1. God's control over nature. All miracles in the physical realm are an asser- tion of the absolute sovereignty of Goel over the things He has made and the laws He has ordained. The possibility of miracles springs naturally from the fact of the existence of a "living Goel," who is "Lord of all the earth." Whether any particular miracle is credible must elepend on the force of evidence, anel in this evidence the moral end to be answered plays an important part. But to deny it.~ possibility is to eleny the Divine sovereignty. It is absurd to suppose that the order of nature which God Himself has estahlisheel limits His own freedom. The power that created it must ever be Lord over it. Consider how this truth of the supremacy of the living Goel is the basis of our faith in a controlling Providence and in the efficacy of prayer. How the Divine will may work freely within the bounds of natural order we know not. But once i:,,rasp the principle that the forces and laws of nature are not fetters imposed on the freedom of Divine powe1·, but instruments by which that power may accomplish the purposes of love as it pleases, and you have no longer any difficulty in believing in a fatherly Providence in which you can trust and to which you can appe,d in time of neeel. 2. God's control over the nations. This miracle is to the people a prophecy and pledge of victory in their conflict with the Canaanites. "Hereby ye shall know," &c. (ver. 10). The power that rolled back the waters of the rushing river could roll back the force of the barbarous tribes beyond it. The opening for the chosen people of a pathway across the stream would be a doubtful benefit unless they could take it as the pledge of the presence of that power with them afterwards. Moreover, shall not He who planted the nations be able to uproot them? Shall not He who " determined for them the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation," &c., be able to change their boundaries as He pleases, and to destroy them when they fail to fulfil the ends for which He gave them their local habitation? This is a very different thing from saying that the strong have license to oppress and exterminate the weak. It may be perfectly true that there is a process ever going on among the peoples of the earth, by virtue of which those that have risen higher in the scale of humanity thrust out the lower, a " surviYal of the fittest." But this in no way overrides the law that the oppressor arnl the spoiler must, sooner or later, suffer a righteous retribution. "Woe to thee that spoilest," &c. (Isa. xxxiii. 1). God may use one nation ae the scourge of another, and the avenger of His own abused authority. But let none think to move in this path without a very distinct and definite Divine call. "Vengeance is mine," &c. (Rom. xii. 19). Thie violent seizure of the land of Canaan by the Israelites can be justified only on the ground of a direct Divine co=ission, and of that commission the miraculous passage of Jordan was the seal anel proof. II. A CHAPTER IN THE MORAL EDUCATION OF TIIE PEOPLE. AN EDUCATION IN FAITH, AND IN THE COURAGE THAT SPRINGS FROM FAITH. Their whole career in the wilderness had been marked by signal Divine interpositions. "The Lord alone clid lead them, and there was no strange God with them" (Dcut. xxxii. 12). They specially needed to have this impressed on them now, entering as they were on a new stage in their national history, new situations, new responsibilities; coming as an organised co=onwealth into contact with the corruptions of Phrenician iclolatry. This miracle was intended also to give them confidence in their leader : " This day will I begin to magnify thee," &c. (Yer. 7). Anel the calm strength of Joshua's faith was fitted to inspire them with the same spirit. Lessons suggested: (1) Life to most of us is a succession of tri,ils of faith and fortitude. "Ye have not passed this way before." ,ve are continually entering on new ground, new phases of experience, unknown difficulties and dangers. Our only security is the consciousness of the Divine presence, the faith that lays hold on the strength of Goel. (2) The inspiring effect of a noble example. "It does a wrestling man good to be surroundeel by tried wrestlers." He is most honoured of God who has most power to awaken in his fellows faith in God. (3) The conditions of victory in the last emergency of life. Though there may be nothing in 8criptme teaching to warrant it, it is not without reason that, in hymns ancl allego1·ies, the J orrlan is regarded as a symbol of death, The dark riycr rolls belwcen us und the land of 62 THE BOOK OF JOSHUA. [en. IY. 1-24.
promise: how shall we cross it in safety? "Yea, though I walk through the va.lley,'' &c. (Psa. xxiii. 4). Let us hear the voice of the Captain of our s11lv11tion, and we shaU not be afraid. The ark of the covenant will open for us a sure pathwety through the deep.-W.