St. Tammany farmer., 1906-12-08

prayer ne searched ICf more N&nI.
for more wisdom, for God-givan 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 1t 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 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:
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 1t. :"
i "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 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 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. It
turns the thoughts to the higher
source of help and strength. It des-
troys that feeling Of man worship, It
prevents that building up of 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.
It was the hour of the evening sac
rfffce. The priests had slain the lamb
and placed 1t upon the altar, and the
smoke of the burning sacrifice was
ascending straight up towards God,
njficance 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 hail
come to him and had spoken, saying:
Moses, my servant, is dead; now
%1nr frSysn vr$~ IL
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
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 tie great sea
toward the going down Of the sun,
shall be your coast. There shall not
any man be able to stand before thee
all the days OF thy life; as was with
Moses, SO will be with thee: 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 / sware
unto their fathers to give them.
Only be thou strong and very courage
GUS, that thou mayest observe to do
according to all the law, which Moses
my servant commanded thee: turn
not from 1t 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 iE our
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