The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 153

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 12.-The special and the c'U/ltomary,. Thie verse is one of the proofs that the supi,ly of manna wa.s miraculous, cea.smg a.s it did at the exact moment when it was no longer needed. Other proo~s are, that a double portion fell en.eh Friday, and none on the Sabbath; and that if kept longer than a day it became corrupt and stank, except on the day of rest, when it remained pure and wholesome. Let us look at- I. Manna, as A SPECIAL PROVISION FOR A SPECIAL EXIGENCY. 1. The exigency shows us that even under the guidance of God there is no exemption from trial. At first all had se~med easy and comf~rte.ble. Passing tlu-ough the sea a.a on dry ground, the Israelites soon beheld their late tyrants dead on the seashore. The bitter waters of Marah were sweetened and Elim furnished its wells and pa.Im-trees for their refreshment. A month passed. The dough cakes were nearly finished, and provisions began to fail. The murmuring of fear and discontent was heard. Those whom the sea had not devoured quaked lest the hungry wilderness should destroy them. Forgetting the tasks and bondage of Egypt, they remembered only its flesh- pots, garlic, onions, and bread, and now they could wish rather to have died in ravenous plenty than live in noble penury. The .Almjghty will thus prove His people. He does not always conduct them by easy roads, for He values the disci- pline of their spirits more than the external comfort of their bodies. Faith is to be tested that it may come forth as " gold tried in the fire.'' 2. The provision assures ns that under the leadership of God all real wants will be supplied. The glory of the Lord had appeared in the cloud. Quails-feathered fowl-were sent in the evening, and in the morning, manna-bread from heaven. God would not suffer His people to remain in absolute need, He would give them the '' finest of the wheat," and "honey out of tho rock." They should have the bread of angels and the meat of kings. Infinite wisdom and might sit on the throne, and these are engaged for the believer's support. The light may flicker, it shall not be extin- guished ; or if ordinary sources of relief fail, other springs shall be discovered. " Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things." The gift by God of His beloved Son to die for the world is the transcendent example of God's benevolence. Christ is the true Manne., which satisfies the hunger of the soul. Christianity, or the scheme of redemption, is the remedy which Eternal Love has devised to meet the emergency of a sin-stricken .world hastening to ruin. II. THE CESSATION OF THE MIRACULOUS SUPPLY teaches us-1. Not to expect to be furnished directly from God with what He enables us to procure by our own exertions. Apparently the inhabitants of the land had fled for refuge to Jericho and the neighbouring towns, abandoning to the Israelites the harvest ripening in the fields and the old stores housed in the grano.ries. The Almighty economises His acts. Extraordinary occurrences are for extraordinary needs. We see in the life of Christ that He would not perform wondrous works merely to grll.tify inordinate curiosity or to satisfy the demands of unreasonable scepticism. The lesson of realising our responsibilities is important. It will not do to indolently expect the Divine providence and power to supply the lack of human effort. Prayer and work must go together. Not only faith is necessary, but exertion, if the Divine purposes are to be accomplished. If on a specially appointed mission our Father may take care of us as He does of the birds of the air, it is ordinarily our duty to "sow and reap and gather into barns," but withont anxiety or corroding ea.re. 2. To be thankful for a return to ordinary ways and means. The Israelites got tired eved OH, v. 18-16.] 'I1ItE BOOK OF JOSHUA. 89