Chapter 44—Crossing the Jordan
This chapter is based on
Joshua 1
to 5:12.
Never till their departed leader was taken from them had the Is-
raelites so fully realized the value of his wise counsels, his parental
tenderness, and his unswerving faith.
Moses was dead, but his influence was to live on. As the glow of
the descending sun lights up mountain peaks after the sun has sunk
behind the hills, so the works of the holy and the good shed light upon
the world long after the actors themselves have passed away. “The
righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.”
Psalm 112:6
.
While the people were filled with grief at their great loss, they were
not left alone. The pillar of cloud rested over the tabernacle by day and
the pillar of fire by night. 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. Courageous,
persevering, unmindful of self, and, above all, inspired by a living
faith in God—such was the character of the man chosen to conduct
the armies of Israel. He had acted as prime minister 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.
With great anxiety Joshua 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... .
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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.” “Only be thou
strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according
to all the law, which Moses My servant commanded... . 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
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