Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-03-07
There Was a Man
The International Sunday School Lesson for March
Is Joshua, Patriot and Leader."-Joshua 1:1-9
BY WILLIAM It. ELLIS

leader for this new period of 1sraefs
lie than Moses could have been. The
present days work is for the present
days doing. Remember Moses only as
an inspiration; follow Joshua. He VINO
fails in today's duty is recreant to the
past All who let present opportunity
escape, while they mourn at the grave
of the dear dead, are showing poorest
honor to their departed.
AS mountain ozone fills the lungs
summoning every cell and tissue to DO
its best, so a broad and exalted con-
ception of life and its relations expands
and quickens ones powers. To see tne
present as but part of a whole. OF WHICH
the past and the future are also pieces,
is to attain a position where symetricat
growth and effective service are most
possible.
Great experiences are chastening. In
the hour of his accession to leadership
Joshua doutless perceived his own lirni-
tations most clearly. ELSE there wouio
not have been need for God to hearten
him repeatedly. Whoever undertakes
big job. or gets a large conception OF
life is bound to feel chastened and IN
adequate.
The Great Partnership
A Journalist stands unabashed before
kings because he represents power
mightier than any king, namely pubic
opinion The ambassador may De
plain man at home, but he holds up MS
head in court because he represents
nation. A travelling salesman mas con-
fidence to approach a busy man because
he represents an important firm himself
The preacher, elsewhere perhaps, very
ordinary men, in the pulpit lifts up his
voice in assured teaching to all men be-
cause he believes himself to be the mes
senger of the Highest.
The reason why Joshua was confident
was that he had the assurance. AS
was with Moses. so I will be with
thee; I will not fail thee nor forsake-
thee" This sense of partnership with
God is what makes the weakest strong
1t is confidence and power. For in this
firm the Senior Partner pledges his all
to stand behind the acts of his asso-
ciates.
A divine audacity is impaired to a
character by the knowledge that it is
actively cooperating with God. This
explains the sublime daring of the great
reformers. 1t makes plain why the mis-
sionary propaganda throughout the
world is irresistible. Better than to have
an armed host at ones back is to have
the assurance, 10, I am with you all
the days" Paul is the Hero of the apos-
tolic church because he learned to say.
az can do all things through Christ
which strengtheneth me-"
One other enabling was given to
Joshua. He was to have the presence
of Jehovah and also the revealed will
be Jehovah. A good soldier must know
his General Orders" So Joshua was
instructed, This book of the law shall
not depart out of thy mouth, but thou
shall mediate therein; day and night,
than thou mayest observe to do accord
ing to all that is written therein; for
then shalt thou make thy way pros
porous, and then shalt thou have good
success" Amid the days maxims on
success" this deserves a first place as
being of over-mastering Importance.
Walk Gods way and work Gods way,
and failure is impossible.
The Badge OF Leadership
The keynote of this lesson is found
in the thrice-repeated exhortation to
Joshua, -"Be thou strong and very cour-
ageous." 1t seems as if Jehovah were
dinning into the new leaders ears the
supreme Importance of courage. The son
| of Nun was no coward, yet even he
needed to be told, with earnest itera-
tion, that in the fighting man, in the
administrator and in the leader courage
comes next in Importance to obedience.
Even God cannot do much with a weak
| and fearful man.
A good life rule is. when undecided,
do the more courageous thing. There is
never a day, and scarcely an hour, in
even the quietest life when the exercise
| of courage is not called for. War has
erected courage into a primary place
among the virtues. The amelioration of
society's ills waits more upon strength
than upon sweetness. Before we deal
tenderly with the PROSTATE let us deal
| bravely with the men whose heels are
upon their necks. Before we give char
ity let us be courageous enough to give
| justice. Before we abandon ourselves
to prayer over civic conditions, let us
betake ourselves to work-not forget
ting to pray the while. In all condi-
tions let us exercise courage, and, To-
we shall find all other virtues thriving
| the more. The Canaans of the heart
| hxy