our full portant.trust in God. Our memory verse remindsus to cast all our cares upon God, forAbout His Father's BusinessHe careth for us. The verses that have When they had spent a week at thebeen the greatest help and comfort to Passover, Joseph and Mary with a groupme are found in Isaiah 41:10 and 13. of neighbors, who no doubt also had"I will help thee," what a wonderful children, started for home. In the evepromise this is! What a blessing to know ning when they counted noses, Jesusthat God is with us to help us at all was not there. They returned faster, notimes if we come to Him.doubt, than they had traveled homeDid you know we have battles to fight ward. They must have been in Jerusajust as the Israelites? Our enemy is lem a full day, before they thought ofSatan. He uses many evil spirits and the right place to find their boy. Wherewicked men in his army. They are busywere they looking? Where would youevery day laying temptations (traps) look for your boy in a city?along the paths in which we walk.Mary was in distress because she hadIt is one of Satan's evil spirits that lost her son, and more, because she susmakes us want to cheat in games or pected Him of misbehaving. If she hadschool work, or be angry with our play not doubted His behaviour, she wouldmates. Every time we are tempted, if have known where to find Him. That iswe just say to ourselves, "That is Satan what He told her: Did you not knowand remember God's promise to that I would be doing the things that behelp us, we will come through without longed to a child of God, My Father?sinning. Then Jesus will be pleased, and Jesus had not run away from His parwe will be much happier to know we ents. He was just so interested in Hisdid what Jesus would have us to do. study with the doctors, that He hadLet us ask Jesus every morning, eve not noticed when they started home.ning, and whenever temptation comes, This visit to Jerusalem marked a newto help us to do right and live victorstage in a boy's development. He wasiously.entering into a higher grade of study,Suggestions for the meeting: Let two let us say into High School. Jesus provedgroups of older Juniors act out the story to be a perfect scholar, listening, anof "The Lie." One group may be the Gib swering, and asking questions. The prineonites and another the Israelites. cipal study for boys until they werePsalms may be sung when the entire twelve, was the Books of the Law, Exogroup "reaches the city Gibeon."dus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy. It reHand reference out as "topics" before quired the same effort for Jesus to masthe meeting.ter His studies that was required by anyNote Book work: The older Juniors other boy. His teachers were amazed atmay want to write the story in their His advancement in human knowledge.own words. Have lessons to be gained We often ask just when Jesus attainedfrom the story printed on the black His Divine perfection in knowledge. Inboard for the younger ones to copy. His divine nature, He always had it. InList some enticing temptations (traps) His humanity, He obeyed the laws ofSatan's army sets for us.His human nature. We have no recordof His ever using His divine power toSABBATH SCHOOL LESSON help His human nature. He used His diOctober 9, 1955vine power to help others. He told Hisdisciples where to fish. He sent Peter,Rev. W. J. McBurneynot to find a coin, that the owner had(Lessons based on international Sunday School lost but still owned, nor a counterfeit,Lessons; the International Bible Lessons forChristian Teaching;, copyrighted by the Interbut to catch a fish that was worth anational Council of Religious Education.) splendid price. That was by the knowlTHE BOYHOOD OF JESUS edge and power that belonged to Hisdivine nature. When He passed throughMemory: Luke 2:52: "And Jesus ina crowd that was trying to kill Him, wecreased in wisdom and stature, and inare not told (in the Bible) that He befavour with God and man."came invisible. When He appeared andJesus went with His parents to Jeru disappeared to His Disciples, that wassalem when He was twelve years old. At for their sake, not for His humanity.that age He became a "Son of the law."Christ developed in His humanity, and185