Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1913-11-21

or infiexible law. Attention is also
drawn to the time, "after the death
Of Moses"
The call was clear and unquestion-
ed, for the Lord "spake." Our high
est responsibility is to that call which
comes from the highest source of au-
thority. This call came in the time of
great need, Israel is without a lead
er. Then follow the first words of
Jehovah to this newly chosen leader
". p and which constitute his
charge, Moses my servant is dead,
now, therefore arise" This suggests
prayerful attitude on the part of
Joshua, but in no way is it to be con-
strued that Moses was a hindrance
to this forward march of the people of
God. Rather, that Moses work was
completed and on the basis of his
work an advance was to be made.
Moses brought Israel under a gov
ernment Of God, he nationalized Is
rael. Joshua is called to conquest.
Verse three reveals the scope and the
assurance of success in this new
era, and notice, it is based upon Gods
word. "as said unto Moses" This
charge is two-foid, Gods covenant on
the one hand, and the conditions or
terms of the agreement on the other
hand. Verse four tells of the bound.
aries OF this new kingdom. It is sad
to remember that several hundred
years elapsed before the time when
under David, Israel Appropriated
these borders With them in this ad-
vance was to be Jehovah's presence
even as he had accompanied Moses.
Obedience to Law.
The conditions laid upon Joshua
were: ~ Confidence due to this prom
ise of the presence of Jehovah ". 81.
The personal pronoun ST" is used
seven times in these nine verses as
though God would make confidence
doubly assured. But confidence alone
was not enough. hence the necessity
Of courage" ". 81. Strength is due
to confidence and Quietness. Isa. 80:
Is, but courage is the active principle
which is the evidence of our strength
and courage Conquest was not alone
conditioned upon courage ". CD, but
also upon the sure foundation of the
word and oath of Jehovah. But
strength and courage are maintained
by obedience to law whether it be
physical, civil or spiritual. hence the
words Of verse Z, the possession of
this land depended upon absolute un-
fiinching, invariable adherence and OBJ
servance of the law, which Moses my
servant commanded" There is in
these last words the suggestion that
Moses had best served and led Is
rael because he was the close per-
sonal servant Of Jehovah. This thought
must undoubtedly have remained
vivid and potent factor governing the
life of Joshua in the conduct of his
newly appointed office.
Confidence and Authority.
But Jehovah never leaves his own
". 81, Matt. 1920. nor does he leave
man to blind fate or fortuitous cir
cumstances Therefore we read in
verse the counsel of Jehovah as to
the method whereby Joshua and Is
rael may prosper" w. y or according
to the margin do wisely" viz, they
shall mediate upon the books of the
law. This verse is enough for the
entire class session. The leader, be
he preacher or teacher, who has any
doubt about the word of God, or
stands dumb before the empty tomb
had better seek new vocation for
he is the apostle Of dying, disinte-
ent faith. The origin of man, the
mystery Of life. the destiny of the
soul, demands the voice of confidence
and authority not Of uncertainty and
doubt True prosperity and wisdom
are conditioned upon our taking the
word of God as the man of our coun-
sci, the light Of our path, our daily
meditation. The definite result of
such a course is set before Joshua,
and in addition he was promised the
companionship ". 81 of Jehovah every
step of the way. 1t is interesting in
this connection to remember that
Joshua was associated with Moses in
the first experience of war in the his
tory of this young nation.
Conclusion. The greatest lesson be-
fore us at this time is that Of continu-
Ity of the purposes of God. AS great
and important as Moses has been dur
ing his 40 years Of leadership, yet he
was not necessary. The instrument
Of divine deliverance, direction and
discipline, yea, the voice of God to Is
rael, the receiver of their complaints
and of their confessions, yet now he
has been removed. What a tremen-
dous blank he must have left. Yet
Israel is to go forward. there is to be
no halting in its progress. God had
been training men for 40 years, one
Of whose faith failed not at the sight
of the giants, one who had fellowship
with the old and is now to face the
new. We recall the words of John
Wesley, inscribed upon his memo
rial tablet In Westminster abbey, God
buries his workmen, but carries on
his work" Each individual in the
long succession Of leaders has his ap-
pointed task, and as he is loyal COM
pletes that task thereby preparing the
way for a new leader. The abiding
principles that condition each mans
success are loyalty to the past. and
implicit, obedient following of God
along the new pathway; as Joshua
said, "Ye have not passed this way
before"
The Golden Text is in substance
thrice repeated. First. Joshua was to
be strong and of good courage be-
cause of the work ahead of him (v. g.;
second, he was to be strong and cour-
ageous in the observance of the law;
and lastly he was to be strong and
courageous in order to avoid the per-
lis of fear and 6ismay which were
to beset the path of advance ". 81.
A study of the remainder of this
1, .Ixr 0,-Ir I'll