Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-11-27
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 8
CROSSING THE JORDAN.

LESSON TExT-Joshua s7-17
GOLDEN TExT-"Fear thou not for I
am with thee. A:1o.
The spies sent out by Joshua (ch.
q were animated by quite different
motive than that which governed
those who first visited Canaan, and
they brought back much different
report Mum. CHI. 13). The story OF
their experience in Jericho. with Ra-
hab, their escape from her house. and
the incident OF the scarlet thread, Z
will prove an interesting introduction
for today's lesson. There are two
suggestions in the preparation for the
crossing of the Jordan mentioned In
the first seven verses of this chapter:
(1) 1t was to be an orderly advance
". A.; no disorderly crowding about
those who led This was also to be a
sure path, though they had not passed
that way before, for God was leading.
~ 1t was to be a prayerfui advance
w. 81 Literally. they were to "un-
dertake great things for God and to
expect great things from God"
Jesus Must Lead.
I. The Leader, w. z, 8. The cir
cumstances surrounding this episode
are far different from those at the
crossing of the Red sea. Moses en-
counter with Pharaoh had stamped
him as the one who should save the
nation. True, in the battles and in
his association with Moses Joshua
had occupied position of leadership,
but now he Is to deliver Israel from
the death OF the wilderness into the
life and possessions of Canaan. hence
the words, Il will magnify thee in
the sight of all Israel" 1t is notice
able, however, that Joshua did not
lead this forward march. but rather
the priests. The ark which they bore
Is type of Christ and he must al
ways lead. Jehovah magnified Joshua
because Joshua had magnified Jeho-
yah, see |. Sam. 2:30, John 17:4, S.
II. Those Led, w. e-13. Joshua at
once communicates Jehovah's order
for forward march to the people a.
Thess. 2:13). But God graciously &C
companies his word by visible mani
festation of his presence ". 10. 11)
CT l. John Ill, Col. 2:9. 1t was the
word and presence of the living
God" ". 10) that was to work this
miracle, and to accomplish the victo-
rious possession of the land in &C
cordance with his own sure promise.
This lesson is a great lesson Of
4rr kn lcadinC NJ
his priests bearing the ark Ga type Of
Christi, leads man from the failures
Of his wilderness experience, through
death (the Jordan, into newness Of
life (Canaan), Rom ga. 8. Previous
ly the mention of the names of these
enemies ". 10) had SO frightened
Israel that they turned aside in a
panic, but Israel had been learning
in the bitter school Of discipline and
failure. Tho Lord OF all the earth"
". ~ is to lead, why then fear?
There was, however, to be a test, viz,
the path was not to open until their
feet were in the waters. There was
no such test at the Red sea, for they
did not then have sufficient faith, /.
cor. IU.lo, l. refer l.1
Israel's One Way.
III. The Dry Ground, w. f4-f7. Up
until the moment they stepped into
the water, priest and people alike re-
lied upon the bare word Of Jehovah,
l. Sam. 1929. We, too. will surely
find a way of escape If we yield him
implicit obedience, Isa 1872; I. Cor.
1913. AS if to heighten this miracle
we need to remember 1t was the sea-
son of flood tide w. 15). The river
Jordan Is great type of the judg-
ment passed upon sin. Verse sixteen
tells us that the waters were backed
up beyond "the city of Adam" Our
Joshua delivers not only us from all
sin but his deliverance is also suffi-
cient for the whole human race, Heb.
1928, l. John 1T. Our deliverance is
complete, let us praise him. The
Jordan would not, however, have
opened had those bearing the ark
paused upon the bank. The people
could not have been delivered except
as the ark remained in the river bed
Jesus went into the waters for us, 2
Cor. 5:21; GAL 3:13 He has con-
demned sin for us, Rom. 8:3. He
alone has opened pathway for our
deliverance. There was no other way
whereby Israel could be delivered and
further they were delivered right
against Jericho ". 16) viz, before
their next big task, and "all the ma
ton were passed clean over JofGan"
". 10, John 1872.
Representatives OF each tribe tch.
A carried from the river twelve
stones for the building of an altar so
that the history of that deliversnce
might be perpetuated
~. The Lesson. In this lesson we
are brought, in company with Israel
into the land. at last. Abraham saw
aud believed. Jacob and his s.ns
left it when threatened with moral
contamination and physical death.
Much has happened since that time
but Gods purposes have gone on I'M
changed. Nor has Jehovah ever been
defeated. Israel is delivered because
In the language of Ps. 1872, Judah
became his sanctuary, Israel his DO
lninion." Note how Ps. 114:3 united
forty years Of history. The sea saw
It and fled; Jordan was driven back"
This is the history of God-possessed
PEOPLE. Judah, the tribe from which
Messiah is to sprir 2, is his sanctuary
and this is The nation through whom
hs win accomplish his larger pur-
poses in the world
Again the golden text emphasizes