152 (§44C). The old hero Caleb comes up to get his share of the new land. Tell what he says to Joshua. As he states that it is forty-five years since Moses gave him the promise, there must have been five years spent in conquering the land. It was a long time to wait for his reward, but at last the old man receives it. It is interesting to note that he chooses his own reward. He asks to be given the very highland country that the spies were so much afraid of. He expects the Lord to help him to drive the giants out. One would think that an old man would ask for an easy place. Caleb asks for a hard one. What do you think of Caleb? What kind of a place do you want in the world--an easy place with plenty to get or a hard place with plenty of chance to do good? Think about that question and then answer it to yourself. WRITTEN REVIEW This week you will undoubtedly have some difficult lessons assigned in school. It will seem that they are too hard and you will feel inclined to give them up. Do not be afraid of the giants, be like Joshua and Caleb and you can conquer if you are brave enough. Make up your mind to conquer some hard task each day. When you are sure you have really conquered a difficulty think how those heroes must have felt about the giants. Write in your notebook the reason why Caleb and Joshua wanted to do the hard duty. XV. GIDEON, THE WARRIOR THE STORY =§45. The Call of Gideon= (Judg. 6:2-6, 11-24, 36-40) A. THE OPPRESSION OF THE MIDIANITES The hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of Midian the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds. And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up and encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, and left no sustenance in Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. For they came up with their cattle and their tents, they came in as locusts for multitude; both they and their camels were without number: and they came into the land to destroy it. And Israel was brought very low because of Midian; and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord. B. THE ANGEL'S VISIT TO GIDEON And the angel of the Lord came, and sat under the oak that belonged unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, "The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valor." And Gideon said unto him, "Oh my lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where are all his wondrous works which our fathers told us of, saying, 'Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?' but now the Lord hath cast us off, and delivered us into the hand of Midian." And the Lord looked upon him, and said, "Go in this thy might, and save Israel from the hand of Midian: have not I sent thee?"