The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 123

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Yer. 11.-The passage of the Jo1·da11. The lessons of importance are not e,hausted in those ah·eady suggested in this passage of the J orclan. A deed so gre:it, so solemn, so vast in its results, has niany sides, and many subordinate points of interest. I gather up in tbis second homily a few of those points of interest-and instruction. Aud first observe- !. THE SIGN OF Goo's PRESENCE WITH ISRAEL IS TEMPORARY, BUT THE PRESENCE ITSELF 1s PER!,U..'-ENT. This lesson arises at· once from the fact that the pillar of cloud which hitherto had led them does not precede them now, To its guidance hitherto they had marched, and under its shadow rested, And the sign of God's presence had been a sweet assurance and a constant augury of success. Now it dis:ippears altogether from the history of Israel. They will cross Jordan under the guidance 0f the ark, and of that alone. God's presence remains with them, but the sign of it is withdrawn. There were doubtless many who regarded such a loss as au omen of Einister significance; and many who, mixing d<Jvotion and superstition, would deplore that when the great crisis of the enterprise was come, their usual assurance of God·s presence failed them. But there were some that had looked not to but tlirough the sigp, and built their hopes on the living God. And they, Joshua leading them, trusting in the love and faitlifulness which .they felt must be His character, were ready to venture without their sign. And venturing, they found God there, though the cloud of His presence had been withdrawn, and they got a notaLle lesson in walking by faith rather than by sight. We need few lessom more than this: That God's presence or absence is not to be concluded from the presence or absence of the sign of it. We are all Jewish enough to" require a sign." ,Ye want some assurance of acceptance over and beyond what gospel wonls convey. ""e want some "leading of Provitleuce" in addition to the sense of cl_nty before we feel comfortable in starting 011 any course, Raptures, mystic whispe1ings of God's consolation, special experiences not granted to others-these are apt in the regard of all of us to assume wo much importance. ,ve are apt to make the same mistake concerning these which some in Israel· doubtless made concerning the pill:ir of, cloud and fire; namely, to imagine them a special crown, a testimony to our nuusual sanctity, instead of a gracious condescension to our weaknesses and to the foars which mark our setting out on a pilgrimage, Just escaping from slavery, Israel needed sig11s ; now, maturer in experience and stronger in faith, the signs are no longer needed. Probably in all cases it will be found that signR belong to the earlier stages of the expe1·ience either of the community or the individual. CH, III. 7-17,j TitE BOOK OF JOSHUA.