Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-13

separated by a deep valley. An ancient
road led up from the valley of the
Jordan to the site of All or ''the Stone
Heap" which in all probability was
the modern town of Khirbet Haiylan,
about fifteen miles from GilgaL If
Israel could capture al it would have
a safe means of access to the upland
valleys of the central range of Pal
estine. The unexpected defeat of its
forces threw Israel into a panic. The
repulse and retreat with the loss of
thirty-six men-all that were lost in
the conquest Of Canaan-called for the
consideration of the cause Of the de-
feat.
Cause of Defeat.
The hour of victory and triumph is
frequently time of testing. Success
is apt to give us a false conception
of our power. The fall of Jericho was
Gods gift to Israel, which fact had
been emphasized by the two spies who
had made an Investigation of site and
strength of the foes citadel and city,
but when the accommodating party.
that had been sent up the valley to in
vestigate the possibilities. position and
turned they were so self-confident that
they underestimate the strength OF
the enemy's fortihcations and forces.
The very Smallness of the problem
caused them to recommend that only
few be sent to capture the old stone
Heap" which appeared to be insight
ncanr after their recent victories.
Few men fail in the great things OF
life because their dimensions and diff
culties invariably drive men 10 the
Lord, who is ever wiling and ready TO
assist US in our trials. Most of US fail
in the little Things OF life. so that the
successful man is one who never neglec.s
to take God into his ejaculation in the
very minutia of his daily life by seeking
His guidance in every plan formulated.
In the strategy conference that mapped
out the attack upon Al, not once did
Joshua or his generals turn and ask Je-
hovah what would He have them do, so
that He permitted them to suffer re-
We. ses, so that He could compel them TO
stop and think of Him and learn what
He would have told them before had they
drawn near un,o dim when p. eparing for
the conquest OF Al. Many OF the failures
of our life are due to our neglect to keep
in wireless communication with Christ,
our Commander-in-Chief because in our
egotism we overestinate our own worth
and forget the part God has performed
to give our efforts success.
AN accused thing in their midst
listening to the voice of Jehovah. Just
as when sin poi,utes our life we lose con-
nection with Christ and cripple the cause
of His Kingdom. SO the presence of sin
in the tents of Israel brought on its
defeat The weakness of many modern
movements has been due to the DISC
bedience of Christ's commands.
In the early history of the church at
Jerusalem Ananias and Sapphire sinned
and paid the penalty with their lives for
u.hf sh -
lie against the Holy Ghost and keep back
part of the price from the sale of their
The same spirit of covetousness that
finds its expression in the extortion. graft
and dishonesty today caused Achan to
1isobey Gods expressed commands in ref
srence to the footing of the city of Jericho.
all of which had been dedicated to Jeho-
Yah by divine decree. The pernicious pos
siblities of peril from, the sin of one indi-
vidual Is not realized as much with us as
I is today, In China We have allowed our
to run to seed and have for
gotten the truths Of the unity OF society
and of the race that makes US all to suf- !
Ter for the sins of others. just as We have !
been benefited by the righteousness of our /
fellows. When we are filed with con- |
;ternation as a result of sin We seek by /
with Christ for knowledge
If the cause and cure. The grace OF our
4ord is the only cure for despair due TO
detection and death from sin.
Despair, Detection, Death.
The repulse Of the %Israelites at All and
heir hurried retreat to Shebarim caused
sraers courage to fail. They tainted and
joshua, when he saw the routed forces
toward his headquarters. pros
rated himself before Jehovah. seeking to
scertain the cause of their defeat Petu-
antly he cried during a brief season of
in sackcloth and ashes-before
he ark why hast Thou brought us over
ordan.- The results Of their defeat was
Joshua, for he perceived how II
you'd affect his army, as well as that OF