The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-12-18
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 2,
DIVISION OF THE LAND.

DIVISION OF the LAND.
LESSON TExT-Joshua 14:1-14
GOLDEN TEXT-"Seek We first the
Kingdom Of God and his righteousnessa
and all these things shall be added unto
you."-Matt 6:3a
Following the defeat at Al We see
Joshua building an altar at Ebal (ch. 81
and reading again all that Moses
commanded" ". 35). to the Israelites
and the strangers as well. Then fol-
lows an account Of his campaigns. A
military critic has classed Joshua with
the Alexanders. Caesars. Napoleons.
Wellingtons and Grants Of all ages-
His dealing with the Gibeonites and
its after effects was one error In his
campaign. for he failed to take coun-
sci of Jehovah. At the close of the
war (ch. III Joshua is ready to divide
the Compromised Inheritance. chap
ters 1921.
.. Those left behind, w. IS. Read
carefully Numbers Oh. 80 to recall the
story Of those who. like Lot Of old.
saw good grazing land and chose II In
preference to that on the farther side
Of Jordan, that possessed by the chill
dren of Anak." Subsequent history
reveals the foolishness Of their choice
for they we're the first to fall before
the enemies Of Israel when the king
dom was broken up. The LeviteA
". y were not to have q portion but
rather they were to dwell in selected
cities with suburban property.
Caleb Not IN lsraeIIte.
u. Caleb claims HE Inheritance,
w. GIG. Joshua was old and stricken
In years (13:D and now Israel Ia be-
fore him, each of the remaining nine
and one-half tribes, to have appor~
toned unto them q permanent dwell
ling place after the long years Of will
derness wandering, and the moro re-
cent campaign Of subjugation- Before
Joshua casts the lot, however, Caleb
recalls the promise Moses had made
to him As years before ". 100. From
q comparison of v. r. w., Gen. 1918
and Josh. 1913 It appears that Caleb
was not an Israelite by birth. but new
ertheless he claims an Inheritance
among them, based upon the promises
of Moses. "the man Of Cod" because
he had wholly followed the Lord my.
God" v. 8. His name literally meana
"a dog"-yet this dog of Gentle got
more than the crumbs that fell from
the masters table, Matt 1875. Caleb
rested upon the sure word Of God. and
to remember this promise was not an
act of selfishness. How those events
In the valley of Eschel must have
stood out In the memory Of Caleb and,
Joshua. They remembered how their
companions caused the hearts Of the
people ito melt" Mum. 1887. That
days work was one of serious results
and so shall 1t be for their imitators
of the present day. To see the giants
and not, as Caleb. to see God had
brought death. In his heart, however,
Caleb treasured Gods word and now
ut eighty-five he has not alone been
kept alive" but he is as strong as
on that day. when in the prime Of his
manhood, Moses had sent him forth
with the twelve.
Remembered Code Promise.
~. A promise fulfilled w. 1915.
Joshua at once recognizes the justness
and validity Of Calebs claim. He re-
membered Gods promise. Mum. 14:24-
80; Deut. 1868. therefore he at once
grants the request and adds to II hts
blessing. Hebron, means Joining"
union" fellowship" Thus we sees
Caleb entering into all the rights.
privileges and blessings Of any of the
descendants of Jacob. Is this not
typical of our privilege In Christ Je-
sus? John 1876; 1920; !. John Ia.
See also Matt. 8:11. IL. The only con-
dition is that of faith In God and In
his Word. Gal. ST.. 20. 20. THUS faith
In the case Of Caleb is revealed as the
principle which follows fully. waits pa
tiently. asks for new opportunities for
its exercise. and gains finally . vio-
tory."-G. Campbell Morgan.
Tho Golden Text. The essential
value of this lesson is expressed In
these words Of our Lord. To seek the
kingdom of God and his righteousness
first, Is the matter Of supreme impor-
lance and involves following the Lord,
fully. Frequently, constantly. this
means q long postponement Of the
day Of our visible vindication. Yet
such postponement IL not the result
of the capriciousness of God. nor Ia
II delayed beyond the hour necessary
for the working out OF the plans q
Jehovah, In accordance with the very
best means. A Caleb waited those
46 years his strength waved not, ana
all things needful were supplied Tha
point is not SO much that he as lase
gained the Inheritance. but that dur
ing the period Of waiting his susteS
nance and his raiment were provided
All through the year We have been
hearinS Of promises which were COM
ditional upon loyalty to God and obe-
dience 70 his viii. Today We sec q
fulfllment Of the promise made oven
and over again that Israel should pos
sess the Promised Land. Dr.. J. wiz
bur Chapman asked Gen. William
Booth for the secret Of his success in
the Salvation Army and his reply was
God has had all there was Of me-"
Caleb's was Q vigorous. happy old
age: he had not wasted anxious