The Parable of the Lost Sheep
And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 
What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them,
doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 
And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 
 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Luk 15:3-7
The Parable of the Lost Coin
Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle,
and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? Luk 15:8

​In the Catacombs at Rome there is no more familiar painting than that of the Good Shepherd with the straying sheep. Sometimes the other sheep are at His feet, gazing up at Him and at His burden; sometimes He is portrayed as sitting down, wearied with His long and painful journey; but always there is a great gladness in the picture, for the painter had felt, in all its morning freshness, the wonder of the seeking love of God. I trust we shall never lose that sense of wonder. "Let men say what they will," wrote Pascal, "I must avow there is something astonishing in the Christian religion." And there is nothing in it more astonishing than this, that God should have come to seek and save the lost. It is that glad news which lights up all our lesson. It is that truth which, like some strain of unexpected music, makes these two parables a joy forever. We shall never know, till all the books are opened, how much sinful and despairing men have owed to the story of the lost sheep and the lost coin.

Now as we read these two parables together, one of the first things to arrest us powerfully is the worth of single souls. It was one sheep the shepherd went to find. It was for one coin the woman searched the house. If a score, say, of the flock had gone missing, we could better understand the shepherd's action. And we might excuse the bustle and the dust if five of the ten coins had rolled away. The strange thing is that with ninety and nine sheep safe, the shepherd should break his heart about the one. The wonder is that for one little coin there should be such a hunt and such a happiness. It speaks to us of the worth of single souls. It tells us of the great concern of God for the recovery of individual men. We are all separated out, and separately loved, by Him who counts the number of the stars. I have looked sometimes at the lights of a great city, and tried to distinguish one lamp here and there; and I have thought what a perfect knowledge that would be, if a man could discriminate each separate light. But God distinguishes each separate heart. He knows and loves and seeks them one by one. And I can never feel lost in the totality, when I have mastered the chapter for today. I am not one of many with the Master. With Him, souls are not reckoned by the score. I stand alone. He has a hundred sheep to tend, I know it; yet somehow all His heart is given to me.

​Again this truth shines brightly in these parables: no toil or pains are grudged to win the lost. When the shepherd started after his straying sheep, he knew quite well it was a dangerous errand. He was going to face the perils of the desert, and he took his life in his hand in doing that. True, he was armed; but if a band of robbers intercepted him, what chance had one man of coming off the victor? And who could tell what ravenous beasts lay couched between the shepherd and his vagrant charge? A hireling would never have ventured on the quest. He would have said, "There is a lion in the way." But this shepherd was not to be deterred; he risked all danger; nothing would keep him back, if only he might find and save the lost. The woman, too, was thoroughly in earnest. She spared no pains to get her piece of silver. She lit her candle and she swept the house, till the whole household grumbled at the dust, and charged her not to fuss about a trifle. But the trifle was no trifle to her; and she persisted and swept until she found it. Do you not see what that is meant to teach us? God spares no pain or toils to win the lost. Do you not see where all that is interpreted? It is in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. He, like the woman, was passionately earnest, till all His household—His own: the Jewish people—murmured at Him in their hearts and hated Him. And He, like the shepherd, ventured on every danger, and for His sheep's sake, took the road to Calvary. No pains, no sorrows, were ever grudged by Him who came into the wilderness to save; and He has left us an example, that we should follow in His steps.

​I want you, too, to mark this in our lesson: there is loss in the house as well as in the desert. It was in the wilderness that the sheep was lost. It was far from the fold with its protecting wail. But the coin was not lost in any wilderness—it had not even rolled into the street. It was still in the house; it was within the walls; it was lying somewhere on the dusty floor. So there are multitudes of men lost in heathendom; lost to the joy of the Gospel and the hopes of God in the far countries where Christ was never known. But are there not multitudes who, like the piece of silver, stamped with God's image, coined for useful service, are lying lost and useless in the house? They have been born and nurtured in a Christian country, they are encircled by Christian care and love, they are within the walls of the church visible, they have heard from childhood the message of the Gospel; yet they have never yielded their lives to the Redeemer; within the walls of the homestead they are lost. Are there no lost coins in your home? Give God no rest till by the light of His Spirit they are found.

Note, lastly, in a Word, this joyful truth: the sheep, when found, was carried by the shepherd. He did not drive it before the flock. He did not commit it to the charge of any underling. He laid it rejoicingly on his own shoulders, and on his own shoulders bore it home. When the coin was found it was restored to service; it became useful for the woman's need. But when the sheep was found it was upheld in the strong arm of the shepherd, till the perils of the desert were no more. So everyone who is saved by Jesus Christ is saved to be of service to his Lord. There is some little work for him to do, just as there was for this little piece of silver. But he is not only found that he may serve. He shall be kept and carried like the sheep. He shall find himself borne homeward by a love that is far too strong ever to let him go. It is only when we are leaning upon Christ that we are able to win heavenward at all. He alone keeps us from falling, and can present us faultless before the presence of God's glory, with exceeding joy.
​(Devotional Sermons)

Among the hills of our native land I have met a shepherd far from the flocks and folds, driving home a lost sheep—one which had “gone astray,” a creature panting for breath, amazed, alarmed, footsore; and when the rocks around rang loud to the baying of the dogs, I have seen them, whenever it offered to turn from the path, with open mouth dash fiercely at its sides, and so hound it home. How differently Jesus brings back His lost ones! The lost sheep sought and found, He lifts it up tenderly, lays it on His shoulder, and retracing His steps, returns homeward with joy, inviting His neighbors to rejoice with Him. (T. Guthrie, D. D.)

