Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-06-27
Sunday School Lesson Notes.
BY REV. j. 0. SHERBURN

July sth: Passing over Jordan-Joshua 3:5-l7.
In the first lesson of this quarter we ha
an account of the commission of Joshu
to fill the place of Moses, and tn
strengthening words that God spake t
him. In this lesson we come to tn
preparation for entering the promised
land. and to the very fact of entering it.
The only events intervening between
the two, are the communication of tn
divine command to the under officers, an,
the necessary preparations for moving
also the conference which the leaders o
Ruben, Cad and Manasseh had will
Joshua in which they declare their wisl
to have their possession on the east o
Jordan.
The general command given to all thu
peope-"Sanctify yourselves"-has in i
very important teaching. God works
in cooperation with holy agents; and il
order that he might work in fulles
harmony with his people every man wa.
to sanctify himself. The command as
here given doubtless referred to eeremo.
NAL publication, the washing of clothing
and cleansing from all defilement of the
person; if this was of such Importance as
alsvmbol, how much more important the
cleansing of the heart and life which is
symbolized. Great undertakings in the
church often mis- carry because Gods
people fail to sanctify themselves.
The priests we're at length commanded
to take up the ark of the covenant, "a
chest some 4 feet in length by PIP
feet in width and height,) called the ark
of the covenant because in it were the
books of the law given to Moses; which
law was in tho nature of an agreement
or covenant. During their long journey
ings in the wilderness the people had
learned to follow wherever this ark went.
The order of events as given in this
history makes it appear, that, in the midst
of the busy scenes attending the breaking
of camp, and The advancing of the multi
tudes of armed and unarmed men, God
spake unto Joshua. He spake by way of
encouragement and assurance. The people
had lust parted with their long tried
leader, and were in the most critical
period of their history, left under new
man. The question would naturally arise,
Will God be with him as with Mosesp
The people would want assurance on that
point. God assured Joshua that the very
first stop in his leadership should be a
manifest declaration that God was with
him. After this encouraging communica-
ton, God gave Joshua specific directions
as SO the plan of procedure in crossing
the Jordan. This step in their journey,
when first their feet were to tread the
land promised to their fathers, was not to
be wanting in divine manifestations. A
sign was to appear, whereby they might
h. forever satisfied that Jehovah recog-
nized their new leader and would aid
them in the conquest Of Canaan. This
was to be the sign: When the feet Of the
DTlSSlS WHO luC al ohouiN iSos Ah
the water of the stream, the Jordan would
cease its flow at that point and the waters
checked in their course wait the passage
of Gods people.
The Jordan, either then or now, was
not large stream. Travellers speak of it
as from sixty to hundred feet broad
much reduced during the dry season. The
harvest time here spoken of was probably
In the latter part of April or early in May,
the time of the wheat and barley harvest.
During this period the latter rain would
be falling in the higher lands, and at the
far nortl Lebanon would still be pouring
in the water from huge snow fields.
Under such circumstances to transfer so
large a company, with flocks and herds,
over such stream would b1 no small
undertaking. But this people were Gods
people, these priests, Gods priests, this
ark, the ark of God. So when God stood
in the midst of the stream "the conscious
waters saw their Lord and halted in
Difference to his might. We call such
work miraculous, but to the faith filled heart
it seems only the most natural thing in
the world. The elements only obey Jeho-
yah in their strict observance of what we
call natural law, and they can as easily
obey him in the keeping of some special
law when the case demands that law. The
exact place of crossing is not known, OF
course, and the local names mentioned in
this connection cannot now be identified,
but we have the place very nearly fixed
for twas directly against Jericho. 1t
required no common faith and courage on
the part of the priests who bore the ark to
stand firm in the midst of Jordan for
hours while the floods were accumula-
ing Just above them and promising sure
disaster If once the Lords hand should be
lifted from them. The same may be said
of the Israeltes who ventured into the
channel of the river with such mass of
waters just above them. The whole
account presents us a no BILE picture of
unquestoning obedience to God, and also
proof of his faithfulness toward all those
who believe and obey.
There are many seemingly impossible
barriers between us and better things
beyond, that might be crossed, and we
find ourselves possessed OF what our hearts
long for, If only we were ready to follow
the faith of Joshua and his people. What
a shame that feariulness and doubt should
keep us in the desert, when faith and
obedience would give us the goodly land