p. 7 | Straight Up Before by Max Hill

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · May 22, 1907

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 33, No. 21.

Straight Up Before.

By Max Hill

"AND the people shall go every man straight up before him." Thus the Lord instructed Joshua to do when the walls of Jericho were to be sealed. Not a man was to advance upon the walls, not a man was to shout until just the proper time, when as one man their voices were to be raised in a mighty shout of victory. Then as the walls fell, every man was to go "straight up before him." No one was to look for an easy way. No one was to seek a way that seemed to him to be the better way, but straight up before him, to certain victory.

"The wall fell down flat." Nothing else might be expected, for the people had followed the instructions of Jehovah. Having thus followed Him, they found the way miraculously opened before them, and "the people went up into the city, every man straight before him." The record continues, "And they took the city."

In this experience are at least two great lessons: a lesson in faith and trust, and a lesson of practical work,—"Go up, every man straight before him." A city has been encompassed many days; the time has come to shout, to shout victory. Walls of superstition, of doubt, of sin, are falling before the shouting band. Go up, every man straight before him. Victory lies before! But victory comes only in God's own way, and tho to us His way may not seem the best, and tho the way our brother may find before him may seem easier than our own, for us there is but one true way—God's way, "every man straight before him." MAX HILL.