The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 322

UBe well what powers God has given us, these will grow more effective. The talent that is not neglected produces other talents.· Ill. GREAT 0LAIMB BBOULD BE SUSTAINED BY GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS. The Ephraimites claim to be great, and therefore deserving of a great inheritance. Joshua replies, "If thou be a great people, _then get thee up _to the :wood country and cut down for thyself there," &c. High rank should Justify itself by high service, large weaHh by large beneficence, titles of honour by deeds of sacrifice. Duty is proportionate to faculty. The more advantages we claim the more obligations shall we cvutract. IV. THE BEST RIGHT TO A POSSESSION IS TO HAVE OBTAINED IT THROUGH THE EXERTION OF OUR OWN ENERGIES. Joshua bids the Ephraimites increase their lot by the exercise of their valour in exterminating the Canaanites, and of their industry in felling the forest. (1) It is unworthy to look to personal favour to secure us a position in the world not earned by merit or work. Joshua belonged to the tribe of Ephraim, and the Ephraimites seem to have expected favours on this account, but in vain. (2) It is weak to depend on the paternal interference of the State when our own industry should obtain onr rights. (3) It is wrong to wait idly for a providential interposition on our behalf. God will give us our in- heritance, but we must conquer it and cultivate it. He helps us when we do our best, but never so as to justify our indolence.-W. F. A. Vers. 14-18.-Let us make some further observations on the division of the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel. The descendants of Joseph receive but a small lot. They complain bitterly of this, saying, " We are a great people." J osbua replies that, just because they are a great people, they may be contented with the share assigned them, for they will have the opportunity of perpetually extending their borders. " The mountain shall be thine; for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and though they be strong" (ver. 18). In this passage of their history there is a beautiful SYMBOL OF THE POSITION OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD. Manasseh and Ephraim have no assured possession. In order to retain what they have and to acquire sufficient territory, they must be ever fighting. Ever fresh conquests are the necessary conditions of their retaining that which they already possess. If they do not strengthen their position and enlarge their borders, they will be at once invaded by their enemies. Such is the position of the Church in the world. (1) For the Church too, conquest is the con- dition of security. Pressed on every hand by a hostile world, it must be ever in an attitude of active self-defence: it must ever have in its hand the sword of the Spirit. As soon as it falls asleep, in a supposed peaceful security, it finds itself assailed, and the enemy is in its midst before it is aware. Nothing is more easy, nothing of more frequent occurrence, than this intrusion of the world into the Church. Therefore the Church is bound to be e"l'er armecl with all the panoply of God, and ready for the fight. "We wrestle not," says the apostle, "against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Eph. vi. 12). This defensive warfare is also in a manner aggressive ; for every new generation born within the outward precincts of the Church needs to be won afresh for Jesus Christ. No one is born a Christian, though it may be a great advantage to be born in a land of historic Christianity. It is necessary, therefore, constantly to reconquer from the world and from the merely natural life, the posterity of Christians. In this primary sense the Church cannot hold its own without eve1· fresh conquests. (2) Nor is this enough. Anticm:ist, under the form of paganism, or of simple infidelity, is still a formidable power on every hand. He who said to His disciples, "Go and teach all nations," opened before them a limitless fiel'd of conquest. The mission of the Christian Church is the fulfilment of the co=and of Joshua to Ephraim and Manasseh: "Thou art a great people and hast great power; get thee up to the wood country, all;d c~t c:Iown for thyself there ~ t~e. land_ of the giants" (ver. 15). The might which 1s m the Church, though mv1S1ble, 1s greater than that of the giants of antichrist, for it is the stre~gth ofHim_~ho said, "Lo, I am with you alway, enn unto the end of the wol'ld (Matt. llVlll, 20).-E. DE P. 2'70 THE BOOK OF JOSHUA. [ou. xvm. 1-28,