The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1906-12-01

vine presence. over !snd over s0kln
he studied the last wOfss OF @NSes,
seeking to know the perf6os WIN OF
God concerning his people. on. and
over again he reviewed the past hsH'
II tory. All, how they had rvbelled:
how they had murmurcd against
Moses: how they had suffered for
their mistakes and sins. Just 40
years ago they had been upon the bor-
j der land and had lost the blessed
privilege AZ 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-gi,en cour-
age which would make him indiffer.
emit to every difiiculty and danger.
All, to Joshua II 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 1t comes to every
soul upon whom God has placed spe-
cial burdens Of leadership, subdued
his spirit, and made him realize that
II was God who was their guide
and leader, and 1t was only as he
looked to him for help and strength
could he hope to lead that people. He
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:
Il '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, "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 list,ned to his
words. They realized as never before
that 1t was not the earthly leader af-
ter all, but God. the unfai.ing 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 leader to as In
his servant Joshua. And truly God is
our leader, for Joshua waiteth before
God for wisdom and understanding In
leading US"
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
i
source Of help and strength. It des-
troys that feeling Of man worship. II
prevents that building up Of person
al following, and 1t fixes allegiance
where 1t 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.
II was the hour of the evening sac
rifice. The priests had slain the lamb
and placed it upon the altar, and the
smoke of the burning sacrifice was
ascending straight up towards God.
and family the people caught the sig
nificance 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 had
come to him and had spoken, saying:
Moses, my servant, is dead; now
therefore arise, go over this Jordan
thou, and all this people, unto the
land which do give to them, even to
the children of Israel. Every place
that the sole Of your foot shall tread
s 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
5 of the Hittites, and unto the great seq
3 toward the going down Of the sun
5 shall be your coast There shall nor
: any man be able to stand before the.
all the days of thy life; as I was With
3 not fail thee nor forsake thee"
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 or
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
a people and they shouted for very JOY.
Z Joshua has come! Joshua is our
r leader! Joshua will now lead US for
Q ward"