The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1926-10-21
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

Wright, I'D.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER "a, 1926.
JOSHUA, ISRAEL'S NEW
LEADER.
Numbers 27:12-23; Joshua 1:1-17.
Be strong and of good courage; for
Jehovah thy God is with thee
whithersoever thou goest.-JOshua
1:19.
THE PRAYER.
Moses had gotten his declaration of
DOOM He VINO had planned and prayed
and hoped for the settling of Israel in
the land of promise knew that he was
debarred from entry. 1t was as tragic
an hour in his life as ever comes to
any in this day who reach the newt
able dead line" "How old are you?"
is the fateful question from the en-
ployment clerk. 'Fifty-one," comes
back quickly enough and is met by
slow shake of the head and the expla-
nation that they do not take on any
men over fifty. And yet his eyes are
undimmed and his natural force una
bated. The thing that came to Moses
has touched him and he must stand
aside and see younger men do work
which he is confident he could do
even better if he could but be given
chance. II can't use you in Canaan"
was Gods fateful word to the old
leader. For he must not only see his
application for new job refused, he
must lose his old one. The desk must
be turned over to some one else which
is still more trying situation than
the simple refusal of new place. And
though it be done in kindness there is
still the sting of feeling the usefulness
of ones self to the business that gives
spo;gnancy to the keen disappointment.
How a man takes this hour is all suf-
ficient test of his character quality.
Moses does not even suggest his pref
erence in the matter. There is no
pleading for continuance. There is
eager urgency that a new leader be
selected, that no delay be put upon
the movement, that the cause be not
hurt in any way. For Moses had
buried himself in his work and was
destined to resurrection in glory in
the position of his dream in the days
of Jesus. Now he turns to eager
planning for his supersession. He had
been coaching Joshue for long years,
and in the presence of all the people
lays his hands on him and honors
him in the eyes of Israel. There is to
be no heredity leadership-it is to be
given for ability only. Great stand
ard to set up but it was the only one
possible with such a man as Moses.
He would give the new administration
every possible help in its Inaugural
toin. Moses was booster and not
blocker. He was never greater than
in these days preceding his retirement
from public life.
THE PROMISE.
They mourned for Moses-they did
well in the doing, for no greater figure
walks the pages of history. And
Joshua was the sincerest of them all
for he was beginning to feel the
weight of the new office and questions
without number were in his mind if
only Moses were there. 1t was a
phrase passing through his mind
every hour of the busy days. Then
suddenly there came another on it's
heel-the God of Moses was as pres
ent now as He had ever been. The
plan did not perish with its Inaugural
tor. God spoke in his soul and the
conviction of His support reached all
the being of the staggering man. God
did not die with his old spokesman,
nor does He ever do it. Cheer enough
there is here for all of US. The pledge
of God to give the land to Israel would
be fulfilled. Joshua was being justi-
fled in his own mind over the selec-
ton for such an unprecedented task.
ouL LHcy lIuSI VAIN over IL themselves
else it would not be theirs. God never
hands out provisions to the one re-
fusing to work. Somebody may give
us an arithmetic, but having the book
does not make a mathematician. He,
who owns the book must walk through
its pages and wherever he has stepped
in mastery he enters into possession.
Joshua was practical to his finger tips,
and religion that involved no work
would not satisfy him. He would re-
joice in free grace, but he would min
gle it with free grit also. Under the
tutelage Of God he began to vision
the boundaries of the new estate. He
had walked over it years before, going
as far as Klamath. 1t should all be-
long to Israel. 1t was included in the
promise, but Israel failed to secure
it because of her refusal to walk
We miss our own in the same fashion.
But the real thrill of soul was in the
Unborn voice of living Presence with
him as he had known it to be with
Moses. God with him and he could
go anywhere.
THE PLAN.
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