OUR BIBLE BAND

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Mar 22, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 12.

Schedule for Week Ending April 2 Sunday March 27 Joshua 5-8 Monday " 28 " 9-11 Tuesday " 29 " 12-14 Wednesday " 30 " 15-17 Thursday " 31 " 18, 19 Friday April 1 " 20-22 Sabbath " 2 " 23, 24

OUR week's reading begins with Joshua 5 and closes with the book. It will be noted that the first thing that Israel did after crossing the Jordan was to carry out the ceremony of circumcision, which was the indication that they had cut themselves off from all unholy intercourse with the world, and had dedicated themselves to God. We have the record after this of the Captain of the Lord's host appearing to Joshua, showing that He was cooperating with him in the work that God gave him to do.

THEN follows the encompassing of the wicked city of Jericho. God is no respecter of persons; and every time that Israel marched around that city, there was opportunity for the inhabitants of Jericho to open the gates of that city and welcome them in. But every time, their hearts grew harder, until the time came that God's host threw down the walls of the city, and only Rahab and her household were saved.

THAT city God devoted to destruction, and Achan committed the awful trespass of taking what belonged to God. He showed how one traitor to God in a church or an assembly can turn away the blessing of God from all connected with him; a great and awful fact, which has been repeated many times since.

THE remainder of the book tells of the wars of Israel, the division of the land, Joshua's solemn charge before he lays down his burdens. Very touching and forcible is his plea to halting, unbelieving Israel. He had served when others had failed; and at the very last he declares, "If it seem evil unto you to serve Jehovah, choose ye this day whom ye will serve; . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah."

ONE can but reflect, as he reads the experience of Israel during the days of Joshua, that had they been faithful to God, He would as truly have driven out or destroyed their foes from before them, as He did the city and inhabitants of Jericho. They would not have needed to imbrue their hands with blood; God, who saw all hearts and knew all conditions, would have fought for them.