The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 168

Moses to invade Egypt and liberate God's people: that of David to earn e. right to the throne of Israel: that of Esther to save her people: that of the Apostles to "heal the sick and co..~t out devils," o.nd subsequently to "go and teach all nations:" that of o.11 the saints in o.ll ages. Bushnell has a sermon on "Duty not measured by ability," his text being the command to feed the mnltitucle-" Give •·c them to eo.t"-given to men with only five barley loaves ancl two small fi,1ii,. We have all to.aka like ihe recluction of Jericho, utterly beyond our unai,Iecl strength. To enter through the strait gate ; to keep the narrow way ; to over- come in the conflict with principalities aud powers in high places; to be steaclfast unto death; to secure, by our testimony, our efforts, our prayers, the salvation of those who are perishing around us ; to hope against hope; to gather meetness for the inherit9:nce of the saints in light-oh, what impossible tasks are these? But we '' can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth us,'' and inst~ad of being dismayed at the impossibilities we should rather rejoice, for a precept of impos- sibility is a p1·omise of omnipotent help. Shi-ink not from the Jericho you ho.Ye to assail. God will give it into your hancl. Secondly observe- !!. THE METHODS OF FaITH. Prescribing their task. He prescribes the method of it o.s well. They are to march round Jericho once a clay for six clays, and on the seventh day seven times ; the people silent, the priests sounding the trumpets and horns. Only once, when specially bicldep, is Israel to shout. We read nothing of mounds, battering rams, slingers picking off the soldiers on the walls, nothing of mines or ladders. The method wa.s not one of war but one of faith. The very trumpets are priestly trumpets, the sounds of which were calls to prayer and pl'O- mises of help. So much they were to do, o.nd nothing more. In subsequent engagements they would have to fight ; in this God alone would work. And the method prescribed is accordingly one virtually of prayer and waiting. " Sto.ncl still and see the salvation of Go1l:" a method in which their faith is at once (1) tried, (2) honoured, and so increased. In this respect how like me.ny methods which Christ prescribed. In His miracles, for instance, you will observe that the faith of the recipient wo.s invariably in some we.y or other tested, brought to light, and only then rewarded. " Go to the pool of Siloam e.nd wash,'' seemed a precept as unlikely to bring sight as marching round Jericho wo.s to destroy its walls. "Take thy book and take up the first tbo.t cometh up," was an unlikely way of paying tribute. " Go show yourselves to the priests," He said to the ten lepers, and only after they bad started they were cleansed. His methods are o.lwo.ys such as try our faith first e.nd then reward it. Here is o. road to the conquest of J ericbo which the doubters in the camp thought would prove very long indeed. " Of what use could it be to march round and round-, alwo.ys reconnoitring, and never doing anything more ? " How they would point to the growing confidence of the besieged, who from their wnlls could be seen mocking the futile display of strength! But such we.a the method prescribed to test and elicit their faith. As the multitude fed by Christ were required to sit down on the gro.ss, to indicate thereby their faith and expectation, so Israel wo.s required to ma1·ch round Jericho. And we some- times are required to pursue methods of faith which seem little likely to work much result: to be meek where high spirit would seem more useful; to wait with patience where fussy enterprise would seem more effective; to meet error with argument instead of repressing it by force; to observe sacraments whose object or philosophy we co.n baraly understand; to obtain the things we desire by deserv- ing rather tbo.u by greedily seeking them. Do not mmmur at the methods of faith which are enjoined. In the case of Jericho the method was successful. On the seventh day, when the people shouted at Joshua's signal, the walls of Jericho fell flat. " The earth shook and trembled : the foundations of heaven moved and shook because he was wrath." And in an instant, without a stone protecting them, without their people marshalled, without any array against their foes, Israel can enter and destroy. The ways of the enemy seem short, but o.re long ~nd fruitless. God's ways seem likely to be long, but are Rh~rt and direct. _Ta~e His ways, and however for o. while your patience may be tried, the end, bnnging o.11 you hoped for, will rewa1·d you fo1· all suspense and all clelay.-G. 104 THE BOOK OF JOSHOA, [ou. VI, 1-21.