The Tupelo journal., 1906-11-23

1 lCdQCl O. pLdSSa la - oPSA AAS
head and in the hearing of the whole
congregation, had said:
BE strong and of good courage:
for thou must go with the people unto
the land which the Lord hath sworn
unto their fathers to give them; and
thou shalt cause them to inherit it."
ooh, God," he cried in the intensity
of the yearning of his soul that he
might do the will of God, "Oh, God,
forbid that thy servant should con-
slider lightly the great responsibility
thou hast placed upon him. Help me
to realize thy strength and thy faith
~fulness, and my own weakness and
need"
He prayeth," the men whispered
, who had come to Joshua's tent to in
quire concerning the future move
ments of the people, and they quietly
withdrew, not letting Joshua know
that they had mistrusted him and had
impatiently sought his presence. But
new courage came into their own
hearts as they had listened to his
words. They realized as never before
that it was not the earthly leader af-
ter all, but God, the unfailing guide
and leader of Heaven, in whose hands
their destiny rested. And they went
forth among the people and stilled
their questions, saying:
Joshua prayeth. Moses is dead,
but God hath given a leader to us in
his servant Joshua. And truly God is
our leader, for Joshua Waiteth before
God for wisdom and understanding In
leading u.s."
There is nothing that can inspire
confidence in the hearts of Gods peo-
pie like the realization that the leader
is living close to God and is looking
to God for guidance and help. 1t
turns the thoughts to the higher
source of help and strength. 1t des-
troys that feeling of man worship, it
prevents that building up of a person
al following, and it fixes allegiance
where it belongs-in God alone. And
so, as the prayer of Joshua shed
abroad its influence upon the people,
they rested their hearts in the new
hope and faith, and waited.
1t was the hour of the evening sac
riice. The priests had slain the lamb
and placed it upon the altar, and the
smoke of the burning sacrifice "a
ascending straight up towards God,
and family the people caught the sig
n%ificance of the great meaning of that
offering, the shedding of blood where
by an approach was made unto God.
And while the congregation waited
Joshua appeared before them. for that
day, in the quiet of his tent, God hal
come to him and had spoken, saying:
Moses, my servant, is dead; now
therefore arise, go i've this Jordan,
thou, and all this people, unto the
land which I do give to them, even to
the children of Israel. Every place
that the sole of your foot shall tread
upon, that have given unto you, as I
said unto Moses. From the wilderness
and this Lebanon even unto the great
river, the river Euphrates, all the land
of the Hittites, and unto tsA great sea
toward the going down of the sun,
shall be your coast. There shall not
any nan be able to stand before thee
all the days of thy life; as l was with
Moses, so / will be with thee: l will
not fail thee nor forsake thee. Be
strong and of good courage: for unto
this people shalt thou divide for an
inheritance the land, which 1 sware
unto their fathers to give them.
Only be thou strong and very courage,
ono +hof fhO,, ava oIoo~r,o ~ IL
according to all the law, which Moses
my servant commanded thee: turn
not from it to the right hand or to
the left, that thou mayest prosper
whithersoever thou goest. This book
Of the law shall not depart out of thy
mouth, but thou shall mediate there
in day and night, tina. thou mayest
observe to do according to all that is
written therein: for then thou shalt
make thy way prosperous, and then
thou shalt have good success. Have
not / commanded thee? Be strong
and of good courage; be not afraid,
neither be thou dismayed: for the
Lord thy God is with thee whitherso-
ever thou goest."
Cody fear and joy filled his heart
as God ceased speaking, and inspired
with the new hope and purpose
breathed upon him by the words of
the Lord, Joshua went forth from his
tent and, as we have said, found the
congregation gathered for the evening
sacrifice. His coming stirred the
people and they shouted for very joy.
Joshua has come! Joshua is our
leader! Joshua will now lead us for
ward"
And when Joshua had stilled the
people, he rehearsed in their ears all
the words of the Lord, telling them
that God had renewed his covenant
made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
and would surely give them the land.
'Let the officers Of the people. come
together to me, that we may plan for
our departure" Joshua concluded.
And when these men, these leaders
of the people, had come together to
his tent, he said, with a vigor which
showed that though he could wait pa
tiently before God for his enduement
Of power, and for his word Of guild
ace, he could act with promptness
when the way was made clear:
I'm three days we shall pass over
Jordan. Pass therefore through the
host of Israel and command the PEG
pie to prepare them victuals, for we
are to go in to possess the land,
which the Lord your God giveth you
to possess it."