The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1919-03-06
LESSON FOR MARCH 9
JOSHUA, PATRIOT AND LEADER.

JOSHUA, PATRIOT AND LEADER.
LESSON TEXT-Joshua 1:1-5.
GOLDEN TEXT-Be strong and of .
good courage.-Joshua 1:9.
ADDlT!oNAL MATERIAL Joshua
l:lO-3:17: 5:13-15.
PRIMARY ToP1c-A story of a brave
leader. Memory Verse-Joshua. LIS.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Follow the right lead
er. Memory Verse-Deut. Ii, 8.
INTERMEDIATE TOP1C-When to bs
brave.
The book of Joshua is a 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 Owe 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 burders of Canaan. Joshua vas
the mar chosen to lead the people into
the place of rest. The name Joshua"
has the same derivation as the nam
Jesus" The law (Moses) was our
schooImaster to bring us to Christ;
but Christ (our Joshua) has given us
victory and rest.
1. Joshua's Call (1:1.2),
Moses, Gods servant, is dead, but
Gods work go on. He continues
his work by calling others to take it
up. though he buries his workers.
Joshua. no doubt, was sorrowfu.. Over
the loss OF his master, but there IS no
time for mourning. The best way to
cure u griefs and sorrows is to take
up c~ourageously the burdens and re-
sp%onsibilities which our leaders have
laid down:
u. God Renews His Promise Of the
Land to Israel (1:3. ~.
The promise had been made to
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 ". ~
from the wilderness and this Leb-
anon even unto the great river, the
river Euphrates, all the land of the
Hittites. and unto the great sea to-
ward the going down of the sun, shall
be yOur coast" The nearest it was
ever possessed vas during the reigns
of David and Solomon, though not then
fully realized. This country still be-
longs to the Jews. and in Gods own
time they shall possess it. Their get
ting possession of this land was due
entirely to themselves. God promised
them, that wherever their feet set
upon the land It was theirs. If they
failed to secure possession it. was be-
cause they failed to claim it. We
would all enjoy larger blessings IL
we would claim them.
III. Gods Presence Promised to
Joshua (l:5).
Joshua was entering upon a peril
GUS alS difficult enterprise, but the
Lord said as he was with Moses so
would he be with him. The difficult
ties before him we're:
l. The Jordan river ". y. It was
now at its flood (3:15), making it i'm
possible for armies to cross.
2. In the land the people were liy.
ing in walled cities. Notwithstanding
this. Gods help insured success. M
Il Will not fail thee nor forsake thee"
(2) There shall not any man be able
to stand before thee" (3) "As 7
was With Moses. so | will be with
thee
". Conditions Of Blessings in tho
Land Il :6-9).
!. strong and of a good courage"
". ~. His mission was to 20 in and
divide the land among the tribes for
an inheritance. God could not bless
MIN it he should play the coward.
:. Unwavering obedience IN tho
wore OF God ". y. In a land of
'd"Iatry 1t requires much courage to
"hev the true God. The prosperity
II good success was conditioned
upon answering obedience to Gods
commands. In all his work he must
CONFORM his life to the law of God.
10 pass from the path outlined there.
10 would bring disaster and ruin. In
order I" accomplish this the law Of
the LORD must constantly be in his
mouth. lie was to mediate therein
day and night. If we are to prosper
III our Christian experience there
must he tina, regular and reverent
study Of Gods Word. Joshua rem.
ders prompt obedience. He did not
stop to cavil. but ut once gave orders
for the march. God made the plan
and gave the directions. His respon.