meaning is: (1) That it is not from nature but from nature's God that snpplies corn~. (2) Thnt Goel is free to ndopt any course he pleases in providing foorl. IJoubtless thi~ is true. nut it is not the whole truth, nor do we deem it the truth here intended. We know that with these words our Saviour repelled one assault of the tempter. This hciuo- so, we are set somewhat on a rlifTerent track for their interpretation (cf. Matt. iv. 3: 4). Our Snviour's reply is, in effect," Man has a double life, not only that of the borly, but also that of the spirit; you ask me to nourish the lower at the expense of the higher-to get food for the body by a neg11.tion of the self-sacrifice for which I came. It is not bread alone which sustains the man. He has a hi<:sher self, which Jives on higher food, nnd I cannot pamper the lower at the cost of the prostralion of the higher." Now, with such light thrown on the pass11.ge hy our Lord, we are led to re"ard the words of Moses 11.s referring not only to the supply of food, but rather to the entire discipline in the wilderness, as intended by God to bring out to the people the reality and worth of the nobler part of man. Our God cares more for growth of soul than for comfort of body. His aim is not only to find us f9od, but to train us for him- self. Nor was it that t.bey only might learn these lessons, but that othera in after time might see on what rough and raw material the Great Educator will condescend to work, and with what care he will work upon it. 11. Goo 4DOPTS VARIED METHODS OF TEACIIING '.l'IIESE NEEDED LESSOl<'S. The clauses in the paragraph indicate these. 1. '!'here was" the way" by which they were led. ]t was not given to Israel to choose it. It was ·not the shortest way. It was " the riaht" 0 way, appointed by God. 2. The method of sending ~upplies: "Day by day th e manna fell." They were thus taught to live by-the day. 3. The disappointments they met: "These forty years." If they had been told, when they set out from Egypt, that so long a period intervened between them and Canaan, they woulcl scarcely have set out. And if God were to unveil to us the incidents of coming years, we could not bear the sight. 4. 'l'he wants they felt: " He suffered thee to hunger." God some- times -lets his people feel how completely they are shut up to him. 5. Yet there were constant proofs of thoughtful care (vcr. 4). We do not understand any miracle in- volved here, still less so odd a one as the rabbis suggested, that the children's clothes grew upon their backs. 'l'he meaning of Moses surely is, "God so pro,ided for their wants that they needed not to wear tattered garments, nor to injure their feet by walking without shoes or sandals." 6. There was also chastening (ver. 5). '!'bis word includes not only correction but all that belongs to the training of a child ( cf. Heb. xii. 7; 2 Sam. vii. 14; Ps. lxxxix. 32; Job vii. 17, 18; Prov. iii. 11, 12; Rev. iii. 19). III. 'l'HERE IS A REASON INDICATED HERE WHY Goo TAKES so MUCH PAINS TO TEACll THESE LESSONS. Ver. 5, "As a man cbasteneth his son." 'liVe might well ask, Why should the Great Supreme do so much to educate into shape such raw and rough natures as ours? That he should do so at all is, per se, far harder to believe than any apparent variation of the ordinary course of physical nature. The reason is found in the words, "Ye are sons!' Israel was God's son, even bis firstborn. Believers are the adopted children of God; hence the greatness of their destiny, and the earnestness of their Leader in training them for it. It may be said, indeed, by an unbeliever, "I have all these changes in life, but they are not training me," etc. No, because the one condition is w11.nting under which all these come to be a training-sonship. This order is never reversed-rescued, then educated. If men luwe not known the first, they cannot under- stand the second. IV. IF Gon CARES BO MUCH TO TRAIN, WE SHOIT.D CAREFULLY CONSIDER WHAT HIS TRAINING MEANS. (Vers. 2, 5.) Let us understand what a high moral and spiritual aim God has in the culture of this life of ours! The life of a man is not a mere material something, on a physical basis; it is the expression of a plan of God. 'l'hcu let us be as anxious to be lightly educated for eternity, as God is so to educate us. Never let us allow the lower ends of life to master the higher (ver. 6). Ever let us keep the end of life in view. For eternity we are meant, and for eternity we should live. Some have life largely in r,trospect, ei·en now. Do they not see that the past is explained by tha present? El"cn so the present will be explained by the future (John xiii. 7). Let them rejoice that they have a ]'ather who guides by the way which he see8 to be right, and not "accordin"' to their mind." Some have life before them. 1. Let it be the supreme desire to let life become what God wants it to be-a continuous advance 166 THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY.
in preparation for heaven. This is or more consequence than all the ease and comfort in the world. 2. Recognize and praise the kindness or God in givina men these chequered experiences or lifo, ir they do but educate for higher service. "'Don't lot us wonder H we cannot understand God's ways at the time. \Ve shall in the end. 3. If "·e want God to train us for glory-first, we must come out of Ep:ypt. The education rnnnot begin in the laud of bondnge,-we must fii:5t be the Lord'd free men ; then, let 11s leave the way and method of the culture entirely to God. If he were to let us choose the way, what mistakes we should make I Our faith in God even in youth should be such as to lead us to say, "Father, my supreme desire is to grow like thee, and to live with thee. I know not by what paths I need to be led, nor through what discipline I need to be brought, to bring 11bont this end. I leave a.II in thy gracious hands, desiring that thine infinite wisdom and love should order all things for me. Ifore I am. 'l'ake me as I am, all guilty and defile,!. Make me what I should be· :rnd if by thy grace I am ripened for and led to Canaan, then will I sing, 'Blessing: and honour, and glory, and power, to him which sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb, for ever and ever!'"