Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-16
Sunday School Lesson

mands of Jehovah. Inspired by the
divine project and promised power
Joshua placed the responsibility Of
| carrying out Gods program upon the
through Gods promises to Joshua.
consecrated themselves. SO that they
could dedicate themselves wholly unto
Jehovah's service. The ceremonial of
sanctification was followed out with
out doubt as outlined in Leviticus.
When the people were spiritually pre-
pared to appreciate Gods wonders
Joshua demonstrated his faith by or
dering them to break camp early in
the morning and called upon them to
trust God to make a safe passage for
the nation as they were about to at
tempt to enter the promised land and
take possession of 1t for His glory.
Joshua had confirmed his faith by
the report of the two spies, whom he
had sent across the Jordan to report
concerning the conditions he would
meet In Jericho. Out of their adven-,
lures grew one of the most marvellous
triumphs of grace in. the conversion
of Rahab. the harlot, to the Jewish
faith. The low standards of public
| morals among the Canaanites did
not consider Rahabs life as disgrace
full, as 1t ought to be In any moral
community. The germs of the truth
concerning Jehovah must have trans
formed her so that through divine
grace she became a fit ancestor for
the savior of men. Her conversion
ought to encourage us to work among
the fallen. While we cannot condone
her failures or sins or commend the
deceit and treachery of this woman of
easy virtue, her protection of the
ton and the securing of a place upon
the roll of fame made up of the ma
TONS heroes of faith.
Early upon that epoch making day
in lsraePs history n small band of
tarefooted men. whose dress indi-
! Gated by their white robes that they
were priests. emerged from the as
sembled crowd. They were bearing
the Ark, which henceforth was to
take the place of the pillar of cloud
az the symbol of the presence of the
living Lord of all the earth" among
them. They moved toward the rapid
flowing water of the Jordan, which
was probably at that time about
mile wide. When the feet of the
priests touched the waters of the
a miracle that was more marvellous
than the dividing of the Red sea. The
evidence of Gods presence and His
approval OF Joshua was convincing
sion reached the middle of the chan
mel the river bed was dry. The
arabian historian, NoWarii. records
that n similar event took place when
ouitdH beyDdrS L or Egypt was try
ing to build bridge to transport his
army across the Jordan at Damien
on December s, 1867, when a land
slide damned up the stream.
Defenseless, with the exception of
about 10000 men. they crossed the
Jordan. Representatives of the tribes
carried stones from the bed of the
Jordan which they placed in the
memorial that they built to commo-
rate their passing over in safety
They next faced the problem of
capturing Jericho. which at that time
was city of prosperity and power
fully protected against her enemies
The inheritance was before them, but
II called for a struggle to possess it,
Jericho appeared to be an impregnable
fortress, but they proved their fear
or Israel by closing up their gates in
defnance of them. 1t was conquered
by faith without the use of carnaI
weapons. Not all the battles of that
seven-year war were of n similar
character, yet Joshua, looking back
upon the battles. which had marked
the complete conquest of Canaan and
the division of the lands and the
results Of his leadership. gave Jehovah
credit for the success that had at
tanned his labor.
Joshua feeling that the end of his
career was rapidly approaching call
ed special assembly of the nation
at Shechem and delivered to them his
farewell words. It was marked bv
earnestness and affection He placed
before them their duty to make for
themselves and their families the fun
damental decision that we must all
sooner or later make. In calling