The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1945-04-26
TTLEAiENT AND STRUGGLES
IN CANAAN

TTLEAIENT AND STRUGGLES
IN CANAAN
EssON TEXT-Judges &c, :, II, u, 18,
6:l1-16
-OLDEN TEXT-Be strong and Of a
d courage; be not afriad, neither be
u dismayed; for the lord thy God Is
thee Whithersoever thou goest.--
hua l:9.
Sod keeps his promises. Israel
md that to be true as He brought
m into the promised land of
man. Those who rebelled against
N had died in the Wilderness, but
" new generation had come
0 possession Of the land.
Here they met the challenge Of the
athen, and were victorious over
m as they trusted the Lord.
5hua, their leader. after faithful
vices was ready to go to be with
Lord, but before doing so, re-
nded them of Gods promise and
the danger OF unbelief and sin.
our lesson opens. we find the
)ple settled in the land, as far as
y had taken it. We find:
Gods Promise Fulfilled (2:6)
The Lord had promised the land
them as they went in and pos
'sed it by faith in Him. He
ly kept that promise in the meas
) that they believed Him. They
yer did take the whole land, but
It was because of their failure,
, Gods.
he story speaks TO us. Cod has
)Vided a rich inheritance for the
lever in Christ, but it must be
oropriated by faith. How much
re we taken out Of the riches
have in Christ?
We are also reminded Of the alb
ute faithfulness Of God There is
lie in this world in which we may
)ose complete confidence, but we
y and should trust God. He has
1er failed anyone, and He will
fail US.
I. Mans Promise Broken CT,
12).
he people had solennly prom
d to keep Gods commandments
last weeks Iesson). That prom
they had renewed in response
Joshua's farewell challenge (see
III. 24:2O, 2D. They kept their
I'd only as long as those who
nembered Joshua were alive,
/ then they ''forsook the Lord. -
his fall Of Israel has its counter
It in what is taking place in our
d today. The great mass Of de-
1t people in America were reared
Christian homes. They know what
right, and they live on the spir-
al and moral momentum re-
we'd from their godIy parents.
he next generation now COM
into power, without the bene-
of spiritual training in the home
/ church, are fOrsahing the Lord
1 following other gods, the gods
pleasure, of money, of lust,
III. Gods Plan Of Dcliver2nce
10, 19).
)nc would have thought that God
uld give up a people so set on
ming, but He did not. He pro
ed deliverance for Israel. That
'es us courage, for we know that
has not given us up, but has
)vided in Christ a sure deliver
ce-if America will but turn to
n.
Tor IsraeIs deliverance God pro-
led judges, who were not only
Iicial, but, in fact, primarily adj
nistrative in their work. They
re Gods men to cali Israel
* to Him. The repeated failure
/ backsliding Of Israel brought
" acts of mercy on Gods part
calling out new judges.
is interesting to note that God
rks through men, Some Of these
jges were great men, Others
re just ordinary men. But each
his appointed place, at the APP
nted time, was Cod S man.
God is looking for men today
O will serve Him. He wants bril-
Mt, capable men, but He also
Is the ordinary, everyday vari-
=, and as they are faithful, He
,sses them. Has He called you?
We you responded?
V. Gods Presence and Power
11-16).
srael had long been under the OPP
ession of the Midianites, who
uld sweep over the land and steal
,ir crops and their fioclLs. Israel
ally turned to God for help, and
met their need by calling Gideon
the fifth Of the judges.
Tod knows better than to call an
man, one who is sitting around
iting for opportunity to knock,
seeks out the busy person and
res him more to do.
note the entirely adequate pro-
ion made for Gideon's success.
urely I will be with thee That
ans both the presence and the
Ner of the eternal and omnipo-
1t One.
Gideon at once began the tear
down of the heather places of
rship in his own community. 1t
the hardest place to start. 1t
Ways is. But the one whose light
to shine afar must see that 1t
mes brightest at home.
The humility of Gideon as he
ked at himself ". 15) is COM
,ndable. But note that he did
permit it to shut the door OF
tn, as he believed God and did
ghty exploits for Him. Don't trust
urself, but do trust God!