The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 99

from our clrea,ms, a,ncl the remote clo.nger from our apprehensions. Wha.t is i=e- clia,tely before him is a wise man's ea.re. Ancl to take each eta.ge as it comes into sight a,nd provide for it is safety ancl wisclom alike. It is the golclen mean between the levity of indifference a.ncl the torture of anxiety. Not too many spies must be sent out, nor too for afielcl. III. SEE THAT YOUR SPIES ARE FIT FOR THEIR TASK, It is not every solclier who will make a scout ; for his ta.sk there is neeclecl enclurance, resource, coolness daring, quickness of perception ancl of purpose, in their highest form. I assume that J oslma chose two fit men ; partly because he had seen the invasion of Canaan post- ponecl for forty years through the unfitness of the spies then sent, ancl also because the few glimpses we have of them show them to have been the right sort of men. We co.n see that they hacl the a1,r:ility of youth (eh. vi. 23) ancl the daring of faith (eh. ii. 24), and doubtless they had other qualities beside. See that the apica you aend out are fit for thefr work. Some people employ their Wiahes in this work, and these return with tale more flattering than true ; some their mere imagination, which takes in all that may, can, or will happen; some send forth their fears, which return telling of countless lions in the way, and some their superstitions, which read auspices of good or omens of evil fortune in the simplest and most meaningless experiences. They choose unfit spies. If you are to send two, who shall they be ? Of the first one there can be no doubt-it must be faith, for faith has clearer eyesight than anything else. It sees the invisible. It beholds God as well as man; sees His moral as well as material laws at work ; sees the elements of hope which He brings with Him into every scene; is the attribute of daring; can always find or make a way out of difficulties. Let faith have tho forecasting as its charge. And if faith should be invariably one of the two spies, consecration should be the other. Spy out the future, not simply to know it, but with desire to use it. And to that encl scrutinise the futul'e with the eye of consecration, with the desire to see the opportunities of doing good, of growing in grace, of honouring God, of blessing man. Happy the man who chooses his spies well, and sees with trustful eye the help, and with loving purpose the opportunities, which lie before him. Lastly- IV. SEND YOUR SPIES ACROSS JORDAN BEFORE YOU YOURSELF MAKE THE PASSAGE, It is not by accident of poetic fancy merely that the Jordan, dividing the land of sojourn from the land of rest, has been taken as an image of that " river without a bridge," across which is the better Janel. Of course like all analogies it is impe,fect, for while God's Israel finds rest in the heavenly Canaan, it finds no Canaanite to dispute the enjoyment of it. Still it is a suggestive emblem of the rugged, forbid- ding boundary beyoncl which is our land of milk o.nd honey. And if our wisdom exercises itself in sm-veying every stage in advance and prepo.ring for it, it certainly will find a special reason for slll'Veying, and preparing for what is on the other side of the great dividing line between him and eternity. Have you sent out your spies there ? Do you know exactly the sort of experience which is before you? Coulcl you confidently pass over Jordan ? Through your Saviour is it the abundant entrance that is waiting you? Do not confine your thoughts to Shittim, however sweet its shade of a,cacias may be; but prepo.re for what is beyond, ancl face the passnge of the Jordan with the full knowledge and firm faith which would make your rest in Canaan sm·e.-G. Ver. 1.-A brand pluckedfrom the fire. This strange and somewhat romantic story of Ilahab and the spies forms an interesting episode in the Scripture n11rrative. The special interest lies in the nature of the incidents and the character of the chief actor. N othinn- is told us as to 11ny definite result from the visit of the spies affect• ing the after siege and cnptUl'e of the city, except so far as this, that they learnt from Ilahab the alarm of the inhabitants at the approach of the Israelitish host. It shows, however, that, confident as Joshua may have been that the Lord was fighting on his side he did not abstain from taking nil proper precautions to ensUl'e safety and success. God commonly works by th.e use of me~ns _and instntm~nts, and they who have most living faith in His protecting and delivermg power will be most careful JOSHUA, D 34 THE BOOK OF JOSHUA, [OH, II, 1-12,