The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1919-03-08
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
SUND6YSQIOOL
LESSON
CSy Rev L. Il. FITZWATER. II. n.
Teacher Of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute OF ChicaEoD
Copyright. 1918. Western Newspaper Unioul
LESSON FOR MARCH 9
JOSHUA, PATRIOT AND LEADER

LESSON TENT-Joshua l:l-9
GOLDEN TENT-Be strong and Of u
good coura ge.-Jushua 10
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL - Joshua
1:l0-3l1: 5:l3-LJ
PRIMARY TOPIC-A story Of brave
leader. Memory Verse-Josuua l:5.
JUNIOR TOrIC-FoIlow the right lead
er Memory Ncrse-Dcu,. IL. ).
INTERMEDIATE TOPIC-When to be
brave.
The book of Joshua is a history Of
the conquest of the promised land and
its appurtionmcnt among the tribes
of Israel. 1t takes its name from its
principal haractcr-Ju>hua. 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 10
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 MuScs) was our
schoolmaster to bring Us to Christ :;
but Christ (our Joshua) has given us
victory and rest
I. Joshua's Call Q:12).
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 10
cure our griefS and sorrows is to take
up courageously the burdens and re-
SponSbilitieS which our leaders have
laid down.
II. God Renews His Promise of the
Land to Israel O: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 We're quite large ". y
''frOm the wilderness and this LCb-
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 was 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 ii was theirs. If they
failed to secure possession it was be-
cause they failed to claim it. We
would all ekjoy larger blessings if
We would claim them.
III. Gods Presence Promised &c
Joshua Il :O.
Joshua was entering upon peril
Gus and difficult enterprise, but the
| Lord said as he was with Moses sc
would he be with him. The difficult
| ties before him were:
l. The Jordan river ". y. 1t was
now at its flood (3:15), making it i'm
possible for armies to cross.
1 .. In the land the people were liv
ing in walled cities. Notwithstanding
this, Gods help insured success. a.
Il will not fail thee nor forsake thee
(2) There shall not any man be able
to stand before thee" CD "As
was with Moses, so l will be will
thee" Joshua had been with Nose!
throughout their forty years expert
ences, from the Egyptian deliveranc,
to the time of his death. Because h,
believed that God was with his master
he was willing and ready to cross tn,
/ Jordan at its flood, and to meet cour
ageously the enemies on the Othe
size. We should be willing to brav,
our fOaming and raging Jordans, t,
meet our strong enemies face to face
for Christ has said, II am with yo,
always"
! w. Conditions of Blessings in tn
Land q go.
!. BE strong and of n good courage
". g.. His mission was to 20 in ant
divide the land among the tribes 70
an inheritance. God could not bles
him if he should play the coward.
.. Unwavering obedience to tn
word of God ". y. In land o
idolatry it requires much courage I,
obey the true God. The prOsperit
and good success was conditiOne,
upon answering obedience to God
commands. In all his work he mus
conform his life to the law of God
To pass from the path outlined there
in would bring disaster and ruin. II
order to accomplish this the law o
the Lord must constantly be in hi
mouth. He was to mediate therein
day and night. If we are to prospe
in our Christian experience Their
must be that regular and reveren
study of Gods Word. Joshua rem
ders prompt obedience. He did no
stop to cavil, but at once gave order
for the march. God made the plal
and gave the directions. His respOn
sibility was to go forward withOu
doubling, taking possession Of the In
heritance.
Faithfulness Counts.