The Washington herald., 1913-12-06
With the Washington Churches

" V"OiLIfLSIOst
, account of how Joshua, acting under d.
vine command, re-estabiished the observ-
ance of the rite of circumcision. which
had been neglected during the whole OF
the wilderness wanderings.
Then the Passover was observed for the
first time in the land. At this juncture
was granted vision, suited to his need
in view of the particular work that he
was called upon to do. There appeared
unto him a man. with his sword dI avn.
Joshua Immediately approached him and
asked him, Art thou for us or for our
adversaries?" and received the reply.
Captain of the host Of the Lord am !
now come" AS Joshua immediately rem
dered him obeisance, anj asked for his
commands, he was addressed almost in
the identical words employed in the will
derness to Moses long before, as he was
charged to put of his shoes, because he
stood on holy ground. Thus the new
leader was brought face 10 face with Je-
hovah becoming Man OF war, in order
to the accomplishment of His immediate
purpose; and thus was reminded that his
authority over the people was depend
ent upon his submission to the authority
of Jehovah.
The story OF the siege of Jericho is then
told, and il is impressive as a revelation
of the demand which Jehovah made upon
the faith of His people The very things
in this story at which unbelief SCOTS are
te revelations of supreme value. AS we
watch these men marching round the
city for six days, and keeping silence.
and on the seventh day marching round
seven times in succession. We can imagine
what a test such an occupation must
have been to faith. To the heart Of man
1t would have been much easier to attack
and TO fight, than to wait and to possess
the soul in patience and in silence during
the whole week. Yet by these very
methods these men were being taught
their dependence upon God. and the ne
cessity for the exercise Of a faith which
depended only upon Him.
Ere the final march, Joshua distinctly
and with great care charged the people
that everything in the city of Jericho
was devoted to Jehovah. and that no man
was to take anything for himself. They
were in the land. in the economy OF
God. as His scourge, and there was to
be no element of selishness in their war
fare. The campaign was not one in which
the soldiers were to be rewarded by
booty
Finally, their faith was vindicated by
the direct acts of God The first was that
of the fall of the walls, and the giving
pie The second was that OF the deliver
ance of Rahab, who, by the exercise of
the same principle Of faith, had put her
self into line with the Divine procedure
and power.
The Teaching.
The teaching of the lesson is patent,
and is that which We have already no.
ticed. Everything in the Divine order
was intended to teach these people that
they were coming into possession OF the
land by the activity of God; and that con-
sequently they must depend wholly upon
Him. and express their dependence in
obedience to His laws. Moreover. every
thing was done in order TO discipline
them. All passion and covetOusness were
held in check by the means adopted.
1t is impossible to read this story with
out realizing that faith makes much Sc
verer demands on men than sight. The
activity of the flesh is much easier to the
human heart than the patience of the
spirit. And yet it is equally patent that
faiths victories are far more sure, and
far more complete, than those Of sight
and human cleverness can ever be-
AS the people of God had thus crossed
the Jordan, and taken their first march
within the promised land, and captured
the first walled city that opposed their
progress, the unbelief OF forty years be-
fore was rebuked. Surely this was day
of vindication for Caleb and Joshua after
long years of waiting; for it was a day
in which the nation proved that God
was able to give victory to the people in
whom He delighted.
The Golden Text.
These words spoken by our Lord to
the man who in desperation brought his
son to Him, focus all the value Of our
lesson.
Bearing them in mind, the story we
have been considering illustrates in a
very remarkable manner what il is TO
believe The possibilities Of belief aie re-
vealed in the capture of the city. What,
then, do we see of faith in the attitude
Of the people to whom :his capture was
thus made possible?
Faith is seen in this story, as obedi- |
ence rendered. in spite of appearance. No
one can deny the apparent absurdity OF
walking round the walls OF a city, blow
ing rams horns, in order to get into the
city, and to possess it All appearances
were against the possibility of victory. J
Faith depended upon the Word of God, |
and did the apparently foolish thing. 1t
thereby demonstrated its wisdom and His |
power.
Faith is also revealed as the power to |
wait and to persist. 1t is more than a
risk taken, more than a venture made. |
1t is an adventure, a movement toward |
certain consummation, and persisted in |
until the victory is won.
Faith. moreover, in this story is re- |
vealed as cooperation with God I'm order |
to the accomplishment of His purpose, |
rather than an enterprise undertaken In |