At first thought it seems an incredible thing that a brief, unadorned historical statement, even tho it record an action or an event of very serious import, should have power, centuries afterward, not only to enchain attention and awaken profoundest thought, but also to arouse the deepest emotions and the most exalted feeling in the soul of man.
Take as an example of such statements, the distinguished crossing of the Jordan by the children of Israel in the year 1451 before Christ, exactly when the time was due for them to enter the long-before-promised land.
Twelve short verses of the third chapter of the book of Joshua record the exceedingly instructive proceeding.
Not very long ago one evening hundreds of persons in the United States read that graphic description of the unparalleled incident.
Last year, many of these hundreds read the same twelve verses, deeply moved, no doubt, at the thrilling spectacle they depict. Not a few had read the living lines many times before, their minds filled with awe.
Yet that evening the simple, heedful words seemed charged with a subtle vitality, a piercing intensity, a keen consciousness of the mission to be accomplished. They painted feature after feature of the great scene in colors fadeless as the sky. They planted in the mind sharpest conviction of God’s love, might, and faithfulness.
Reader, put aside for a half hour the eager hurrying of these ominous days, and reflect over that last step in Israel’s famous transmigration. See the vast host of men, women, and children waiting at Abel-Shittim—opposite trembling Jericho—uneasy, anxious, but ready, willing to attempt the passage, tho the waters of Jordan were overflowing its banks widely, as if to render all the more conspicuous the imminent display of Jehovah’s power over Nature’s forces.
Note how explicitly at every step God’s order was obeyed. One act of disobedience on the part of Joshua, priests, or people, would have resulted in appalling disaster, as had several times proved the case during the sad years of desert wandering. Appreciate that it was the last impressive scene in a long, highly-wrought, living drama, its thrilling acts covering the time from smitten Egypt to obedient Jordan.
Behold the priests bearing the ark of the covenant, with its eloquent mercy-seat, approach the brink of the broad waters. Observe with what firm hearts they place their feet in the speeding stream, and then stand!
Now witness an astonishing scene. As did the waters of the Red Sea, over forty years before, so now the speeding flood of Jordan drew asunder, one portion flowing swiftly away down the rich valley, while the other, at the priest’s right hand, disregarding the law of gravitation, reared itself into a high, firm, crystal wall, and STOOD, obedient to the will of Him who “measures the waters in the hollow of His hand,” until the million host had passed over to liberty, to home, to great conquests, and, alas! to quick, astounding rebellion.
These two marvelous displays of Jehovah’s power, favor, and love, render Israel’s migration from Egypt to Canaan the most eminent national movement of all history.
No page records a scene like that witnessed when the priests, bearing the ark of the covenant, “stood firm” in the midst of Jordan until the vast procession of men, women, and children, preceded by the twelve men bearing twelve stones, taken from the dry bed of the stream—to erect a memorial of the momentous event—had all passed over opposite paralyzed Jericho.
But the most salient feature of that renowned transfer was the childlike trustfulness and submission of the vast throng, from great Joshua down through all its ranks.
The brief, but extremely definite, history brings to us no utterance of impatience, no syllable of complaint, tho the whole people tarried “three days” beside the surging waters before the actual crossing; no expression of doubt as to the possibility of effecting the passage, no word of dread or terror at coming face to face with enemies many and mighty.
It was a state of things far different from that presented by their fathers at Kadesh-Barnea, upon hearing the fatal report of the ten faithless men sent by Moses to inspect the “goodly” promised land.7
The strong, vigorous host now facing Jordan, had experienced, through forty years, continuous sad reminding of the fateful stand taken by disappointed Israel on that fateful day.
It had seen one after another of its loved ones return to the dust until all who had borne part in that sinful murmuring had fallen without sight of the hills and plains, the fruits and flowers, the liberty and rest, now in full view just across Jordan. It had learned the priceless lesson of obedience to the words of God, the Deliverer of their fathers.
But this was not the only lesson this ransomed people had learned. Astonishing victories had been gained by them in their progress toward the notable river. God had enabled them to vanquish mighty kings, to acquire extended territory, with many fenced cities and unwalled towns; to gain vast wealth in cattle, money, jewels, all manner of spoil.
Briefly, Jehovah had guided them, defended them, given them great triumph, in everything kept His word with them. And now, beside this apparently impassable stream, and close to hostile nations, they are fearless, confident, obedient, trusting in the forceful arm many times outstretched in their behalf.
May it not be, that in these short, vivid, luminous sketches of Israel’s history, there lie sometimes, slightly veiled perhaps, yet easily discerned with a little study, important practical lessons for remnant Israel, and for to-day?
We read these wonderful portrayals carelessly, with little thought, little reflection, yet they hold for us teachings practical, priceless. If we could but rise to the height of adapting them to our needs in these urgent years, a richer, safer experience would be ours.
