To Church Officers—An Example of Leadership
By E. R. Palmer
The present experiences of God’s people in the last battles and campaigns before the Lord’s coming are parallels in nearly every particular to the experiences and campaigns of ancient Israel in their march from Egypt to the promised land. After their forty years of wandering on the very borders of Canaan, all of which are so strikingly similar to our delays at the very entrance of the eternal kingdom, a note of courage and assurance was sounded in the ears of God’s people, as recorded in the first chapter of the book of Joshua; and from that time there began a vigorous campaign with rapid marches and conquests until all Israel passed over Jordan and inherited the land. To those who will read carefully the first few chapters of the book of Joshua, it will be evident that during that campaign the elders were in the lead. Note the following words:— “And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; and as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest), that the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground, . . . until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.”
What leadership this was! The priests whom God had set as instructors and responsible guides and shepherds of the flock went in advance, and with no flinching, actually dipped their feet into the waters of Jordan before the waters began to part, and their feet stood firm on the dry ground in the midst of Jordan until all Israel had passed over. That was leadership, faith, courage, confidence, and belief that God would part the waters. They did not stand back in a safe place, nor sit on the shore and wait for the waters to pass, nor exhort Israel to plunge in. They dipped their own feet in the waters, which then parted; and after thus beginning in the right way, they did not walk out on the other side, and beckon Israel to follow. They remained with their feet firm in the midst of the stream until all Israel had passed over. Note all through these chapters how Joshua and the priests remained with the people. The priests were the chief campaigners in taking Jericho. It is said of Joshua, after sending certain companies of men to points of advantage before the assault on Ai, that he “lodged that night among the people.” What a world of suggestion as to leadership lay in that little incident! A great battle was on, and Joshua, the mighty man of God, felt that he must be with the people during those few hours left before the fight; and not only did he lodge with the people, but he went with them the next day to battle, and even denied himself the glory there might have been in taking Ai with his own picked men. Instead of that he led the men who were to flee at the right time and then later turn upon their enemies, thus directing with his own hands the most trying and difficult feats of the battle. Such leaders are needed just now in every church. Leaders who know the times, who can sound the note of courage, and who will take their position in the front, dip their own feet in the Jordan, and stand firmly in the middle of the stream until all Israel has passed over. The good old REVIEW may continue to present the missionary campaign, and a few leaders may write continuously upon21the subject; but after that we must depend upon the local leaders, the officers in each church, to marshal the forces and win victories for the Lord of hosts. E. R. PALMER,
Sec. Gen. Conf. Publishing Com.