Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1944-06-30
ENTERING THE PROMISED
LAND

LAND
I lHSAON TExr-Joshus 1919; 31:l.s.
Sod courage; BE- not afraid. neither be
with thee withersoever thou goest.-
ySahua i:e.
J no forward look 10 typical Of
,oed's people. They are always to
% On. They ere to Be Ike Israel. to
whom came the word. Moses II
i6esd." but NOW therefore arise
and so''-under . new leader.
Our lessons tor this quarter Gen.
ltas around the experiences Of Israel
I6om Joshua 70 David. . period rich
h historical data. much Of Il with
tnost helpful spiritual application.
~ a6oeds . real opportunity for
'e@hetive teaching.
Moses was now dead. but that
ealy brought forth
I. 0e1's Prsvisisn q . New Lead
- I'LL. d.
God buries His workmcn At the
end Of their day Of labor. but Gods,
work goes on. The people had
become attached TO Moses and had
learned TO trust his leadership teven
though they often murmured. With
bis death we might have assumed
that there would be letdown. but
that was not In Gods plan.
The Lord works through men. He
dives them abilities and uses them
for His glory-often In way which
astonishes them and others. But
let them not become proud, for God
has someone TO take their place
when they are gone. They are not
indispensable.
Sometimes people talk as though
III The great leaders Of the church
had died. or were dying. Yet God
has some obedient men who are
ready b step into the gap.
Joshua was ready. when God was
ready. and h stepped into leader
ship.
n. GEES Premise Of Victory u:3-
y.
Ths promise given to Moses was
sttl seod. God's promises are al
VAN god. Thsy are the only real
u stable thing In a trembling uni
verse. The question 10. Are we
ready 70 accept Him at His word?
II eur iovs were but more simple.
W should tako Him at His word:
And our uves would b all sunshine
IN me ewsstness Of our Lord.
-rabcr.
They were to step out by faith.
The land was promised to them
only a. the sole Of their foot should
tread upon II. Israel never took out
the full promise Of verse 4. They
lacked faith. Do we?
God honors those who believe Him
and who move forward by faith to
plant the foot Of spiritual conquest
In new territory. Some are doing 1t
now. Are we!
The enemies Of Gods people were
many and mighty. but they were not
able to stand In the way Of Gods
people when they were moving for
ward for Him. Here again. Israel
failed. They did not drive them out.
because they did not take God at
His word. The application Of that
truth to us Is obvious.
III. Gods Plea for Obedience and
Courage l:6-9).
BE strong and of good courage"
There Is a side TO the believers
character which calls for submits
sion, for turning everything over to
God, for being sweet and spiritual.
All that is good and very desirable.
but it can never be substituted for
that other side which shows virile
courage and fearless abandon to
the cause of our God
Joshua was made to realize--as
we must too-that serving God land
especially in a place OF leadership
calls for a measure OF high courage
unsurpassed in any other pursuit Of
man. It takes all there Is of man
10 be a real follower Of Christ-be
sure Of that!
This courage, however, Is not to
be confused with foolhardy brav-
cry which is reckless and unin-
telligent. No indeed, for II Is based
on the observance OF Gods law
". u.
Note ". 81 the importance OF
meditating upon Gods Word. This
(which is really a lost art In our
day. means SO absorbing the prin-
ciples OF the Word that our very
lives are conditioned by them. and
we are made ready 10 meet every
problem In the light OF Its teaching.
~. Gods Purpose for the Future
(23:l-5).
Passing all the great and stirring
experiences Of Joshua, we have now
. glimpse Of his closing days. He
was counseling the people regard.
ing the future.
II Is the mark Of a great man
that he looks beyond the end of his
own short existence and plans for
the future. Many there are who
are not concerned abou, wha, hap.
pens once they are gone. They have
no vision. no concern about the con.
tinuity Of life, In fact they come
and 60 almost like the beasts OF the
field.
What about the future? Joshua re-