Shall We Tarry Longer?

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 7, 1916

Shall We Tarry Longer?

JOSHUA, although selected to lead Israel after the death of Moses, did not have all the gifts that had been bestowed upon Moses. When Joshua entered upon his work, the Lord gave him the following charge: “Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them. . . . Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. . . . For then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua 1:1-9.

Moses died on the borders of the Promised Land; but before his death he wrote much instruction, even giving detailed directions in regard to dividing the land, etc. The Lord told Joshua that his success depended upon carefully following the instruction which had been given by the prophet of the Lord before he was laid to rest.

It is worthy of note that the Lord told Joshua to be strong and very courageous in carrying out this instruction. While Moses lived, the people feared the reproofs from the Lord, delivered through his faithful messenger; but after he had been laid to rest, it required strength and courage to press forward and carry out the instruction which had been given.

The prophet of the Lord, whom God raised up to lead this people, has been laid to rest just on the borders of the Promised Land; but her instruction remains,—instruction for the prosecution of every branch of the work. In this instruction are found very definite directions regarding the equipment of our medical school at Loma Linda.

From a communication written by Sister White, Oct. 11, 1909, we quote as follows:—

“Our people are now being tested as to whether they will obtain their wisdom from the greatest Teacher the world ever knew, or seek to the god of Ekron. . . . Shall we represent before the world that our physicians must follow the pattern of the world before they can be qualified to act as successful physicians? This is the question that is now testing the faith of some of our brethren. Let not any of our brethren displease the Lord by advocating in their assemblies the idea that we need to obtain from unbelievers a higher education than that specified by the Lord.

“The representation of the great Teacher is to be considered an all-sufficient revelation. Those in our ranks who qualify as physicians are to receive only such education as is in harmony with these divine truths. Some have advised that students should, after taking some work at Loma Linda, complete their medical education in worldly colleges. But this is not in harmony with God’s plan. God is our wisdom, our sanctification, and our righteousness. Facilities should be provided at Loma Linda, that the necessary instruction in medical lines may be given by the instructors who fear the Lord, and who are in harmony with his plans for the treatment of the sick.”—Medical Evangelistic Library, No. 6, pp. 28, 29.

The next year, January, 1910, Sister White wrote the following to a committee of our brethren who were appointed to attend to the interests of the school:—

(Concluded on page 19)