Evening star., 1919-03-08
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Joshua, Patriot and Leader.
Joshua, 1.1-s.
Golden Text-Be strong and
of good courage. Joshua, I9.
BY REV. HUGH t. STEVENSON.

bondage in Egypt. Thirty seven years
had passed since Israel through lack
OF faith. had failed to enter the prom
ised land. During that period kadish-
barnea continued to be their head
quarters, while they wandered
through the wilderness of Paran"
until a new generation had risen who
were fitted to enter the holy land
When the end came to Moses, as a
token of Gods affection, the desert
wearied tribes had been welded into
a united people by their common faith
and fortune. The discipline of long
series of salutary trials and chastise-
ments had fitted them to enter upon
best written free constitution ever
enjoyed by any people"
Moses prepared the Israelites for
his exodus by his farewell messages,
that rank with the greatest orations
of history Every motive which COM
monty moves men-gratitude. reason,
self-intereSt, fear, reward-aU in
turn, he used in his eloquent appeal
to Israel to walk in the way of the
Lord, to fear Him and to keep His
commandments He was allowed to
.
Joshua, whom God had chosen to lead
them in the conquest of the promised
land. In his last vision from Nebo's $
lofty heights Moses viewed the coun-
try that his successor would conquer
for Israel and in which God would
erect a nation, that would be a liv-
ing memorial of the great law -giyer
throughout history.
Joshua was about eighty-five years
Of age when he was summoned by
the Lord to assume the place of lead
ership. He possessed an undimlnished
vigor of body and mind when, by di-
vine direction, Moses publicly in
vested him with authority as his sue
cessor. With the shadow of death
about him Joshua was called to as
worker, but carries on the work" /"
Service called him in the hour of his
personal loss. Many man has found
the death of dear one means
through which God has opened up for
him a field of endeavor through which
he could honor the Lord and erect a
memorial to the departed. Moses had
been a barrier to their entrance, so
that now with his death the hour of
conquest had arrived, and, therefore,
Joshua was to carry out his commission
at once. The Lords plans did not de-
pend entirely upon one Individual He
had been preparing Joshua to hnlsh
the work that Moses had started. His
summons opens new era IN lSraei S
history.
Joshua appears to have been faint
hearted when God called him. He had
demonstrated his fitness for the task
by his former success. His record is
spotIess, for no one can find single
evil deed charged against his charac-
ter. Combined with the strength Of his
affection for Moses, Joshua revealed
in life that he possessed the simplicity
-I.s1l t~f0 a "
and the spirituality of a believer, who
committed all his life into Gods keep
ing, trusted Him for results and gave
Him credit for victories won. A COM
parison of his character and career
with that of Moses or any other pa
triarch will show that his was not in
ferior, although of different charac-
ter. His changed name indicated his
character and the source of his power.
The task mapped out for him was
difficult The people whom he was
called upon to displace were in many
respects more civilized and advanced
than Israel They were superior in
numbers and military power. The terri
tory covered was bounded on the south
by the wilderness, that had been the
scene of their sojourn for forty years,
en- the north by the Lebanon noun
tains, on the west by the Mediterra-
mean and on the east by the River Eu-
phrates He was to lead the people
to go over and possess the land in ac-
cordance with the divine promises
made to Abraham and Moses. They
were to win it step by step. He was
called upon to place them in complete
possession of the land.
Facing Jericho, the western key to
Canaan. from the opposite bank of the
Jordan, which at that season of the
year was not fordable, it seems
Joshua hesitated about assuming
command. Nearly forty years had
passed since he and Caleb had tried to
prevail upon Israel to go forward and
possess the land. The people lacked
faith then Why was Joshua conscious
mand and on the point of declining
to accept his commission? He was
conscious of his deficiencies. realized
the difficulties that had to be overcome
and the danger that the people might
fail to have the faith that was needed.
In this period of doubt God called him
to perform his duty with the assurance
that His presence would be with
Joshua. This assured Israel of VIC
tory. The faith created in Joshua the
spirit of confidence and courage that
Repeatedly within the lesson Joshua
is called upon to 'be strong and of a
good courage" The depression caused
by the death of his friend. the only
human leader the people had ever
known, was removed by the reminder
of Jehoyah's presence, program and
power. It summoned Joshua in his
weakness to be strong, in his fear to
be courageous and in his dismay AT
his task to have faith in Jehovah, who
reminded him that He had commits
stoned Joshua When God summons
men to His service He will see that
they win, provided they comply with
the conditions of His orders.
Personal effort is necessary M man
is to be conscious of the presence
of Christ The task assigned to the
tainad the assurance of the Masters
presence and of His power Joshua
realized that the task was Stupen-
dous. 1t demanded that he reveal the
spirit of the Lord. He has many a
follower, for high in the hall of fame
are the names of men that initiated
the excellent example of Joshua in
faith. Recall from the past Chinese
Gordon, Havelock and Cromwell. Re-
member Stonewall Jackson, Howard,
Washington. Mckinley and Garfield
Foch, Pershing and the leaders in the
present struggle, both by word and
example, have revealed their faith in
God and the obligation of their forces
to be loyal to His commands.
Joshua was the first commander in
history that was called upon to search
the law as O. book of military tactics
The study of the Scriptures and the
obedience of it's precepts was the
source of Joshua's success. Never in
all history have men turned to the
study of the Bible as the men in the
American expeditionary force and in
the army of the allies have done. The
secret of their morale can be found
in their study of the Bible. The fu-
ture depends upon the obedience of
it's precepts by all that profess faith
in Christ. The way to victory calls
for the Church of Christ to follow the
commands of the Lord Jesus All