patriarchs and prophets-第98章

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also　worshipers　of　the　living　God。

With　great　joy　the　ambassadors　accepted　this　explanation；　and　immediately
carried　back　the　tidings　to　those　who　sent　them。　All　thoughts　of　war　were
dismissed；　and　the　people　united　in　rejoicing；　and　praise　to　God。

The　children　of　Gad　and　Reuben　now　placed　upon　their　altar　an　inscription
pointing　out　the　purpose　for　which　it　was　erected；　and　they　said；　〃It　shall
be　a　witness　between　us　that　Jehovah　is　God。〃　Thus　they　endeavored　to
prevent　future　misapprehension　and　to　remove　what　might　be　a　cause　of
temptation。

How　often　serious　difficulties　arise　from　a　simple　misunderstanding；　even
among　those　who　are　actuated　by　the　worthiest　motives；　and　without　the
exercise　of　courtesy　and　forbearance；　what　serious　and　even　fatal　results
may　follow。　The　ten　tribes　remembered　how；　in　Achan's　case；　God　had　rebuked
the　lack　of　vigilance　to　discover　the　sins　existing　among　them。　Now　they
resolved　to　act　promptly　and　earnestly；　but　in　seeking　to　shun　their　first
error；　they　had　gone　to　the　opposite　extreme。　Instead　of　making　courteous
inquiry　to　learn　the　facts　in　the　case；　they　had　met　their　brethren　with
censure　and　condemnation。　Had　the　men　of　Gad　and　Reuben　retorted　in　the　same
spirit；　war　would　have　been　the　result。　While　it　is　important　on　the　one
hand　that　laxness　in　dealing　with　sin　be　avoided；　it　is　equally　important　on
the　other　to　shun　harsh　judgment　and　groundless　suspicion。

While　very　sensitive　to　the　least　blame　in　regard　to　their　own　course；　many
are　too　severe　in　dealing　with　those　whom　they　suppose　to　be　in　error。　No
one　was　ever　reclaimed　from　a　wrong　position　by　censure　and　reproach；　but
many　are　thus　driven　further　from　the　right　path　and　led　to　harden　their
hearts　against

520

conviction。　A　spirit　of　kindness；　a　courteous；　forbearing　deportment　may
save　the　erring　and　hide　a　multitude　of　sins。

The　wisdom　displayed　by　the　Reubenites　and　their　companions　is　worthy　of
imitation。　While　honestly　seeking　to　promote　the　cause　of　true　religion；
they　were　misjudged　and　severely　censured；　yet　they　manifested　no
resentment。　They　listened　with　courtesy　and　patience　to　the　charges　of　their
brethren　before　attempting　to　make　their　defense；　and　then　fully　explained
their　motives　and　showed　their　innocence。　Thus　the　difficulty　which　had
threatened　such　serious　consequences　was　amicably　settled。

Even　under　false　accusation　those　who　are　in　the　right　can　afford　to　be　calm
and　considerate。　God　is　acquainted　with　all　that　is　misunderstood　and
misinterpreted　by　men；　and　we　can　safely　leave　our　case　in　His　hands。　He
will　as　surely　vindicate　the　cause　of　those　who　put　their　trust　in　Him　as　He
searched　out　the　guilt　of　Achan。　Those　who　are　actuated　by　the　spirit　of
Christ　will　possess　that　charity　which　suffers　long　and　is　kind。

It　is　the　will　of　God　that　union　and　brotherly　love　should　exist　among　His
people。　The　prayer　of　Christ　just　before　His　crucifixion　was　that　His
disciples　might　be　one　as　He　is　one　with　the　Father；　that　the　world　might
believe　that　God　had　sent　Him。　This　most　touching　and　wonderful　prayer
reaches　down　the　ages；　even　to　our　day；　for　His　words　were；　〃Neither　pray　I
for　these　alone；　but　for　them　also　which　shall　believe　on　Me　through　their
word。〃　John　17：20。　While　we　are　not　to　sacrifice　one　principle　of　truth；　it
should　be　our　constant　aim　to　reach　this　state　of　unity。　This　is　the
evidence　of　our　discipleship。　Said　Jesus；　〃By　this　shall　all　men　know　that
ye　are　My　disciples；　if　ye　have　love　one　to　another。〃　John　13：35。　The
apostle　Peter　exhorts　the　church；　〃Be　ye　all　of　one　mind；　having　compassion
one　of　another；　love　as　brethren；　be　pitiful；　be　courteous：　not　rendering
evil　for　evil；　or　railing　for　railing：　but　contrariwise　blessing；　knowing
that　ye　are　thereunto　called；　that　ye　should　inherit　a　blessing。〃　1　Peter
3：8；　9。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（521）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　49

