The Man Whom God Chooses
By G. W. Caviness
OF all the characters, ancient or modern, there is none that surpasses Moses; and of him the Scriptures say, "Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth." Num. 12:3. In all the history of Moses, we see only a modest, unassuming man, so very slow, at times, that others began to think Israel needed a leader that could lead. Time and again, there were those who rose up against him. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram concluded that they should be a part of the government, and presented their claims as being of some importance among the children of Israel; but we all know what happened to them. Even in Moses' own family, his brother Aaron and his sister Miriam at one time found fault with him, and thought they were qualified to do some things better than he. It is very probable that Aaron said within himself, "I am the oldest, and should be respected most;" and in many respects, he did seem to have to take a leading part. Miriam perhaps thought that as she had cared for Moses when he was a babe, and put him in the little ark of bulrushes, there was no reason why he should not give attention and consideration to her. As to the manner of Moses' life, one instance where he arranged for a battle will suffice: "Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to-morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun." Ex. 17:8-12. Here we see a remarkable scene. One man is sent with the army to fight the enemy; the other goes up to the top of the hill with two companions, and there looks on the battle. When he holds up his hands, Israel prevails. When his hands are let down because of weariness, then the enemies of Israel prevail. His hands are stayed up by his two companions, and the battle is won. From the general who led the soldiers, we hear no complaint that Moses was old and feeble, was not up-to-date, was not an organizer, and was loose in his management — that Israel needed new blood in order that matters might go on as they should. We hear nothing of this from the young man who fought the battles of Israel. During the life of the elder man, Joshua simply obeyed his word, following out his every suggestion without complaint, never thinking that he himself was the one who was doing everything, and that Moses should be set aside. In thinking of this battle, I have often asked the questions: "Whose battle was it? Who really gained the battle? Who did the work? Who was accepted and chosen of the Lord in the matter?" Of course, we all know that the battle was the Lord's, and that the Lord approved of both men and what they did at that time. LATER, when the time came for Moses to give up his work, Joshua was chosen, at the call of the Lord, to take his place. His amiable, quiet, unostentatious fidelity to the queer old man as leader was the surest evidence of ability to take the leadership when it was vacated. In the example of these two men, we see that which God approves; and the same characteristics displayed in these days will bring the approval of the great Leader of Israel. Such a life, developed under such circumstances, and faithful in all, could not but have a mighty influence. Of the influence of Joshua we read, "And Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the Lord, that He had done for Israel." Joshua 24:31. Of all the virtues a young man can show, none is of greater value, and not one reflects more glory upon his own character, than the respect he shows to his elders. If there are no really great, overshadowing characters in these days, it is because there is a lack in the development of the virtues illustrated by these two faithful children of God, — Moses and Joshua.