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THE CHRISTIAN NATION. Vol. 69.
Inthe S a b b a t h
School
Lesson VIII. Nov, 23rd, 1913.
By the Rev. W, A, Aikin,
JOSHUA THE NEW LEADER,—Josh.
I :i-9.
Golden Text.—Be strong and of good
courage.—Josh,
i -.c).
Psalms,—45:1-5. C. M.;
47:1-3. C. M,;
were typically taught by the death of Moses,
and the succession of Joshua,"
II. THE PROMISE, (v. 3-5.)
"Every place that tlie sole of your foot
shall tread upon, that I have given unto you,
as I said unto Moses. From the wilderness
. . . shall be your coast. There shall
not any man be able to stand before thee all
the days of thy Hfe; a^ I was zuith Moses, so
I will be with thee: / will not fail thee nor
forsake thee." A strong inducement is here
27:1-3. C. M.
Iset before Israel to go in and possess the
Time,—B,, C. 1451. Near the close of the
land. They are reminded of the promise
thirty da)'s mourning for Moses,
which God made to their father Abraham,
Place,—The plain of Moab, by the Jordan,
viz. that they should have a land which He
opposite Jericho,
ANALYSIS AND COMAIENT.
The days of mourning for Moses were
now ended. The great prophet, lawgiver and
would show them. And now it is again set
before them to lure them on; to renew their
hopes and desire and to givetoi them a new
determination. The joy of possession was set
before them. The condition of possession
CDuncelor, with whom God had talked face
was their acceptance. "Every place that the
to face, bad been laid away to fest and
sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have
great lamentation had been made over him.
"A feeling of loneliness and awe must have
crept over the people and over their new
leader, Joshua, like tbat which Elisha felt,
I given unto you,'' God's covenant promises
are like bank notes in that the worth of them
is realized only by those who make use of
them. "If any man shall do his will, he shall
know of the doctrine."—John 7:17.
when, alone, he turned him back witb the
III. THE EXHORTATION, (v. 6-9.)
mantle of Elijah that came to him from
"Be strong and of a good courage; etc."
Heaven, to test whether now also the waters
Tbis exhortation is to be found three times
would divide at the bidding of the Lord God in this passage. It was a definite message
of Ebjah. And the faithful Covenant-God to Joshua and the message which be needed.
was witb Joshua, as he waited, not unbelievingly,
A great responsibility had been laid upon
but expectantly, in that mourning camp him; one tbat required great moral and phys­
of Abel-Shittim, for a fresh message from ical courage. Tbe people under him were
God."
I, THE CALL. (v. i, 2,)
"Nozv after the death of Moses the servant
untrained and undisciplined for war and
would naturally be easily discouraged. And
the enemy that they had to meet was fierce
of the Lord it came to pass, that tlie Lord and warlike. Joshua must be an inspiration
spake unto Joshua, the son of Nun, Moses'
minister, saying Moses my servant is dead;
to his army as he led them into the battles
with the tribes tbat were inabiting Canaan.
now therefore arise, go over tliis Jordan, Courage is something that is contagious.
thou and all this people, unto the land zvhich Courage in the heart of the leader puts
I giz'C to them, even to the children of Israel." strength into the hearts of a thousand men,
Joshua had acted as prime minister to Moses,
He bad led tbe forces of Israel in the noted
Joshua was to inspire Israel to zeal in the
great undertaking before them; to fidelityto
battle of Amalek, He was of the tribe of the Lord their God and faithfulness to His
Ephraim. He was one of the two faithful commandments. And he had the assurance
spies who vrere sent to spy out the land of that if he did tbis tbe Lord would fight their
Canaan, He was a godly warrior. Originally
battles, "Be of good courage, and he shall
his name was Oshea, which means "help" strengthen thine beart: wait, I say on the
or "salvation," Afterward the prefix "Je" Lord,"—Psalm 27:14,
was added and his name came to signify "Jehovah
is salvation." Thus he became a type
Eskridge, Kansas.
1 esson VIII. November 23, 1913.
o^ Christ wbose name Jesus signified the
LESSON FOR THE CHILDREN.
