Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-25

History is God teaching by exam
| During the study of the last three
months we have traced the progress
| Of Israel from the commencement Of
their journey toward Canaan until
they were settled in Palestine, under
the leadership IF Joshua, through the
| stormy period of the Judges until.
| under the leadership of Samuel, the
nation was established as consti-
/ tutional monarchy through revival
| that reformed their life as a people,
! gave them a new national spirit. de-
veloped their strength and secured
| their services for Jehovah. The work
of the outstanding national PERSONAL
ties, whose careers we considered.
was linked up with the birth of the
Christ Child in Bethlehem's manager.
In one way OF. another all the Incl
dents of the Old Testament are re-
lated to the birth of the Lord Jesus,
whose coming is the climax and cen
ter of all history.
After about a year at Sinai the
- different tribes and motley multi
tude had been organized along civic
and religious lines, so that they left
Sinai as a nation. The mob of slaves
end their followers had been trans
ed at Sinai, the erection OF the Tab
crnaCle and the observance of the
Passover. The census had been taken
and the people organized into their
tribes. 1t was not possible for them
to eradicate all the traces of Egyp-
tain habits and idolatry that had
been impressed upon them during
their long residence in Egypt while
the theocracy was being established
Under the leadership Of Moses they
had embraced the true religion and
tasted the higher blessings, and never
again did Israel entirely fall away.
We commenced our study with this
newly established power that was
destined to finally eliminate in Islam
and Christianity, when they started
to march through the nearest route
to Canaan, the wilderness of Paran.
to enter the Promised Land by the
only easy way from the desert at
Kadesh Barnea. where their faith
failed them and prevented their
entrance.
Stalwart Leaders.
Eight great personalities have stood
out like lofty mountain peaks in the
quarters lessons. The history Of the
period has brought to us visions of
the stalwart leaders through whose
personalities God has revealed Himself
to men, and through whom He has de-
termined the channels in which the
current events shall flow. We have
seen His government of the affairs of
men, especially Israel, in the brief
biographies of these great PERSONAL
Moses, the Incompatible leader. the
nations emancipation, the founder of
their system of law and organizer OF
their government. is recognized as
Il 20
the influence his work has had upon
the history of all mankind during the
centuries. The prophet of God, whose
ministry pointed to the coming of
the Christ, failed to enter Palestine
because Of his presumption. Few men
have exerted a greater influence than
Moses who viewed the land to which
he had led the people from Mount
Nebo before his death. His accom-
plishments We're stupendOus and were
achieved under almost insuperable
handicaps. He unified the nation
through teaching His vision of God.
He owed his success to the assistance
given him by his father-iti-law. Hobah.
who acted as a guide through the will
derness journey; Caleb, the man of
faith. and Joshua, his faithful servant
and military leader.
Joshua, who was a different type
of man from Moses. was the one
chosen to fill the gap in the leader
ship, when through the death of
Msoes a successor had to be found.
The worker dies, but Gods work goes
on. was proven in the selection of
the man of action to guide Israel.
Joshua has been compared to Napo-
leon because of his military ability.
HE knew the arts of strategy, and
how to plan O. campaign" He had
something of the genius and art of
Napoleon: he knew how to divide the
enemy and beat them piecemeal. 1t
was due to his courage and organizing