Mexico Missouri message., 1913-11-20

GOLDEN TEXT-"Be strong and OF
good courage" Joshua 1:9.
Now 1t came to pass" ". ~. Things,
do not happen in the kingdom of God,
they come to pass" This world, ma.
tons. families or individuals were not
set In motion by creator who has
gone of neglectfuI of his creatures,
nor has he left them to blind fate
or infiexible law. Attention is also
drawn to the time, after the death
of Moses"
The call was clear and unquestion-
ed, for the Lord "spake." Our high
est responsibility is to that call which
comes from the highest source of au-
thority. This call came in the time OF
great need, Israel is without a lead
er. Then follow the first words of
Jehovah to this newly chosen leader
". ~ and which constitute his
charge, Moses my servant Is dead,
now, therefore arise" This suggests
a prayerful attitude on the part OF
Joshua, but in no way is 1t to be con-
strued that Moses was a hindrance
to this forward march Of the people of
God. Rather. that Moses work was
completed and on the basis Of his
work an advance was to be made.
Obedience to Law.
The conditions laid upon Joshua
were: ~ Confidence due to this prom
Use of the presence Of Jehovah ". 81.
The personal pronoun "I' is used
seven times in these nine verses as
though God would make confidence
doubly assured. But confidence alone
was not enough, hence the necessity
of courage" ". g.. Strength is due
to confidence and quietness, lisa. 80:
Is, but courage is the active principle
which is the evidence OF our strength
and courage. Conquest was not alone
conditioned upon courage ". 81, but
also upon the sure foundation of the
word and oath of Jehovah. But
strength and courage are maintained
by obedience to law whether it be
physical, civil or spiritual, hence the
words of verse Z, the possession Of
this land depended upon absolute I'M
fiinching, invariable adherence and OBJ
servance of the law, which Moses my
servant commanded"
Confidence and Authority.
But Jehovah never leaves his own
". 81, Matt 1920, nor does he leave
man to blind fate or fortuitous cir
| cumstances. Therefore we read in
verse the counsel of Jehovah as to
| the method whereby Joshua and Is
rael may prosper" ". y or according
| to the margin do wisely" viz, they
shall mediate upon the books of the
law. This verse is enough for the
entire class session. The leader, be
he preacher or teacher, who has any
doubt about the word of God, or
stands dumb before the empty tomb
had better seek a new vocation for
he Is the apostle of a dying, disinte-
grating class or church and a decad-
ent faith. The origin Of man, the
mystery of life, the destiny of the
soul, demands the voice of confidence
and authority not of uncertainty and
doubt. True prosperity and wisdom
are conditioned upon our taking the
word OF God as the man of our coun-
sci, the light of our path, our daily
meditation. The definite result OF
such a course is set before Joshua,
and in addition he was promised the
companlonship ". 81 of Jehovah every
step of the way. 1t Is interesting in
this connection TO remember that
Joshua was associated with Moses in
the first experience Of war in the his
tory of this young nation.
Conclusion. The greatest lesson be-
| fore us at this time is that of continu-
ity Of the purposes Of God. AS great
and important as Moses has been dur
ing his 40 years of leadership, yet he
was not necessary. The instrument
of divine deliverance, direction and
discipline, yea, the voice of God to Is.
rael, the receiver of their complaints
and of their confessions, yet now he
has been removed. What a tremen-
| dous blank he must have left. Yet
/ Israel is to go forward, there is to be
no hating in its progress. God had
been training men for 40 years, one
of whose faith failed not at the sight
of the giants, one who had fellowship
! Win the Olu anu 10 NO" W ldCt inc
new. We recall the words of John
! Wesley, inscribed upon his memo
rial tablet in Westminster abbey, God
buries his workmen, but carries on
his work" Each individual in the
! long succession OF leaders has his ap.
pointed task, and as he is loyal com.
pletes that task thereby preparing the
way for a new leader. The abiding
| principles thai condition each mans
success are loyalty and obedience.
The Golden Text is in substance
! thrice repeated. First, Joshua was to
be strong and of good courage be-
cause Of the work ahead OF him ". 81
second, he was to be strong and cour-
ageous in the observance of the law;
and lastly he was to be strong and
courageous in order to avoid the per.
! lis of fear and dismay which were
| to beset the path of advance ~ -.