Dec. 16, 1951 INTO A NEW LAND WITH GOD Josh. 1:1-7; 6:1-5, 20 Pointers on the Lesson
given to discouragement. The word for courage here means to be strong, to be heartened. The reason is clear, the Lord is with His people to help them. The Christian has no business in the slough of flespond. It is lack of faith that puts him.there. David “encouraged himself in the Lord his God” (1 Sam. 30:6). So should every child of God. Victory In the New Way 6:1-5, 20 The conquest of Jericho was to be achieved as the gift of God (v. 2). Yet there were some definite preparations which needed to be made ere this gift could be received. These are clearly set forth in verses 3 to 5. These instruc tions carefully fulfilled, complete vic tory was enjoyed by Israel (v.20). Think of the many walls of difficulty and op position that will fall down flat when God’s people trust Him and obey the instructions of His Word. Helps for the Children In the New Homeland Joshua 1:1-11; 3, 4 Memory Verse: “Blessed are [they] . . . who walk in the law of the Lord” (Psa. 119:1). The forty years of wandering in the wilderness had ended for the children of Israel, Joshua their new leader was preparing to take them to their new homeland, the Promised Land, at last! After Moses’ death God told Joshua to take His people across the Jordan River. God had promised to be with and to bless Joshua even as He had blessed Moses. God commanded Joshua to care fully obey all of His law that he might be blessed in whatever he did. All of the people were commanded to prepare food, for in three days they would cross the Jordan and enter into the new land. The day that the people were ready to leave the wilderness, the priests carrying the ark walked to the edge of the Jordan River. As their feet touched the water, God caused the river to cease its flow ing, and the waters stood up in a heap, and God's people passed over on dry ground just as their fathers had done many years before when they had crossed the Red Sea! After all of the people had crossed the river, twelve men took a stone each from the middle of the river bed and carried it to the place where they were to camp that night. Twelve stones were set up by Joshua in the middle of the river too. As soon as the last of the people were across the river, the waters commenced to flow again just as they had done before. How wonderfully God provided a way for His people to obey His command! When they were willing to cross the Jordan, God provided a dry path for them. Because God’s people were will ing now to trust in Him, God enabled them to conquer walled cities and kill their enemies. As long as they obeyed
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Christians are being constantly called upon to enter upon new experiences. Ofttimes these are difficult experiences fraught with temptation and danger. But these experiences need not be feared if there is the realization of God’s pres ence in them. Jesus, our Great Shep herd, once said, “ And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them” (John 10:4). Thus the believer may enter upon every new experience of life with confidence that the way has been marked out before him. God’s Leader In the New Way 1 : 1 , 2 “After the death of Moses” (v.l) God called upon Joshua, who had proven himself so faithful and courageous as a spy, to lead His people into the new land. As John Wesley once said, “ God buries His workmen, but carries on His work.” What Moses could not do, Josh ua was hidden to do. Is there not a beau tiful picture here of Christ accomplish ing for us through the muddy, turbu lent waters of His death what the law could not d®? At any rate, whether it is by a merely human leader like Josh ua or by the Lord Jesus Christ directly, God leads His people faithfully through the present dispensation. Instructions For *the New Way 1:3-7 These may be set forth in three ex hortations: (1) Possess your possessions (vv. 3 ,4). The Lord had given Israel the land. It was already theirs in this sense. But they must now occupy it in order to enjoy it. (Compare Deut. 11:24.) The boundaries were carefully laid down. Think of this in relation to the Christian life! Calvary has purchased for be lievers a host of blessings and privi leges. How many of them do we en joy? We must move in and possess the land. Most Christians do not possess nearly all of their possessions. There is a difference between ownership and possession. Dr. A. C. Dixon once said he owned six umbrellas but only pos sessed one. “ Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon” is yours! How much of your riches do you really enjoy? (2) Claim your strength (v. 5). The change of personnel as regarding lead ership was to make no difference. The same power would be available as under Moses. Part of this verse is quoted in Hebrews 11:5. So today “ in Christ Jesus,” clothed upon with His armor, none can stand against the Christian. He is irresistible. “ If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31). A study of Joshua’s life avails to show how this was true in his day. (3) Keep your courage (w . 6 ,7). The servant of the Lord is not to be
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