The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-11-25
THE CRISIS AND THE CROSSING.
The International Sunday School
Lesson for November 30 is Gross
ing the Jordan" Joshua 3:1-17:
Psalms ia.
(By William T.. Ellis.)

ing the Joshua S:1.17:
Psalms ia.
(By William 7. Ellis.)
Rivers ever have been the great ge-
graphical dividers: none more so
than the Jordan. In fact, as we'll AS
a figure Of speech, the Jordan is the
great line Of crisis and crossing. 1t
is today as it has been for mileniums.
the stream that separates the land Of
law from the wilderness. Sc long as
one remains on this side of the Jor-
dan, when travelling in the Holy Land, |
he is reasonably safe.
on my first night east of the Jor-
dan | was attacked by highwaymen.
| well remember the panic of our
chief muleteer at being left alone for
a short time on the other side Of Jor-
dan. AS my party drew near to the
Jordan River, various one travellers
attached themselves. to us, that they
might have the protection Of the
man with a-hat." Only the law of the
gun runs east of the Jordan. A Cir
Cassian settlement recently establish
ed there found the outlawry SO great
that they had to serve notice upon
the Arab sheiks round about that
thereafter, for. every Caucasian killed
two Arabs would be killed, prospect
i've of their personal relation to the
crime.
ABOUT WneTe the ISTaellteS crossed
the Jordan there is now a small COW
cred bridge. to pass over which costs
q toll. Loud and long are the wran-
giles of the poor Arabs who want to
20 one way or another. One young
chap had to leave his cloak with the
toll-keeper, util a foreigner redeemed
il for him.
The Old Testament story is true to
the facts of all history, and of present
day life. when it makes the crossing
of the Jordan a crisis in the affairs of
the Children of Israel. The serious
ness Of it is implied in the figure Of
speech which make the River of
Death the River Jordan, separating
the pilgrim from the Promised Land.
"Onc More Ri3cr to Cross"
Vague notions of Eastern geogra-
ply will prevent many persons from
catching the significance Of this
whole Bible story. The Jordan repre-
scented the end of Israels wanderings
Across its tawny flood lay the Lano
Of Promise. The Israelites had come
lands Of Moab. Before their desert
tired eyes spread the stately palms
and luXuriant green's of the Jordan
Valley. Only the river interviewed
between them and a tropical luxuri
ance equal to anything they had seer
along the Nile.
The situation was dramatic. Spie.
had crossed the river and ha
brought back a good report. The.
found that the fame of Jehovah hat
preceded the people of Jehovah. Tn
mighty providences Of the pilgrimag
through the wilderness had run a
udings of warning ahead of the host
Of Israel. In the fortified city o
Jericho, the first point of attack t
be faced by the Jews, the hearts o
the people had become as water. h
had heard that these strangers wer
the special proteges of jehovah; hoy
He had led them, and-fed them an
brought them hitherto, had gone be
fore them, magnifying His name.
These same spies had received hos
pitality from Rahab, and by her bee
protected in her house on the cit
wall. so that they pledged her, thu
when they should come in conquest
as she, in m with the rest of tn
city, believed would be the case-he
family would be spared from punish
ment. All this news was heartenin
to the waiting children of Israel. The
knew that they had but to g u
and possess the land as they had S
often been assured.
Every Mans Jordan.
This is a good story to read in time
VI Crisis Tor the Individual ana IOT u
nation. As lowell says:
Once to every man and nation, com
"A moment to decide,
In the strife Of Truth with FalsehOt
for the good or evil side;
Some great cause, God new Me
siah, Offering each, the bloom
blight.
Parts the goats upon the left han
and the sheep upon the rlSnI,
And hat choice goes by foreve
'twixt that darkness and tn
light"
The plight Of the Israelites is
picture of the state of mind OF ma
persons who will read these lin
They are perturbed over the futur
n prevalence of the success lite
allure indicates the widespread co
Germ of what the changing days a
To bring forth. Family n a
T,pptipU yprvuhorp re- consider I