The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1926-11-04
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Prepared Especially For The Repub-
LEANS Readers by Rev. U. S.
Wright, DID.
THE FALL OF JERICHO.

d. Ia W. IOGO.
THE FALL OF JERICHO.
Joshua 6:1-27. Read Chapters 2-5.
This is the victory that OvercOmeth
the world, even our faith.-I John
5:4
THE ADVANCING HOST.
There was no careless rush of an
undisciplined host into the midst of the
promised land of desire Joshua was
too good a soldier to attempt any,
thing of the kind, so he sent spies
across the river to see the situation
in the first fortress that barred the
road. He may have meant it as the
repetition of that old test of Israel
at Kedash-Barnea when he had re-
ported upon the land and the people
had refused to enter upon the enter
prise. But there found the city in
deadly fear and dared buy the patri-
otism of woman, so greatly did
they feel that they could dare safely
to allow anyone to know their mis-
sion. And she sold out her own peo-
pie, betraying all she knew to them
IN return for their promise of i'm
munity in the sack of the city. She
cuts a sorry figure, but there has
never been a spy system that pro-
duced any other sort. That is one of
It's curses wherever it is used. But
what was done in that old day is not
to be judged by the light of the pres
ent. They got their information and
reached the camp in safety. Joshua
heard their report and ordered an i'm
mediate advance to the banks of the
Jordan.
Here they were halted by the mud
dy torrent that poured its spring flood
down into the Dead Sea. God had
told him to go forward and he would
go to the limit of his own resources.
1t was when the disciples had pooled
all the bread they possessed that
Jesus fed the multitude out of it. 1t
was when Paul paused at the edge of
the ocean that he had the vision of
the Macedonian man. 1t was when
the widow gave her whole store that
Jesus lifted His voice in praise. AL
ways it is the man who dares every
thing who finds God opening new
ways for further advance. Our fail
ure is to follow the leadings, expect
ing God to provide before the need
has arrived. 1t is the cause of end
less worry in spite of our insistence
that we do not trust God. A child
riding upon train saw it turn di-
rectly toward river and she closed
her eyes and shivered with fear, only
to find herself borne on the shining
way of bridge. And she said, Some
body's been along here before me, and
forgot her fears. God has gone over
the way before all of US and there is
bridge where it is needed.
THE CROSSING.
Joshua found that there was a way
through the flood, just as Moses had
found it forty years before. There is
nothing in the record to indicate that
he was on his face when his advance
halted-he was up and marching. How
did they get across. This old chron-
1cler has no interest in how God. did
it. That is purely modern attitude
of mind and he would have been
amazed at our query. Landslides
have occurred since and closed the
flow and it may have happened in
the same fashion then. The decisive
ness of Joshua appears in his alert
taking advantage Of such an occur
renee and in finging his fighting
force into the field with the swollen
stream at his back where it would be
victory or death. There could be no
retreat. | think it was Garibaldi who
burned his ships after landing on the
shore of Sardinia, so that all retreat
was cut off. And there is no doubt
of the effect of such daring upon the
minds of both armies. He was no
SLOUGH of soldier whatever interpre-
tation we give the event. Then came
the absence of the familiar mama,
and they felt again Gods hand of
leading assuring them that they no
longer needed such supply-they
would capture food The religious
conservation at Gilgal changed them
into crusaders and sent them for
ward with renewed enthusiasm. Then
Joshua had his vision as he faced
those frowning walls and perhaps
wondered if it were possible for him
to gain the city with no siege imple-
ments. God was surely leading, and
only success could follow such Cap
tain.
THE CAMPAIGN.
There was certainly never such an
other hare-brained scheme as this
march about the walls undertaken in
all the annals of the world. Leaving
camp the host took it's way with blar-
ing trumpets but with utter silence
otherwise and bearing the Ark of Je-
hovah tramped around the city. There
was silent throng upon the battle
mentS and the dav c1ocad with 1.oor