412
Patriarchs and Prophets
he was chosen to succeed him.
Through the laying on of hands by Moses, accompanied by a most
impressive charge, Joshua was solemnly set apart as the leader of
Israel. He was also admitted to a present share in the government.
The words of the Lord concerning Joshua came through Moses to the
congregation, “He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask
counsel for him, after the judgment of Urim before the Lord. At his
word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and
all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.”
Verses
21-23
.
Before relinquishing his position as the visible leader of Israel,
Moses was directed to rehearse to them the history of their deliverance
from Egypt and their journeyings in the wilderness, and also to reca-
pitulate the law spoken from Sinai. When the law was given, but few
of the present congregation were old enough to comprehend the awful
solemnity of the occasion. As they were soon to pass over Jordan and
take possession of the Promised Land, God would present before them
the claims of His law and enjoin upon them obedience as the condition
of prosperity.
Moses stood before the people to repeat his last warnings and
admonitions. His face was illumined with a holy light. His hair was
white with age; but his form was erect, his countenance expressed the
unabated vigor of health, and his eye was clear and undimmed. It was
an important occasion, and with deep feeling he portrayed the love
and mercy of their Almighty Protector:
“Ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since
the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one
side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing
as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it? Did ever people hear
the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast
heard, and live? or hath God assayed to go and take Him a nation from
the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders,
and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched-out arm, and by
great terrors, according to all that the Lord your God did for you in
Egypt before your eyes? Unto thee it was showed, that thou mightest
know that the Lord He is God; there is none else beside Him.”
[464]
“The Lord did not set His love upon you, nor choose you, because
ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of