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Last　Words　of　Joshua


The　wars　and　conquest　ended；　Joshua　had　withdrawn　to　the　peaceful　retirement
of　his　home　at　Timnath…serah。　〃And　it　came　to　pass；　a　long　time　after　that
the　Lord　had　given　rest　unto　Israel　from　all　their　enemies　round　about；　that
Joshua　。　。　。　called　for　all　Israel；　and　for　their　elders；　and　for　their
heads；　and　for　their　judges；　and　for　their　officers。〃

Some　years　had　passed　since　the　people　had　settled　in　their　possessions；　and
already　could　be　seen　cropping　out　the　same　evils　that　had　heretofore
brought　judgments　upon　Israel。　As　Joshua　felt　the　infirmities　of　age
stealing　upon　him；　and　realized　that　his　work　must　soon　close；　he　was　filled
with　anxiety　for　the　future　of　his　people。　It　was　with　more　than　a　father's
interest　that　he　addressed　them；　as　they　gathered　once　more　about　their　aged
chief。　〃Ye　have　seen；〃　he　said；　〃all　that　the　Lord　your　God　hath　done　unto
all　these　nations　because　of　you；　for　the　Lord　your　God　is　He　that　hath
fought　for　you。〃　Although　the　Canaanites　had　been　subdued；　they　still
possessed　a　considerable　portion　of　the　land　promised　to　Israel；　and　Joshua
exhorted　his　people　not　to　settle　down　at　ease　and　forget　the　Lord's　command
to　utterly　dispossess　these　idolatrous　nations。

The　people　in　general　were　slow　to　complete　the　work　of　driving　out　the
heathen。　The　tribes　had　dispersed　to　their　possessions；　the　army　had
disbanded；　and　it　was　looked　upon　as　a　difficult　and　doubtful　undertaking　to
renew　the　war。　But　Joshua　declared：　〃The　Lord　your　God；　He　shall　expel　them
from　before　you；　and　drive　them　from　out　of　your　sight；　and　ye　shall　possess
their　land；　as　the　Lord　your　God　hath　promised　unto　you。　Be　ye　therefore
very　courageous　to　keep　and　to　do　all　that　is　written　in　the　book　of　the　law
of　Moses；　that　ye　turn　not　aside　therefrom　to　the　right　hand　or　to　the
left。〃

522


Joshua　appealed　to　the　people　themselves　as　witnesses　that；　so　far　as　they
had　complied　with　the　conditions；　God　had　faithfully　fulfilled　His　promises
to　them。　〃Ye　know　in　all　your　hearts　and　in　all　your　souls；〃　he　said；　〃that
not　one　thing　hath　failed　of　all　the　good　things　which　the　Lord　your　God
spake　concerning　you；　all　are　come　to　pass　unto　you；　and　not　one　thing　hath
failed　thereof。〃　He　declared　to　them　that　as　the　Lord　had　fulfilled　His
promises；　so　He　would　fulfill　His　threatenings。　〃It　shall　come　to　pass；　that
as　all　good　things　are　come　upon　you；　which　the　Lord　your　God　promised　you；
so　shall　the　Lord　bring　upon　you　all　evil　things。　。　。　。　When　ye　have
transgressed　the　covenant　of　the　Lord；　。　。　。　then　shall　the　anger　of　the
Lord　be　kindled　against　you；　and　ye　shall　perish　quickly　from　off　the　good
land　which　He　hath　given　unto　you。〃

Satan　deceives　many　with　the　plausible　theory　that　God's　love　for　His　people
is　so　great　that　He　will　excuse　sin　in　them；　he　represents　that　while　the
threatenings　of　God's　word　are　to　serve　a　certain　purpose　in　His　moral
government；　they　are　never　to　be　literally　fulfilled。　But　in　all　His
dealings　with　his　creatures　God　has　maintained　the　principles　of
righteousness　by　revealing　sin　in　its　true　characterby　demonstrating　that
its　sure　result　is　misery　and　death。　The　unconditional　pardon　of　sin　never
has　been；　and　never　will　be。　Such　pardon　would　show　the　abandonment　of　the
principles　of　righteousness；　which　are　the　very　foundation　of　the　government
of　God。　It　would　fill　the　unfallen　universe　with　consternation。　God　has
faithfully　pointed　out　the　results　of　sin；　and　if　these　warnings　were　not
true；　how　could　we　be　sure　that　His　promises　would　be　fulfilled？　That
so…called　benevolence　which　would　set　aside　justice　is　not　benevolence　but
weakness。

