The Charge To Joshua - Despatch Of The Two Spies To Jericho -Rahab.

(JOSHUA 1, 2)

A WIDE, rich plain at the foot of the mountains of Moab, carpeted with wild flowers springing in luxuriant

beauty, watered by many rivulets and rills, here and there covered by acacia trees, where birds of brightest

plumage carol, and beyond, to the south, by the banks of streams, where scented oleanders rise to a height

of twenty-five feet, their flower-laden boughs bending like those of the willow - such is Abel-Shittim, "the

meadow of acacias." Beyond it are the fords of Jordan, and the western heights; in the distance southwards,

the hills o f Judaea, on which the purple light rests. Climate and vegetation are tropical, on the eastern even

more than on the western banks of the Jordan. Many memories hallow the place Somewhere here must Elijah

have smitten the waters of Jordan, that they parted, ere the fiery chariot wrapt him from the companionship

of Elisha. In this district also was the scene of John's baptism, where the Savior humbled Himself to fulfill all

righteousness. And on this "meadow of acacias" did an early summer shed its softness when, about the

month of March, forty years after the Exodus, the camp of Israel kept thirty days' solemn mourning for

Moses (Deuteronomy 34:8). Behind them rose that mountain -top, from which "that saint of God" had seen

his last of Israel and of the goodly land, which they were so soon to possess; before them lay the Land of

Promise which they were presently to enter.

Such a leader as Moses had been would Israel never more see; nor yet one with whom God had so spoken,

"mouth to mouth," as a man with his friend. A feeling of loneliness and awe must have crept over the people

and over their new leader, Joshua, like that which Elisha felt, when, alone, he turned him back with the

mantle of Elijah that came to him from heaven, to test whether now also the waters would divide at the

bidding of the Lord God of Elijah. And the faithful Covenant-God was with Joshua, as he waited, not

unbelievingly, but expectantly, in that mourning camp of Abel-Shittim, for a fresh message from God.

Though he had been previously designated by God, and set apart to the leadership, it was well he should so

wait, not only for his own sake, but also "that the people might afterwards not hesitate gladly to follow his

leadership, who had not moved a foot without the leading of God."  59 And in due time the longed-for

direction came: not in doubtful language, but renewing alike the commission of Joshua and the promises to

Israel. Far as the eye could reach, to the heights of Anti-Lebanon in the extreme distance, to the shores of

the Great Sea, to the Euphrates in the East - all was theirs, and not a foeman should withstand them, for God

would "not fail nor forsake" their leader. Only two things were requisite: that, in his loving obedience, the

word and commands of God should be precious to Joshua; and that in strong faith he should be "very

courageous." This latter command was twice repeated, as it were to indicate alike the inward courage of faith

and the outward courage of deed.

That this call had found a response in the hearts not only o f Joshua, but also of the people, appears from

the answer of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, when reminded of their obligation to share in the

impending warfare of their brethren. While professing their readiness to acknowledge in all things the

authority of Joshua, they also expressly made the latter conditional on the continued direction of Jehovah,

and re -echoed the Divine admonition to be "strong and of a good courage." So much does success in all we

undertake depend on the assurance of faith!

"For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think

that he shall receive anything of the Lord" (James 1:6, 7).

Thus directed and encouraged, Joshua gave orders that the people should provide themselves with the

necessary victuals to begin, if occasion should offer, their forward march on the third day. In point of fact,

however, it was at least five days before that movement could be made. For Joshua had deemed it prudent to

adopt proper preparatory measures, although, or rather just because he was assured of Divine help, and