The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-09-27
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

indicated above
SUBJECT: INSTRUCTIONS AND ENCOURAGE
MENTs OF COP TO JOSHUA WHEN COMMITS
sIoNINa HIM TO BE THE SUCCESSOR OF
MOSES.
/. Time.
The Lord appeared to Joshua rs stated in V.
in the year 1858 a. III. 1t was at the close of
the 80 days of mourning in memory of Moses.
(Deu., 81: g. Chapter 3, V. Is, shows it was at
the time of harvest" The reference is to the
barley harvest. We see that the crossing took
place three days after Gods interview with
Joshua. Il: H. But if harvest time be in
definite we have fixed date in 4 : 10, to wit,
the 10th day of the first month. Il Chr, IL:
15.) The first month was Abb, or Nissan which
corresponds about with our April.
Joshua was 102 years old when inaugurated
as successor of Moses. (See notes on lesson for
last week. He lived for eight years. conquer
ing the Canaanites, settling and distributing
the land and instrueting the people.
q Place.
God spoke to Joshua east of the Jordan, OPP
poslte Jericho, on the plains of Moab. (Deu.,
81 /, 8, g. The last station of the exodus was
near the Jordan, across from Gilgal. (Nu, 80:
49,
3. The Circumstances
Moses, on account of his sin at Kadesh- Meri-
bah, was denied the privilege of entering the
Promised Land. God thus punished the i'm
patience, disobedienee and impetuosity of
Moses He died on Mt. Pisgah and was buried
near by in valley. Thirty days followed with
civil mourning. Prior to death Moses had
besought God to select a successor, and God
designated Joshua Moses had inaugurated him
into office. (Nu. 81: 10, 23.) The time came
when Joshua was to begin his duties. It is
clear he felt diffidence, springing probably not
from distrust in God, but from consciousness
OF his inferiority to Moses, from apprehensons
as to the loyalty to him of his people and from
realization of the great work before him. We
do not think he weakened on account of the
numerousness and fierceness of his enemies.
We remember his record at Kadcsh- Barnea.
We remember, however, he was then but 65
years old, while in our lesson he is 1872 years of
age. To inspire him for his work God appeared
to him and uttered words of cheer, instruction
and promise.
4. analysis
1. The successor of Moses.
2. Gods instructions to Joshua.
3. Gods encouragements to Joshua.
5. Discussion
1. The successor of Moses. Mon die, but God
keeps filling their places. A dies and it seems
great enterprise will become extinct; but,
10, b appears, and in little while is known
only by monument. Death can never outwit
Gods purposes. Providence is not confined to
any one agent. In anticipation of the deaths
OF leading men, God is all the time training
youths who can become worthy successors. So
as to Moses. Even before his death his place is
hlIed by the Inauguration of joshua (Nu n;
1929 The successor of Moses was wisely
chosen. He was a son of Num- of the tribe of
Ephraim; born in Egypt; for 62 years slave;
the minister, assistant, chief adviser and helper
OF Moses for 40 years. Elk, "a: 49,; one of the
IL spies sent out from K4desh- Barnea; one of
the two spies who made a favorable report and
exhorted the people to go Immediately into the
Promised Land soldier in spirit-courage-
Gus; probably the author of the book of Joshua,
except the last eight verses; not known to be
married; good organizer; full of faith in
God
2. Gods instructions to Joshua. It is said
God spake to Joshua. Jehovah probably COM
municated with Joshua in ways similar to
those he employed in giving information to
Moses. 1t seems that before this Joshua re-
ceiyed instructions from God through Moses,
but now he must learn direct from God, as
Moses had learned. In our lesson God prob
ably uttered words distinct from the SheRiuah.
1t IS likely Joshua sought instructions through
channels common to Moses. Waiting COM
munication. God appeared and spoke. Notice
the instructions. a.. Arise. (V. 81 Joshua was
to follow very busy man. The office into
which he had been installed was not an indo-
lent emptiness. Was Joshua despondent2 Did
he lack faith2 Was he afraid? Calvin accounts
for Gods exhortation thus: Because even
some OF tho bravest men, although fully pre-
pared beforehand, either stand still or hesitate
when the thing has to be done, this exhorta-
ton to Joshua, to grid himself at once for the
expedition, was by no means superhuous
though his call was ratified again, not only for
his own sake, but in order that the people
might not hesitate to follow him, with their
minds collected and calm, when they saw that
ne took no step without the guidance of God"
Moses was particular always to secure divine
limitations Of duty and the people would have
thought Joshua preSumptuOus to act Withouta
specific order from jehovah. b. go over this
Jordan" ". 81 We notice the children of
israel had reached point where only the river
ran between them and the western side of the
Promised Land. The river was then at high
water mark. (3:15.) 1t was about 1900 feet
wide and ii feet deep. The current is very
rapid. There was ne bridge. 4 miracle was
demanded in order to pass over to the other
side There was a precedent, which Joshua
had himself witnessed when Moses led the Is
raelites over the bed Of the Red Sea. c. &C. Be
strong and of good courage" (V. 6; also V. ~
Joshua needed self possession. He must not be
daunted by the ferceneSs of the enemy. He
must not magnify difficulties. leader can
not inspire others If they see he weakens at
| all The power of one man to set others into
enthusiasm, even to rally the discouraged, was
illustrated In the case of Sheridan at Winches-
ter. The masses Of the Israelits quaiIed before
the Canaanites. Their leader must be a man
Every courageous" (V.7) d. BE not afraid,
| neither be thou dismayed." ". 81 They who
might we'll be alarmed were the Canaantes.
(Ex., 23:g 81; Deu., 2 %; IL: 25.l Reference
is doubtless made to the demoralized condition
of the Israelites at Kadesh- Barnea, when told
Of the giants, the feAced cities, etc. God had
commanded the Israelites to be fearless. (Deu.,
81 80 g. Study the law. The law was then
the pentateuch-a small Bible indeed-only
the first five books of the present volume of
| Holy Scriptures. Joshua must be familarWth
Gods Word. !. observe to do according to
all the law" tY.7) copy of the Pentateuch
was deposited in the side Of the Ark Of the Cow
enant (Deu., 81: 8, 26) To do is more than
to know. Having the book in mind and exc
cutting its commandments are quite different.
Joshua was to use his scriptural knowledge.
| The word "observe" (Vs. z, 81 is from a He
brew root, meaning to be hard, rigid, diamond
or adamantine-like. Figuratiyely it means to
stare, TO keep fixed look. Joshua was never
| to lose sight of his book of instructions. lie
was to keep straight ahead in the line of its
Commandments, never turning off any tangent
to the right or left. ". ~ 9. For unto the
people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the
land" ". g.; also Deu., 81 z; L. 80; 3: 2S.)
We have the boundaries specified. Verse
and Deu., IL "a, give the boundaries as fol-
| fE,o ~ A.