Classic Sermon Outlines (continued)
Joseph's Faith 4
1. The reason: Faith will energize us for any sort of work, seeing that it raises all to one level and brings all under one sanction and shows all as cooperating to one end.
2. The illustration: The muster roll of the heroes of faith in the Epistle to the Hebrews (Ch. 11) marks the variety of grades of human life represented there, all fitted for their tasks and delivered from the snare that was fllexander Maclaren
SERMON TWO
MOSES AND HOBAB
And Moses said unto Hobab. Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes.
—NUMBERS 10:29, 31
THE FUGITIVES whom Moses led reached Sinai in three months after leaving Egypt. They remained there for at least nine months. Some time before the encampment broke up, a relative of Moses by marriage, Hobab by name, had come into camp on a visit. He was a Midianite by race, one of the wandering tribes from the south-east of the Arabian Peninsula. He knew every foot of the ground. So Moses, who had no doubt forgotten much of the little desert skill he had learned in keeping Jethro's flock, prays Hobab to remain with them and give them the benefit of his practical knowledge.
I. ASENSE OF THE UNKNOWN WILDERNESS BEFORE US.
A. General Complexion of the Future May Be Roughly Estimated.
We know very early in life that the thread of our days is a mingled strand and the prevailing tone a sober, neutral tint. The main characteristics of what we shall meet we well enough know.
B. The Particular Events of the Future Are Hidden.
It is strange and impressive when we come to think how Providence, working with the same uniform materials in all human lives, can yet, like
Moses and Hobab some skillful artist, produce endless novelty and surprises in each life. The solemn ignorance of the next moment is sometimes stimulating and joyous. But to all there come times when their ignorance is saddening.
C. The Aspect of Life Represented as a Wilderness.
There are dangers and barren places and a great solitude in spite of love and companionship, and many marching and lurking foes, and grim rocks, and fierce suns, and parched wells, and shadeless sand wastes enough in every life to make us quail often and look grave always when we think of what may be before us.
Il. AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE WEAKNESS THAT CLINGS TO HUMAN GUIDES.
A. The True Meaning of the Text.
The true lesson of the incident considered in connection with the following section is that for men who have God to guide them it argues weakness of this faith and courage to be much solicitous of any Hobab to show them where to go and where to camp.
B. The True Meaning of the Text Does Not Exclude Human Guides.
2: Much gs God's neriaanices is enaHaR men. Godis-guidance doesnot ke : g s guidance is ministered to. a a ctoachunioee, derstand God's thoughts and words more clearly, to love them more ear-
Ew ada
C. The Danger to Be Avoided. We are ever apt to feel that we cannot do without the human leader. Our weakness of faith in the unseen is ever tending to pervert the relation