The Expositor's Bible: The Book of JoshuaBlaikie, William Garden
Religion
The Expositor's Bible: The Book of Joshua
Blaikie, William Garden
Bible. Joshua -- Commentaries
Was not this view of the glory of Moses as God's servant a foreshadow
of what was afterwards taught more fully and on a wider scale by our
Lord? "The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister,
and to give His life a ransom for many." Jesus sought to reverse the
natural notions of men as to what constitutes greatness, when He
taught that, instead of being measured by the number of servants who
wait on us, it is measured rather by the number of persons to whom we
become servants. And if it was a mark of Christ's own humiliation that
"He took on Him the form of a servant," did not this redound to His
highest glory? Was it not for this that God highly exalted Him and
gave Him a name that is above every name? Happy they who are content
to be GOD'S SERVANTS in whatsoever sphere of life He may place them;
seeking not their own, but always intent upon their Master's business!
And now Joshua must succeed Moses and be God's servant as he was. He
must aim at this as the one distinction of his life; he must seek in
every action to know what God would have him to do. Happy man if he
can carry out this ideal of life! No conflicting interests or passions
will distract his soul. His eye being single, his whole body will be
full of light. The power that nerves his arm will not be more
remarkable than the peace that dwells in his soul. He will show to all
future generations the power of a "lost will,"--not the suppression of
all desire, according to the Buddhist's idea of bliss, but all lawful
natural desires in happy and harmonious action, because subject to the
wise, holy, and loving guidance of the will of God.
Thus we see among the other paradoxes of His government, how God uses
death to promote life. The death of the eminent, the aged, the men of
brilliant gifts makes way for others, and stimulates their activity
and growth. When the champion of the forest falls the younger trees
around it are brought more into contact with the sunshine and fresh
air, and push up into taller and more fully developed forms. If none
of the younger growth attains the size of the champion, a great many
may be advanced to a higher average of size and beauty. If in the
second generation of any great religious movement few or none can
match the "mighties" of the previous age, there may be a general
elevation, a rise of level, an increase of efficiency among the rank
and file.
In many ways death enters into God's plans. Not only does it make way
for the younger men,[2] but it has a solemnizing and quickening effect
on all who are not hardened and dulled by the wear and tear of life.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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