The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-12-04

LESSON TExT-Joshua s:s-11, In.
GOLDEN TExT-"An things are pos
sible to him that beiieveth."-Aark On.
There Ia o wonderful teaching in,
the story Of the two memorials (Ch.
~ that Joshua erected after Israel
had passed over the Jordan. One Ii
left to be overwhelmed by the river.
the other 10 erected In GilgaL They
mark the distinction between
Christ's death under Judgment in the
believers place, and the believers
perfect deliverance from judgment.
See Ps. 42:7 and ss:7: Josh. 1888.
The stones in the Jordan stand typdc-
ally for Ps. 22:1-1S.
In chapter five IL the record Of the
reproach Of unbelief. rolled away
". 81 the cessation of the mama ".
12) and the appearance Of the cap
tain of the Lords host" wv. 1915
unto Joshua as he was making q re-
connaissance before Jericho.
!. Gods Orders, w. is. The fame
of the Israelites had preceded them
(ch. 2:9) and that this was added
too by the miraculous deliverance at
the Jordan Ia suggested In verse one.
Verse two suggests that again they
must proceed upon the bare word of
Jehovah. and humanity speaking. how
utterly absurd appear the divine or
ders.
Jehovah's Word Followed.
u. Joshua's instructions, w. 90.
A reading of this section reveals the
fact that Joshua diligently followed
out the word of Jehovah. Preceding
the people was the ark, and We need
that 1t is a type OF Christ. Following
the armed men and the priests came
the silent host ". 10). No other
sound than that Of the trumpet ".
13).
The walls Of Jericho are not to fall
by the use Of the ordinary impse-
ments Of war, see . Cor. 1914, and
the resultant victory was In NO way
to give opportunity for human boast
ing. Eph. 2:9; I Cor. 1:26-29. Joshua
did not set forth more reasonable
METHOD" he did not alter Gods or
ders; that he had no right to do. nor
have we, Rev. 22:1S, 10; John So;
Matt. 1856. The implements and the
methods were foolish to those In
Jericho and to all unbelievers. see
Cor. 1:21-25. It was the priests who
led with the Jubilee trumpets." typi-
cal Of the gospel which Paul tells IL
the power Of God" Rom. 1:16.
~. The obsdient People, w. tte.
One great act Of distrust and dis
obedience led to those years of aim
less wandering accompanied by dis
comfort and resulting in death to all
(save two. Caleb and Joshua) who
crossed the Red Sea with Moses.
Here we have the contrast. Seven
days of patient, obedient marching,
according to specific orders, IL fol-
lowed by victory and possession.
What q strange sight this cavalcade
must have made. The trumpet blow
ing priests; the ark. symbolic Of Je-
hovah's presence and typical OF
Christ; the silent multitude. Verify
this new generation IL being tested
ere they enter into their promised in
heritance. On the seventh day they
arose earlier and were subjected to .
seven-fold test. Our fieroest testing
is generally just before the moment
Of our greatest victory.
Saved by Faith.
Faith used means ordered of God.
foolish to man. and wrought . great
victory. Faithful obedience Ia here
wonderfully contrasted with former
unfaithfulness. Joshua directs the
spies to search out Rahab and she
and her household are saved accord
ing to promise. Wv. 22-26. She also
was saved by faith, Heb. 1881. and
became one Of the line from which
Christ came, Matt. 1:6. The only
part Of the wall that remained stand
ing was that where Rahabs house
stood, Wv. 20. see chapter 2:15.
The teaching is very plain. Al the
Israelites depended wholly upon God.
were obedient to his orders. accepted
his discipline. held back all passion
and covetousness. they entered into
the fruits of q victory that made easy
many subsequent ones. Their acts or
faith were q more severe test than
those more visible and carnal means
of fighting battles.
As these people Of God had crossed
2 the Jordan. submitted to the rite Of
circumcision. took their first march
In this land OF promise and captured
this walled city which stood In the
way Of their progress. the unbeltef Of
forty years was rebuked. This was a
day of vindication for Caleb and
Joshua, a day OF proving that God
was able to give victory to the people
In whom he delighted.
The Golden Text illustrates what
Il Is to believe. when we recall the
story from which II Is taken-obedi-
ent faith In spite OF Appearances. No
one can deny the absurdity Of peo-
pie walking around the walls OF q
city blowing rams horns and expect
ing to possess It. Faith In both OF
these Incidents depended upon tho
word OF God and did the apparently
foolish thing. thereby demonstrating
its wisdom, and his power.
Faith Is revealed also as the power
to walt and to persist Faith In 90
operation with God In the accomplish
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