“WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.”
By J. Clarke
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose ye this day whom ye will serve; . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15. JOSHUA had formed a character remarkable for intrepidity and firmness, independence and truth. He had breasted the fury of popular tumult, had stood almost alone when threatened with death, was firm in his fidelity to God when the multitude was about to stone him and his companion, Caleb, with stones, because they persisted in giving a truthful report of the land. Num. 14:10. Joshua and Caleb alone of that generation lived to enter Canaan. All the congregation from twenty years old and upwards, fell in the wilderness (Num. 14:26-39), while those two faithful ones still survived, because they were firm in the cause of truth, when all the people were opposed. When truth was unpopular, Joshua dared to be singular, dared to be odd. Fearless of man he stood forth, the champion of downtrodden truth, the advocate of right. But had Joshua waited for others to serve the Lord, even though disposed to do his will, how different would have been his destiny; had he waited for the church to rise, had he said to himself, We can do nothing alone, only Caleb and myself, what can we do against three million of people? I will wait and see how Moses comes out, and if he wins I shall stand by him, or if he falls I will keep on the popular side with the winning party. Or he might have minced the matter a little, and might have taken a middle course, or by his silence have avoided the execrations of the multitude, and thus have drawn down the curse of God. But no! The occasion called for decisive testimony, and he gave it. The people needed a rebuke, and he administered it. The truth was trodden under foot, he rescued it. He stood the advocate of God, whose goodness and liberality were undervalued, whose grace was abused, whose love was slighted. But the trait most prominent in the character of Joshua, was his adherence to truth in times when he stood almost alone; when all combined to draw him away from God; when his friends and associates were opposed. Now if anyone in this day of darkness is disposed to wait for the church to rise; if any have the idea that all must rise or no one can; if any are waiting for a tide to bear them up, to waft them onward; if any are laboring under the impression that by and by all will rise, and I will wait my time, let such an one contemplate the history and character of Joshua, reflect upon the manner in which his character was developed, and the means by which his eminence was reached, until he can say, Let others do as they may, I will serve the Lord. J. CLARKE.