The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 74

HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-4.-Joshua's Oomnnission. This passage may be viewed under two main aspects: (1) regarding Moses as the type of Christ and Joshua of His ministers; and (2) regarding Joshua as himself the type of Christ. As these points of view suggest two perfectly distinct and independent lines of thought, it is obvious that they are better fitted for two separate discourses than for being combined in one. I. JOSHUA AS THE TYPE OF Goo's MINISTERS. 1. After the death of Moses, the task devolves upon his minister. So after the death of Christ, the task of conquering the world devolved upon His apostles, His " ministers.'' They who waited on Christ during His human life, who were with Him in His temptations, were the men appointed to carry on His work when He had gone hence. 2. By the express comnnand of God. So the apostles not only had Christ's commission, " Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark xvi. 15 ; xxviii. 19), and "As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you" (John xx. ·21), but they were bidden to wait till the time was fixed (Acts i. 4), anJ the Spirit poured out upon them from on high (Acts ii. 4). Hence we learn that no work, however high and holy, should be undertaken without the express intima- tion that it is God's pleasure we should attempt it ; that no motives, however pure, will justify us in putting our hand to the ark (2 Sam. vi. 6, 7) unless we are or- dained by God to touch it. And if we ask how we are to know when we are so orclainecl, the answer-is (a) by seeking counsel of God; (b) by scrutinisiag carefully the purity of our own motives, lest we may have mistaken pride or self-interest for the voice of God. That intimation will be given in various ways. We know not how (see note on v.1) Joshua was stirred up by Goel. But men are marked out for special tasks in three ways: (1) by circumstances. Thus Joshua, as the minister of Moses, most closely acquainted with his modes of thought and course of action, became naturally his successor. So Timothy takes the place of St. Paul (2 Tiru. iii. 10). (2) By external authority; that of those who have a right to exercise it, like the high priest when he sought counsel 0f God by Urim ancl Thummim. (3) By inward fotim'lt·ions of God's Spirit, which cannot be mistaken, save by those who have blincleJ their own eyes by self-seeking and self-conceit. 8. The command is based upon Moses' death. So all the work of God's ministers Jerives its energy from the death of Christ. It wo.s the one all-suffi- cient sacrifice and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world that was the salt of the Apostles' mission. It is that same atonement which gives power to their successors now. , 4. The wnrk is of God, but the ministers are human. Goel might have perforrneJ His work without the. intervention of means. But He has chosen to net through human instrumentality. Thus He magnifies His greatness even more tllll.n if He had clone the work Himself. For human infirmities sorely mo.r the work of God. And yet that work goes on, and even human infirmity is overruled to God's glory (1 Cor. ii. 4, 5; 2 Cor. iv. 7; xii. 9). So it was with Joshua's e1Tor in jmlgment regarding the Gibeonites (eh. ix. 14), and so it often is with om· own. 6. Difficulties often present themselves,. insi~perable but by the hand _of God. "Go over this Jordo.n.'' But how? The nver was full to overfl.owmg, the 6 THE BOOK OF JOSHUA. • [cu. I. 1-4,