The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-05
International SundaySchool
 Lesson
.-...., ,.
 I-11. October c. 1907.
Jo.hua. Tsraer. New Leader.

Joshua, TsraeFs New Leader.
 The generation of the Exodus was dead but the inoAlculable gains of Its sorrowfuI travail in the wilderness were transmitted to the new generation which stood on the threshold of Ca- naan. They received as a legacy an incomparable moral and ethical code. most significant ritual, a weil-de- fined theoretic government. and the ever-thriliing story of the wonders God did in the wilderness forty years. No people were ever more richly en- dowed. NBut the time when Israel was to be chiefly receptive was passed. With all the spells of twenty genera tions, the nation was on the point of projecting itself into a new arena. The pilgrim race was at length to cease it's wanderings. and enter Into its rest" but not until 1t had won it from the heather. "ConouestF' was the key note now.
 In this emergent situation the call was for a great, determined, tactful, inspirational leader Joshua was Je- hovah's savior for his people. Good blood coursed his veins. He was di- rectly descended from Joseph in the eighteenth generation from Ephraim. He had drunk the bitter cup of serv- itude. and had been a slave in the brickyards of Egypt. He saw the plaques and the miracles of the exodus. He became Moses minister" more properly. his adjutapt. He alone went part way up Sinai with. IsraeI's me- diator, and was first to greet him as he descended the mount. He learned the art of war, and Rad defeated the cree hordes of the Bedouins. He had already conquered tl1eowhole territory east of the Jordan, and installed the two tribes and the half tribe in their possessions Thus it was no novice who was stepping to the fore in this crisis hour He was in his S5th year when Moses solemnly and publicly in- vested him with definite and supreme authority. With quiet dignity and con- sciousness of his personal resources, Joshua took up the reins of govern ment as the natural and competent suc- cessor of Moses.
 His very first move proves him the experienced military commander. He seeks full quota of troops for the campaign, and so makes a powerful appeal for fraterpal assistance to the two tribes and the half tribe. asking them to redeem their pledge to help the other tribes conquer the remain ing territory. Next he turned his at- tention to the commisrariat. He sends the officers of the people through the camp. with orders for the people to prepare victuals." Next he sends the spies to Jericho, which he recognizes as the Gibraltar of Canaan. They are to take account of its garrison and de- lenses.
 The Divine address to the new lead CT has been aptly called an enliven. ing exhortation. The formal announce ment of Moses death Is suggestive that another and a new type of leader is required. Jehovah. as the theocratic commander, orders the crossing of the Jordan the natural barrier. and the in- vasion of Canaan. Divine and com forting assurances of success are min gled with the general orders from headquarters. The boundaries of the territory to be conquered are defined from the great and terrible wilderness on the south to the white mountain Deban9n) on the north: from the Eu- pirates, that great river" in the east, to the sea at the setting of the sun The Divine constancy to Moses is cited as pledge of similar constancy to Joshua. Jehovah will not fail or forsake- his captain. Only he is to be strong and courageous. These are not vague terms. It. Is not strength and firmness in general Joshua Is to have, but strength in the hands and firmness in the knees. He is to be strong to grasp and frm-kneed to withstand hostile assault. And the source of strength is found in the Scriptures. It Is to be Joshua's med- itation day, and night. Implicit obe- dience is to be given 1t. He Is not to turn from 1t to right or left. It be- ing the man of his counsel, he will have good success. and his way shall be prosperous. In spite of all odds, he Is to be strong and of good cour- age. He is not to be afraid or dis mayed; for the constancy of the Divine presence Is assured.
 Key aad Analysis.
 l. New Generation on Threshhold of
 Canaan.
 Laden with spells of wilderness. 2. Conquest. the keynote.
 8. Needed a leader.
 Joshua. his qualifications.
 First moves.
 f. Divine commands and assurances.
 The Teachers Lantern.
 A new book of the Bible opens to us: Joshua, so called. not on account of authorship, but because of the hero. who stands against the narrative like a white and boldly-cut cameo against it's background.
 It is possible the book has suffered to some extent by its rather arbitrary exclusion from the first division of ure-penalteuch--of which some believe 1t was originally part.
 The contents are for the most part a stirring narrative of the conquest and adivision of Canaan. and an extremely accurate description of the land.
 Yet the book Is. probably not the aautirtsauS camDoeikton of ona VUrffar aa