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brethren； like unto me； unto Him ye shall hearken。〃 Deuteronomy 18：15。 God
saw fit to discipline Moses in the school of affliction and poverty before
he could be prepared to lead the hosts of Israel to the earthly Canaan。 The
Israel of God； journeying to the heavenly Canaan； have a Captain who needed
no human teaching to prepare Him for His mission as a divine leader； yet He
was made perfect through sufferings； and 〃in that He Himself hath suffered
being tempted； He is able to succor them that are tempted。〃 Hebrews 2：10；
18。 Our Redeemer manifested no human weakness or imperfection； yet He died
to obtain for us an entrance into the Promised Land。
〃And Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a servant； for a
testimony of those things which were to be spoken after； but Christ as a son
over His own house； whose house are we； if we hold fast the confidence and
the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end。〃 Hebrews 3：5； 6。
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Chapter 44
Crossing the Jordan
The Israelites deeply mourned for their departed leader； and thirty days
were devoted to special services in honor of his memory。 Never till he was
taken from them had they so fully realized the value of his wise counsels；
his parental tenderness； and his unswerving faith。 With a new and deeper
appreciation they recalled the precious lessons he had given while still
with them。
Moses was dead； but his influence did not die with him。 It was to live on；
reproducing itself in the hearts of his people。 The memory of that holy；
unselfish life would long be cherished； with silent； persuasive power
molding the lives even of those who had neglected his living words。 As the
glow of the descending sun lights up the mountain peaks long after the sun
itself has sunk behind the hills； so the works of the pure； the holy； and
the good shed light upon the world long after the actors themselves have
passed away。 Their works； their words； their example； will forever live。
〃The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance。〃 Psalm 112：6。
While they were filled with grief at their great loss； the people knew that
they were not left alone。 The pillar of cloud rested over the tabernacle by
day； and the pillar of fire by night； an assurance that God would still be
their guide and helper if they would walk in the way of His commandments。
Joshua was now the acknowledged leader of Israel。 He had been known chiefly
as a warrior； and his gifts and virtues were especially valuable at this
stage in the history of his people。 Courageous； resolute； and persevering；
prompt； incorruptible； unmindful of selfish interests in his care for those
committed to his charge； and； above all； inspired by a living faith in God
such was the character of the man divinely chosen to conduct the armies of
Israel in their entrance upon the Promised Land。 During the sojourn in the
wilderness he had acted as prime minister
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to Moses； and by his quiet； unpretending fidelity； his steadfastness when
others wavered； his firmness to maintain the truth in the midst of danger；
he had given evidence of his fitness to succeed Moses； even before he was
called to the position by the voice of God。
It was with great anxiety and self…distrust that Joshua had looked forward
to the work before him； but his fears were removed by the assurance of God；
〃As I was with Moses； so I will be with thee： I will not fail thee； nor
forsake thee。 。 。 。 Unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance
the land； which I sware unto their fathers to give them。〃 〃Every place that
the sole of your foot shall tread upon； that have I given unto you； as I
said unto Moses。〃 To the heights of Lebanon in the far distance； to the
shores of the Great Sea； and away to the banks of the Euphrates in the
eastall was to be theirs。
To this promise was added the injunction； 〃Only be thou strong and very
courageous； that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law； which
Moses My servant commanded。〃 The Lord's direction was； 〃This book of the law
shall not depart out of thy mouth； but thou shalt meditate therein day and
night；〃 〃turn not from it to the right hand or to the left；〃 〃for then thou
shalt make thy way prosperous； and then thou shalt have good success。〃
The Israelites were still encamped on the east side of Jordan； which
presented the first barrier to the occupation of Canaan。 〃Arise；〃 had been
the first message of God to Joshua； 〃go over this Jordan； thou； and all this
people； unto the land which I do give to them。〃 No instruction was given as
to the way in which they were to make the passage。 Joshua knew； however；
that whatever God should command； He would make a way for His people to
perform； and in this faith the intrepid leader at once began his
arrangements for an advance。
A few miles beyond the river； just opposite the place where the Israelites
were encamped； was the large and strongly fortified city of Jericho。 This
city was virtually the key to the whole country； and it would present a
formidable obstacle to the success of Israel。 Joshua therefore sent two
young men as spies to visit this city and ascertain something as to its
population； its resources； and the strength of its fortifications。 The
inhabitants of the city； terrified and suspicious； were constantly on the
alert；
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and the messengers were in great danger。 They were； however； preserved by
Rahab； a woman of Jericho； at the peril of her own life。 In return for her
kindness they gave her a promise of protection when the city should be
taken。
The spies returned in safety with the tidings； 〃Truly the Lord hath
delivered into our hands all the land； for even all the inhabitants of the
country do faint because of us。〃 It had been declared to them in Jericho；
〃We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you； when
ye came out of Egypt； and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites；
that were on the other side Jordan； Sihon and Og； whom ye utterly destroyed。
And as soon as we had heard these things； our hearts did melt； neither did
there remain any more courage in any man； because of you： for the Lord your
God； He is God in heaven above； and in earth beneath。〃
Orders were now issued to make ready for an advance。 The people were to
prepare a three days' supply of food； and the army was to be put in
readiness for battle。 All heartily acquiesced in the plans of their leader
and assured him of their confidence and support： 〃All that thou commandest
us we will do； and whithersoever thou sendest us； we will go。 According as
we hearkened unto Moses in all things； so will we hearken unto thee： only
the Lord thy God be with thee； as He was with Moses。〃
Leaving their encampment in the acacia groves of Shittim； the host descended
to the border of the Jordan。 All knew； however； that without divine aid they
could not hope to make the passage。 At this time of the yearin the spring
seasonthe melting snows of the mountains had so raised t