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The second symbol to be considered in this article is that of the guide. While a guide
does not necessarily gather, he certainly leads on to the desired haven. The Jew, because
of the special position he occupied in the plan of redemption, was peculiarly fitted to be a
guide:--
"Behold thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast in God, and
knowest His will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of
the law. And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind" (Rom. 2: 17-19).
The Jew had every qualification for being a guide to the blind except one--he was
blind himself. Among the reiterated "woes" of Matt. 23: the Lord refers to the
blindness five times:--
"Woe unto you, ye blind guides" (16).
"Ye fools and blind" (17, 19).
"Ye blind guides, which strain out a gnat and swallow a camel" (24).
"Thou blind Pharisee" (26).
Upon examination it will be found that on each occasion when the Lord called these
men "blind", He referred to ritualism being substituted for reality. To follow such leaders
must end in destruction. If a guide mistakes the mirage for the real, must not all who
follow him perish? If he feeds his followers upon the husks in mistake for the true wheat,
shall they not starve? If he leads them to put their trust in the observance of days,
months, weeks, years, sabbath days, meats and drinks (which are but shadows of the
true), must they not go astray? "If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."
So important is keenness of vision for the eastern guide, that no one is permitted by the
Arabs to be a guide who cannot discern certain double stars, which to the ordinary
town-dweller appear as one. As guides we need to see our path clearly, to discern the
leading of the Lord, and to distinguish the shadows from the substance.
The gatherer, we found, was a title that could be borne by a shepherd. So also a
shepherd can be a guide:--
"But made His own people to go forth as sheep, and guided them in the wilderness
like a flock" (Psa. 78: 52).
Looking to the Lord for guidance as we seek to guide others, we observe that He
"guides the feet into the way of peace" (Luke 1: 79).
If we read the cry of the Ethiopian Eunuch, and Philip's response to it, we shall not be
in doubt as to the character of the true guide:--
"Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I except some man
should guide me? . . . . . Then Philip opened his mouth and began at the same scripture
and preached unto him Jesus" (Acts 8: 30-35).