Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1913-12-19
LESSON FOR DECEMBER II
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 righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto
you."-Matt 6:33
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. 11) Joshua is ready to divide
the Compromised inheritance, chap
ters 1921.
!. Those left behind, w. is. Read
carefully Numbers ch. 80 to recall the
story of those who, like Lot of old.
saw good grazing land and chose it in
preference to that on the farther side
of Jordan, that possessed by the "chil-
dren of Anak." Subsequent history
reveals the foolishness of theig choice,
for they were the first to fall before
the enemies of Israel when the king
dom was broken up. The Levites
(v. ~ were not to have a portion but
rather they were to dwell in selected
cities with suburban property for their
f1ocks, vineyards and gardens.
Caleb Not an lsraeIite.
II. Caleb claims his inheritance,
Wv. 6-12 Joshua was old and stricken
in years (13:1) and now Israel is be-
fore him, each of the remaining nine
and one-half tribes, to have appor-
toned unto them permanent dwell
ling place after the long years of will
derness wandering, and the more re-
cent campaign of subjugation. Before
Joshua casts the lot, however, Caleb
recalls the promise Moses had made
to him 45 years before ". 10). From
comparison of v. R. ", Gen. 1913
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 promise
of Moses, "the man Of God" because
he had wholly followed the Lord my
Cod v. 9. His name literally means
"a dog'-yet this dog of Gentle got
more than the crumbs that fell from
the masters table, Matt 1926. 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 "to melt" Mum. 14:37. That
days work was one of serious results
and SO shall it 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
at 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. AS contrasted with
the others Caleb had fully followed
after Jehovah" Notice the personal
pronoun he uses, my God" and also
Jehovah speaks of Caleb as my serv-
ant" There was no note of uncertain
ty about his claim-'surely" ". 81.
even SO let the children of promise
rest assured and claim all the land
whereon their feet have trodden, Heb.
GIL, IL; 11:5, 6. Forty-fiVe years Is
a long time in one mans life to put
Gods word to the test. All of his
companions except Joshua died, yet
with renewed vigor Elsa. 40:3I he
claimed "this mountain" because the
Lord had promised it to him. The
"sons of Anak," a type of ''principali
ties and powers" (Eph. 6:12 R. W,
we're overcome, but faith asks for the
hard, mountainous experiences and
claims, as did Caleb, the fruits of vic
tory, not alone as its own, but for its
children as well (see Acts 16:31).
Remembered Gods Promise.
III. A promise fulfilled wv. 1915.
Joshua at once recognizes the justness
and validity of Caleb's claim. He re-
membered Gods promise, Mum. 1924
80; Deut. 1868, therefore he at once
grants the request and adds to it his
blessing. Hebron. means Joining"
union" fellowship" Thus we see
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; 14:20; l. John 1:3.
See also Matt. 8:11, IL. The only con-
dition is that of faith in God and in
his Word, Gal. 81. rs, 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 vic
tory."-G. Campbell Morgan.
The 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-
tance and involves following the Lord
fully. Frequently, constantly, this
means a long postponement Of the
day of our visible vindication. Yet
such postponement is not the result
Of the capriciousness of God, nor is
it delayed beyond the hour necessary
for the working out of the plans of
Jehovah, in accordance with the very
best means. AS Caleb waited those
45 years his strength waxed not, and
all things needful were supplied. The
point is not SO much that he at last
gained the inheritance, but that dur
ing the period of waiting his susie
nance and his raiment were provided.
Faith will reach it's final possessions,
but the words of Jesus remind us that
in the process of seeking and of wait
ing, God cares for our every immedi-
ate need, and adds to his children
those things about which they aTs
constantly in danger of being anxious.
All through the year we have been
hearing of promises which were con-