Evening star., 1913-12-06
t f26urroap @ebool lessor,
Nh Bp Reb. !Rugb o. @tebenson.


the city in accordance with the prom Sc or
Joshua when they shouted the city walls
fell. except that part containing the home
of Rahab, the harlot convert, with whom
the two spies had mad A compact that
assured all in her house salvation because
of Rahabs faith At the given signal
the massive walls fell.
Jericho had bowed to Jehovah. Faith
had Won another victory over force.
While earthquake would explain the
falling of the walls. 1t would not remove
the miracle in timing the event. The
falling OF the walls was a signal for all
TO attack the city. but to touch not the
spoils, they had been devoted to God.
There is something in this strategic policy
of Joshua that reminds us OF the
courageous trust of our President in the
present Mexican crisis that stands for the
, strategy OF the moral power of the cap
tain of the hosts" to bring victory for
the cause of righteousness without the
intervention by force. All things are
possible to him that believeth today just
! as much as in the days of Joshua when
victory crowned the obedience of the
people, priests and their leader. and re-
warded Rahab for her trust in God and
defense of the two spies. when Jericho
was destroyed, by saving all In her home.
Rahab's Rescue.
The saving of Rahab the larlot was IN
accordance with the agreement made
with the two spies and the commands OF
Joshua. The rescue of this woman and
her reception by Israel was due to her
acceptance of Jehovah and faith in Him.
which caused her heather blood to be-
come one of the strains OF our blessed
Lord. The message of the gospel that
Jesus was the Messiah and the declara-
ton of the law of religious liberty that
has found its best expression in our ma
tional life was given to woman, whose
moral life was not approved by the Lord.
To another woman of easy virtue Christ
gave a new chance by bidding her to '.go
and sin no more" The promise to
Abraham. as well as the gospel. opens up
door of hope and help to all that nave
failed to reach the standard of moral life
proclaimed in the word.
The determination of the citizens OF
Jericho has been considered by some to
be inconsistent with the divine character
revealed in the New Testament, Yet the
Scriptures clearly show that their coia-
plete destruction was absolutely essential
to the safety of Israel and the preserva-
ton OF pure religion. The abodes OF
idoIatry had to be razed to the ground
lest the idolatry would spread to Israel;
even the children were ordered cut OF,
lest they should grow up to propagate the
moral leprosy. Everything connec,ed with
idol worship was consumed lest ii should
become a snare. 1t was because OF this
danger that Joshua strictly warned his
forces against lootlnS tnat Is SO common
among armies.
We will miss the most important point
in this narrative if we think that the
days of miracles have passed, for il is
still true,
When terrors rise and nations faint
God is the strength OF every saint.
The miracle condenses in a single mo-
f.frkI..
control the divine action in the realms OF
nature and history. Paul makes an ap-
plication of this truth TO the work We are
called upon TO do in carrying the gospel
of Christ to every creature in LII Corfu
thians III Cor, 1886, which, if studied
carefully, will show plainly that he
ferred to the destruction of Jericho be-
cause I'm that campaign no carnal weap-
ons were used. that the stronghoIds We're
pulled down through the mighty power
of God, and through the same power
We're the people brought into captivity
and their disobdience avenged"
In the faith that takes God at His
word lies the secret Oh power with God
for men and of power with men FOR Cod.
Ii makes one both the recipient and the
giver of divine life.
DUTY lies along the path Of every life.
Each soul born into the world has its
mission born with ii that continues
throughout ali the days of mans life.
One supreme effort will not fulfill the
mission OF life, for IL calls Tor a con-
tinuous and constant effort. Before
all there appears some insurmountable
task, whether We be physicians phiian-
thropists. patriots or preachers, that calls
for the exercise of faith. If We in the
spirit of Joshua approach our Jerichos
they will capltulate. There is no such
word as failure in the speech of the man
who takes God at His word, for with
that faith all things are possible and
there is no such thing as deieat. The
call of God to service is a summons to
victory. If we do His viii He viii honor
our efforts Nothing done in faith for
Him can be failure.
Though sccfers ask. Where is your gain?"
And knocking say, '.Your work Is vain
These scoffers die and forgot;
Work done for God, II dicth not.
Press on, press on doubt nor fear:
Whate'er may die or be forgot,
Work done for God, Ii dieth not.
President Earl OF Des Noines well SAYS:
st is by the perseverance of faith that
modern civilization is so rich In comforts
due to labor-sayins devices. Men had
faith to work and on fruitlessly until
the thing for which they were working
took definite shape. This has been the
history of the telegraph, telephone and
every other modern invention. BY the
of faith the liquor traffic il
being destroyed, the social evil is being
gambling is outkawed and the
very form of society is being changed