Saviour, It is significant that Moses must
By Anna Pritchard George.
first pass away before Joshua could be exalted
tO' the leadership in Israel. "The Mosaic Suppose, Helen, your teacher should leave, what
JOSHUA, THE NEW LEADER.
Joshua 1:1-9.
dispensation was introductory to that of the would the school do? "Get someone else to take
gospel, and the former must expire before her place." When any leader dies or is taken
the latter could appear in its glory. The away, some one else must be chosen to fllltheir
place. So in today's lesson God chooses Joshua
r.'oral law is exceedingly useful to the church
to take Moses' place as leader of the Jews.
of God, and to every believer; but the gospel
On the table score the course of the Jordan River
alone can conduct us to the heavenly in­
heritance ; and being "dead to the law" as in the sand. This is floodtime for the Jordan
so it is about 500 weet wide, and the land rises
the ground of our confidence, is necessary to on each side. The water is rushing along at great
speed. Five miles from the western shore Is the
our salvation by Jesus Christ, These things
walled city of Jericho, Pile these stones around
for the walls. On the eastern shore, use these
paper tents for the encampment of the Children
of Israel. These sticks are they and this clothes
pin is Joshua. Where is Moses, Bud? "He died
on Mt. Nebo,'' The Jews have been weeping for
him for almost thirty days. In three days they
will cross the Jordan to take possession of the
Promised Land, but they must have a leader.
God looks all over the Jews and into their
hearts. Will anyone do to filliMoses' place. Buster,
to lead the Jews across the Jordan and conquer
Canaan? No, it will be hard work, and the
man must be brave. Who led the Jews in the
battle against the Amalekites when Moses' hands
were held up all day, and the Jews won, George?
Yes, Joshua was the leader. Then, Ethel, what
two spies brought back the good report from
Canaan and plead with the people to trust God
and obey Him even when the Jews were about
to stone them to death? "Caleb and Joshua.''
And Joshua was the one who went part way up
the mountain side with Moses when God gave
him the Commandments.
So as God looks around he finds Joshua fully
prepared, Joshua has not wasted his life expecting
some day to turn to God and make something
of himself. But he has kept close to God and
obeyed and loved Him. Now, when God needs
a igood brave man, ready for His service. He finds
Joshua and chooses him. Joshua obeyed well,
now he will lead well. So if we obey God well,
and do our best every time, we too will be ready
when He wants workers.
God says to Joshua, "Moses my servant is dead;
now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and
all this people, unto the land which 1 do give to
them. Every place that the sole of your foot
fehall tread upon, that have I given unto you."
God has promised all this land to the Children of
^Israel, but can they enjoy it if they do not take
jt? Your father offers you a gun, James, Will
you have any pleasure from it if you do not take
it? So God offers us many blessings—to be our
Father, to forgive our sins, to give us a home in
heaven with Him. But what good are they to us
if we do not take God at His word and accept His
gifts? God has given this land to the Jews, now
Joshua is to lead them over the river and take
possession.
The people look at the River Jordan. It is a
raging torrent, and no bridges, nor boats. It seems
impossible to cross. Then on the far shore there
are the walled cities, and the Jews have no weapons
with which to take them. But what help do
they have of which the heathen know nothing,
Ruth? "God." "As I was with Moses, so will I
be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake
thee.'' And Joshua and the people, as they look
at the river, remember the Red Sea, And the
walled cities remind them of the hosts of the
Egyptians, and the Amalekites, and other fierce
tribes in the wilderness whom God had helped
them to conquer.
"Be strong and of a good courage," urges the
Lord. And He tells them how to be so. Joshua
and the people must abide by the law of God.
"Observe to do according to all the law." Talk
about it—"Shall not depart out of thy mouth,''
Study it—"Meditate therein day and night." Some
children do not like to study Bible verses. But
you do, don't you, John? iGod says that is the
way to be brave. If we get so full of the Bible
that we talk it and think about it, we cannot
help but obey it, then we will have God on our
side and be brave. So we will live a life worth
living, for we will do good ourselves, and help
others to live right, God says to Joshua and to
us in every danger and diflJoulty, "Be strong and
of a good courage; be not afraid; for the Lord
thy God is with thee,"
Montclair, N. J.