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