God　is　the　life…giver。　From　the　beginning　all　His　laws　were　ordained　to
life。　But　sin　broke　in　upon　the　order　that　God　had　established；　and　discord
followed。　So　long　as　sin　exists；　suffering　and　death　are　inevitable。　It　is
only　because　the　Redeemer　has　borne　the　curse　of　sin　in　our　behalf　that　man
can　hope　to　escape；　in　his　own　person；　its　dire　results。

Before　the　death　of　Joshua　the　heads　and　representatives　of　the　tribes；
obedient　to　his　summons；　again　assembled　at　Shechem。　No　spot　in　all　the　land
possessed　so　many　sacred　associations；　carrying　their　minds　back　to　God's
covenant　with　Abraham　and　Jacob；　and　recalling　also　their　own　solemn　vows
upon　their

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　523

entrance　into　Canaan。　Here　were　the　mountains　Ebal　and　Gerizim；　the　silent
witnesses　of　those　vows　which　now；　in　the　presence　of　their　dying　leader；
they　had　assembled　to　renew。　On　every　side　were　evidences　of　what　God　had
wrought　for　them；　how　He　had　given　them　a　land　for　which　they　did　not　labor；
and　cities　which　they　built　not；　vineyards　and　oliveyards　which　they　planted
not。　Joshua　reviewed　once　more　the　history　of　Israel；　recounting　the
wonderful　works　of　God；　that　all　might　have　a　sense　of　His　love　and　mercy
and　might　serve　Him　〃in　sincerity　and　in　truth。〃

By　Joshua's　direction　the　ark　had　been　brought　from　Shiloh。　The　occasion　was
one　of　great　solemnity；　and　this　symbol　of　God's　presence　would　deepen　the
impression　he　wished　to　make　upon　the　people。　After　presenting　the　goodness
of　God　toward　Israel；　he　called　upon　them；　in　the　name　of　Jehovah；　to　choose
whom　they　would　serve。　The　worship　of　idols　was　still　to　some　extent
secretly　practiced；　and　Joshua　endeavored　now　to　bring　them　to　a　decision
that　should　banish　this　sin　from　Israel。　〃If　it　seem　evil　unto　you　to　serve
Jehovah；〃　he　said；　〃choose　you　this　day　whom　ye　will　serve。〃　Joshua　desired
to　lead　them　to　serve　God；　not　by　compulsion；　but　willingly。　Love　to　God　is
the　very　foundation　of　religion。　To　engage　in　His　service　merely　from　hope
of　reward　or　fear　of　punishment　would　avail　nothing。　Open　apostasy　would　not
be　more　offensive　to　God　than　hypocrisy　and　mere　formal　worship。

The　aged　leader　urged　the　people　to　consider；　in　all　its　bearings；　what　he
had　set　before　them；　and　to　decide　if　they　really　desired　to　live　as　did　the
degraded　idolatrous　nations　around　them。　If　it　seemed　evil　to　them　to　serve
Jehovah；　the　source　of　power；　the　fountain　of　blessing；　let　them　that　day
choose　whom　they　would　serve〃the　gods　which　your　fathers　served；〃　from
whom　Abraham　was　called　out；　〃or　the　gods　of　the　Amorites；　in　whose　land　ye
dwell。〃　These　last　words　were　a　keen　rebuke　to　Israel。　The　gods　of　the
Amorites　had　not　been　able　to　protect　their　worshipers。　Because　of　their
abominable　and　debasing　sins；　that　wicked　nation　had　been　destroyed；　and　the
good　land　which　they　once　possessed　had　been　given　to　God's　people。　What
folly　for　Israel　to　choose　the　deities　for　whose　worship　the　Amorites　had
been　destroyed！　〃As　for　me　and　my　house；〃　said　Joshua；　〃we　will　serve
Jehovah。〃　The　same　holy　zeal　that　inspired　the　leader's　heart　was
communicated　to　the　people。　His　appeals

524

called　forth　the　unhesitating　response；　〃God　forbid　that　we　should　forsake
Jehovah；　to　serve　other　gods。〃

〃Ye　cannot　serve　the　Lord；〃　said　Joshua：　〃for　He　is　a　holy　God；　。　。　。　He
will　not　forgive　your　transgressions　nor　your　sins。〃　Before　there　could　be
any　permanent　reformation　the　people　must　be　led　to