The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-11-23

he studied the last words of Moses
seeking to know the perfect will OF
God concerning his people. Over and
over again he reviewed the past his
| tory. All, how they had rebelled;
| how they had murmured against
Moses; how they had suffered for
their mistakes and sins. Just 40
years ago they had been upon the Dor
der land and had lost the blessed
privilege Of entering the Promised
Land because of unbelief. Would they
now escape that pitfall? he asked
himself. He knew the task of lead.
ing the people was heavy one. and
during those days Of meditation and
prayer, he searched for more light
for more wisdom, for God-given cour-
age which would make him indiffer.
ent to every difficulty and danger.
All, to Joshua it was no light or
small thing that he should have been
called to lead Gods people, and he
dared not go lightly or carelessly for
ward. A true humility, God-given we
may be sure, as it comes to every
soul upon whom God has placed spe-
cial burdens of leadership, subdued
his spirit, and made him realize that
1t was God who was their guide
and leader, and it was only as he
looked to him for help and strength
| nNnI1 hn hnnn To bo,
knew God had called him. He knew
| that the blessing of Moses rested upon
| him. He never would forget that
solemn moment when the imperial
leader had placed his hands upon his
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."
"Oh, God" he cried in the intensity
Of the yearning of his soul that he |
might do the will of God, ooh, 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
qulre concerning the future move
mentS OF the people, and they quietly
Withdrew, not letting Joshua know
that they had mistrusted him and had
lmpauently sought his presence. But
new courage came into their own
hearts as they had listened to his
words. They realized as never before
that 1t 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
Tod for wisdom and understanding in
eading u.s."
There is nothing that can inspire
in the hearts of Gods peo.
Die ike the realization that the leader
S living close to God and is looking
o God for guidance and helm. 1t
urns the thoughts to the higher
source of help and strength 1t des.
roys that feeling OF man worship, it
'reVents that building up of a person.
j following, and it fixes allegiance
where it belongs-in God alone. And
0, as the prayer of Joshua shed
broad its influence upon the people,
hey rested their hearts in the new
ope and faith, and waited. p
1t was the hour of the evening sac. o.
lhce. The priests had slain the lamb ..
nd placed it upon the altar. and the :,
moke OF the burning sacrifice was ~
Scendlng straight up towards God, "
nd family the people caught the sig. N'
lhcance OF the great meaning of that :"
foring, the shedding of blood where. VI
an approach was made unto God III
nd While the congregation waited
'shua appeared before them, for that ="
ay, in the quiet of his tent, God had I'd
'me TO him and had spoken, saving: nc
Moses, my servant, is dead: now tn
lerefore arise, go over this Jordan WI
lou, and all this people, unto the 70
nd which do give to them. even 70 bu
e children of Israel. Every Mace co
at the sole of your foot shall tread M
'on, that have given unto Won az les
Ia unto Moses, From the Wilderness ny
III this Lebanon even unto the great To
YER, the river Euphrates. all the land viz
the Hittites, and unto the great sna frC
ward the going down of the sim of
all De your coast There shall not
y man be able to stand before thee
the days of thy lifea as I was with
I 1ail thee nor forsake thee"
Cody fear and joy filed his boort .
GOD ceased speaking, and insured
IN the new hope and purnoso
3athed upon him Inv tbn ,r,o.J F@z