OS 1-2{Mamma. We have read all through what are called the five Books of Moses, and to-night we begin the Book of Joshua, which is so full of deep and precious meaning to the children of God that I feel almost afraid to try to explain even a very little of it to you.
Sophy. But please tell me the story, even though I may not understand it all, because Jesus will explain it to me Himself some day, by His Holy Spirit. And you know, Mamma, Moses told them to read out God's word before the little children, so I am sure God would like you to tell it all to me.
M. Then I will try. I will read you the first two chapters. Here we learn that after the death of Moses the Lord spoke to Joshua, who had been Moses' servant. And the Lord said, Moses my servant is dead; now therefore, go over Jordan with all this people, into the land. And the Lord greatly encouraged Joshua and said that He would be with him as He had been with Moses, only he was to be strong and very courageous!
S. Did God say He would be with Joshua, to make him courageous?
M. Yes, the fact that God had commanded him was to give him courage: and he was to keep God's word; by it he should make his way prosperous, and by it be would have good success. If he kept God's word he might be sure of God's presence.
S. Had Joshua nothing to do but to obey the word of God?
M. Nothing. God Himself would give them possession if they kept His word. And now Joshua commanded the officers of the people to prepare food; for in three clays they would pass over Jordan. And Joshua spoke to the two tribes and a half who had settled on that side of Jordan and reminded them of the word that Moses had said, about their going over armed, to fight with their brethren, until all had taken their possessions. And they answered Joshua that whatever he commanded them they would do, and as they had hearkened to Moses, so they would hearken to him, and then they took up God's word to him, and said, Only be thou strong and of good courage.
S. Why did God say so much about courage?
M. Because it was fear that had stopped them from going into the land before. They were afraid of the giants, and afraid of the way. It was a new way to them, and there was plenty to terrify them; if they looked at the overflowing river, they might feel afraid of death, but if they were keeping the word of God they could say, But we passed through the Red Sea, and it only drowned our enemies; and we sang the song of redemption on the other side. Again, if they thought of the enemies in the land they might well feel afraid, but if they had God's word in their hearts, they might say, Oh but God destroyed Sihon, and Og that great giant, and He will destroy all our enemies if we only trust in Him. For nothing gives such courage to the heart as keeping the word of God.
S. Does it make cowardly people courageous to keep God's word?
M. I believe it does. A person who keeps God's word is not afraid of going where God's word bids him go, even though it may seem a dangerous road.
And now Joshua sent two men to spy secretly, and they went to a city called Jericho. There was a poor lonely sinner there whose name was Rahab, and they went into her house. And the king of Jericho heard that they were there, and he sent to take them, but Rahab pretended that they were gone away, so the king's messengers went off to look for them, and they locked the gates of the city.
S. Were the spies locked into the city?
M. Yes. Rahab bad taken them up on the roof of her house, where she had a quantity of flax spread out, and she covered them over with the flax, so that the king's men could not find them. But when they were gone, she went up to the spies and said to them, I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that all the inhabitants faint because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the waters of the Red Sea for you, and we have heard what you did to Sihon and Og on the other side of Jordan; and when we heard these things there was no courage in any of us, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. And now, I pray you, promise me, as I have showed kindness to you, that you will show kindness to my father's house; and that you will save alive my father and my mother, my brothers, and my sisters, and deliver our lives from death. And they said, We will, if you do not tell of us, and when the Lord has given us the land we will deal kindly and truly with you.
Then Rahab got a scarlet cord and let them down by it from the window. And they said to her, Bind this scarlet cord in your window, that when we come back we may see it; and bring all your family into the house, and whoever is in the house shall be saved, but whoever is not in this house, that has the scarlet line in the window, shall be destroyed.
S. That was like the Israelites, when they were shut in to their own houses, with the blood of the lamb on the doorpost.
M. Yes. This was the sign by which they were to know the house of the poor Gentile sinner who valued the grace of God. She counted upon finding mercy in the one true God, and she was not disappointed. And when the spies were gone she bound the scarlet line in her window, and they returned to Joshua and told him all that had happened. And Joshua said, Truly the Lord has delivered all the land into our hands.