Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-03-07
IMPROVED UNIFORM NTERNATTONAn
SUNlGSNQOL.
LESSON
(By Rev. P. B. FITZWATER, D. D.,
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute OF Chicago.)
Copyright, 1918. Western Newspaper Union)
LESSON FOR MARCH 9
JOSHUA, PATRIOT AND LEADER.

LESSON TEXT-Joshua 1:1-9.
GOLDEN TEXT-Be strong and of a
good courage.-Joshua 1:9.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL - Joshua
1:10-3:17; 5:13-15
PRIMARY TOPIC-A story of a brave
leader. Memory Verse-Joshua 1:5
JUNIOR TOPIC-Follow the right lead
er. Memory Verse-Deut. II, s.
INTERMEDIATE TOPIC-When to be
brave
The book of Joshua is history of
the conquest of the promised land and
its appOrtionment among the tribes
of Israel. 1t takes its name from its
principal character-Joshua. During
the wilderness journey he was Moses
minister, and captain of his army.
When Moses was denied the privilege
of going over the Jordan, Joshua was
appointed to the leadership of Israel.
Being so long faithful as a servant,
he is now qualified to rule. Only
those who have themselves learned to
obey are fit to rule. Moses, the repre-
sentative of the law, brought Israel to
the borders of Canaan. Joshua was
the man chosen to lead the people into
the place of rest. The name Joshua"
has the same derivation as the name
Jesus" The law (Moses) was our
schoolmaster to bring us to Christ !;
but Christ (our Joshua) has given US
victory and rest.
!. Joshua's Call dip.
Moses, Gods servant, is dead, but
Gods work must go on. He continues
his work by calling others to take it
up, though he buries his workers.
Joshua, no doubt, was Sorrowful over
the loss of his master, but there is no
time for mourning. The best way to
cure our griefs and sorrows is to take
up courageously the burdens and re
sponsibilities which our leaders have
laid down.
II. God Renews His Promise of the
Land to Israel Q:3, ~.
The promise had been made tC
| Abraham, and renewed to Isaac
| Jacob and Moses. 1t is now renewed
to Israel when they are about to en-
TER upon its possession. The borders
of the land were quite large ". A.
from the wilderness and this Leb
anon, even unto the great river, the
river Euphrates, all the land of the
'iittites, and unto the great sea to
ward the going down of the sun, shall
De your coast" The nearest it wa
eSer possessed was during the reign
Of David and Solomon, though not thel
fully realized. This country still be
Tngs to the Jews, and in Gods owl
Eme'they shall possess it. Their get
ing possession of this land was du
entirely to themselves. God promises
them, that wherever their feet Sc
upon the land it was theirs. If the,
failed to secure possession 1t was be
cause they failed to claim it. w
would all enjoy larger blessings
We would claim them.
Ill. Gods Presence Promised t
Joshua Il Q:5).
Joshua was entering upon a peri
Gus and difficult enterprise, but th
Lord said as he was with Moses S
would he be with him. The difficu
ties before him were:
1. The Jordan river ". p. 1t wa
now at its flood 3:15), making it in
possible for armies to cross.
2. In the land the people were Ii
ing in walled cities. Notwithstandin
this, Gods help insured success. Il
Il will not fail thee nor forsake thee.
~ "There shall not any man be abl
to stand before thee" (3) "As
was. with Moses, so / will be wit
thee" Joshua had been with Nose
throughout their forty years exper
ences, from the Egyptian deliveranc
to the time of his death. Because b
believed that God was with his mastt
he was willing and ready to cross th
Jordan at its flood, and to meet cou
ageously the enemies on the 9th,
side. We should be willing to bray
our foaming and raging Jordans, /
! meet our strong enemies face to fac
for Christ has said, 81 am with yc
) always"
Nv. Conditions of Blessings in Il
Land Q:6-9).
l. BE strong and of good courage
: | w. ". Ills ullSSlOu Was " S1I
t divide the land among the tribes fl
an Inheritance. God could not BILE
him if he should play the coward.
. 2. Unwavering obedience to Il
word of God ". y. In a land
!, idolatry it requires much courage
obey the true God. The prospect
and good success was. condition,
upon answering obedience to Goo
commands. In all his work he mu
g conform his life to the law or Go
e To pass from the path outlined ther
t in would bring disaster and ruin.
order to accomplish this the law
= the Lord must constantly be in b
mouth. He was to mediate there
day and night. If we are to prosp
/ in our Christian experience the
: must be that regular and revere
n study of Gods Word. Joshua re
n ders prompt obedience. He did n
stop to cavil, but at once gave orde
for the march. God made the pl;
o and gave the directions. His respo
sibility was to go forward witho
S doubling, taking possession of the
heritance.