The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1913-11-26
Sunday School Notes
Side Lights on Next Sundays Lesson
for Teachers and Pupils.
Edited by Charles K. Meyers
Iov. 30-Crossing the Jordan. Josh.

Nov. 3O-Crossing the Jordan. Josh.
3. III.
We have for our lesson this week
one Of the great events in the history
of the Children Of Israel 1t was a
time to which the Hebrew race had
been looking forward for hundreds of
years. The great founder of the race,
Abraham, was given the promise when
yet he lived in the land of his fathers
that if he would leave all, and make
his home far to the north and west, in
due time his posterity should have a
permanent home in country of abund-
ance. The promise was repeated to
handspring Of hope in the lives OF
Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and the Jewish
race generally. During the years OF
Egyptian bondage the elders of the
people kept bright the hope Of deliv-
erance, by calling to mind the promise
|of Jehovah that in time He would re-
member His people and give them
rest in country of their own.
Standing on the banks of the Jor-
dan river under the new fighting lead
er, Joshua, the Hebrew children were
about to see the fultillment of the
promise made to Abraham. Was not
,lis Tine of note? 1t was the cul-
minaticn of events running back hun
dreds Of years. 1t will be remembered
that once before there was opportunity
to enter the Promised Land, but at
that time the people had not sufficient
trust and faith in God to decide then
to go forward and thus the entry had
to be postponed some thirty-eight
years. Let us try to picture the scene
Encamped along the eastern side OF
the river Jordan were the hosts OF
Israel. Before them flowed the river
at full flood tide. In view was the
great walled city of Jericho, defiant
and seeming unconquerable. OF course
there must have been some misgivings
as to the future, but now after so many
evidences OF Gods faithfulness to them
there was confidence that in the end
success would be theirs. There comes
the direction from Jehovah for the
people to prepare themselves to cross
the river. This must have caused a
sensation in the camp. 1t was then
ordered that the priests whose bust
ness it was to care for the precious
wooden box called "The Ark" should
take it forward right into the river.
Now Joshua was the ideal type of a
man who trusted in what Gold told
h4m. TO hear and understand a COM
mand meant instant obedience. His
faith had shone out in utmost brillian-
cy when he had advised many years
before forward movement on the
enemy, trusting in the God OF his
fathers to open the way. So on this
occasion there is no faltering.
On command of Joshua the priests
take the ark and advance into the wa
ters. Now comes the miraculous, for
the waters turn back. On the priests
go until the center of the river is
reached and there stop is made. Now
comes the command of the Hebrews
to advance and over or through the
liver they go. When all are over, bag
and baggage, the priests leave their
station and move on the eastern bank
and as they walk safely on the dry
land the waters of the river come to-
gether and move onward toward the
Dead sea. Before, however, the river
bottom was wet with the water, God
had directed representative of each
Of the twelve tribes to pick up a stone
from the bed and carry it to the shore
and these were at once set up in the
form OF monument or memorial of
lne day and the time when the Jor-
dan had been crossed and the Prom
ised Land actually set foot upon
1t need hardly be said that one
teaching of this lesson is the faithful
ness of God to His promises. Not on
ly in this case, but in every other the
same is true. The wanderings of the
people in the desert have often been
likened to the life career of an individ-
ual. Trials innumerable beset him.
which can be overcome through faith
Evidences are ever at hand of divine
help and leadings. Before is the
Promised Land where there shall be
no more wanderings and wearisome
The crossing of the Jor-
dan is likeued to the river of Death
through which God will lead and care
for the faithful ones. In the language
Of the familiar hymn Then trust in
God through all our days, fear not for
He doeth hold thy hand" In closing
this talk let me express the earnest
hope that all readers may face with
courage their crossing OF the Jordan
and that the land promised by the
blessed Jesus. told of in such glowing
terms OF Saint Paul, and painted in
The beautiful words of Revelation, may
come to full realization, | can say no
more.