A traveler describes a scene which he once saw that strongly reminded him of this parable: “On the Aletsch glacier I saw a strange, a beautiful sight—the parable of our Lord reacted in the letter. One day we were making our way with ice-axe and alpenstock down the glacier, when we observed a flock of sheep following their shepherd over the intricate windings of the crevasses, and so passing from the pastures on one side of the glacier to the pastures on the other. The flock had numbered two hundred, all told. But on the way one sheep had got lost. One of the shepherds, appealed to us if we had seen it. Fortunately one of the party had a field-glass. With its aid we discovered the lost sheep far up, amid a tangle of brushwood, on the rocky mountain side. It was beautiful to see how the shepherd, without a word, left his hundred and ninety-nine sheep on the glacier waste (knowing they would stand there perfectly still and safe), and went clambering back after the lost sheep until he found it.” 
​(Biblical Illustrator)

The Tenth Commandment
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass,
nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. Exo 20:17

For several years there's been an escalation of concentration on the subject of what is called "narcissism". For me, it's a fairly new term that's used widely on the internet and social media today. But, in reality it's roots are found in the last commandment given by God to Moses, that most of society has never heard of, and other's forgotten. The tenth commandment, to not covet something someone else has. In reality, coveting is embedded in narcissism, and can be detected by the persons actions.

This post is going to break down what narcissism really is, and how I believe it's being used to the point of being inappropriate, and actually falsely accusing people at times. People are very clever in using the latest new definitions and terms as weapons, and labeling people falsely. I'll explain as this progresses. 

First, what is the definition of a narcissist and what traits does a narcissist have?

Narcissism is an excessive interest in or admiration of oneself and one's physical appearance.

Narcissistic abuse is a form of emotional and psychological abuse characterized by a pattern of manipulation, control, and exploitation. It erodes the victim's sense of self-worth and reality. Typical signs include constant criticism, lack of empathy, manipulation, isolation, and boundary violations. 
Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Manipulation and Control
Gaslighting:
The abuser distorts the victim's reality, making them question their sanity and memory. Phrases like "You're overreacting," "I never said that," or "You're imagining things" are common. 
Love bombing:
Initially, the abuser showers the victim with excessive affection and attention to gain control and manipulate them. 
Blame-shifting:
Narcissists deflect responsibility and blame the victim for their own actions or problems. 
Exploitation:
The abuser may exploit the victim's time, energy, resources, or emotions for their own benefit. 
Triangulation:
Introducing a third party into the relationship to create jealousy or manipulate the victim. 
Emotional blackmail:
Using threats or intimidation to control the victim's behavior. 

There's much more that you can find on the internet that goes much further on this, but this is the general term and definition.

When we look up the definitions of envy and jealousy, we can see that both of these are evident in the narcissist:

Envy is resentment or sadness at another’s good fortune or excellence, with an often insatiable desire to have it for oneself. Envy is more than simple jealousy because it includes the belief that another’s excellence or blessings lessens one’s own, and it makes one want to destroy another’s good fortune. As a deadly sin, envy is believed to generate other sins and further immoral behavior; it can be countered with the heavenly virtue of gratitude.

Jealousy is the feeling of anger or bitterness that someone has when they think that another person is trying to take a lover or friend, or a possession, away from them.

Jealousy is the feeling of anger or bitterness that someone has when they wish that they could have the qualities or possessions that another person has.
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People who have these issues will exhibit an inability to be happy regarding someone else's talents, gifts, possessions, creativity, abilities, and successes. It grates on them, and produces anxiety, resentment, bitterness, anger, and a desire to undermine them in various ways, to bring that person to a place of discouragement, despondency, and failure. These people take enjoyment in causing mental or emotional pain, and insecurity. They are crafty in setting up situations to make you question yourself, and accuse you of mental weakness, and instability. They will gather other's around them, to help them in their manipulations and attacks. When we watch videos of people's problem's today, we see this in action in a majority of cases. It's what causes chaos and riots in the streets, and troubles among communities. Many times, these people have a low esteem of themselves, but hide it with bragging, boasting, and loud raucous behavior, they often are the community "leaders", with a personality of a bully. They know how to attract people who are of the same personality, and they bolster each other in their actions. There is power in numbers and they know this, and use it to their advantage. 

When I listen to someone accusing another of being a narcissist now, I watch and listen to the one they are accusing, to see if the problem isn't really that they are jealous and envying what that persons accomplished, and that they are succeeding in it. I look at myself and ask the same questions and check my own motives. Most of the time, even if someone does seem to be narcissistic-there's many ways to deal with the issue, and remain silent. Pray, and give the person to the Lord, and ask for Him to intervene with the person and leave them to Him.

Right at the start of my salvation, the Lord Jesus began a work in me of restoration and is ongoing to this day. Through His word, He has taught me the dangers of allowing other's to define who I am, that I must not allow this, because people are fickle. They will be your friend one day, and your enemy the next. There is only One who truly knows you and I, and knows how He made us, and what abilities, talents, and gifts He's placed in each of us. He gives these talents and gifts for a purpose, for us to use them, and use them to create whatever we are able to, for the purpose of being a blessing to other's, for inspiration, and beauty and expanding our usefulness in His kingdom. Not only in this life-but the life to come, when we are joined with Him in heaven. Everything we do and achieve in this life that is rooted in goodness-has an eternal purpose. It's not just for this temporal life; it will be continually expanding and used in heaven when we will serve Christ forever, and be able to continue to use these gifts and talents there. What we learn and use to develop and grow here, is for an eternal purpose. If it brings joy and beauty and usefulness here-it will be increased exponentially there. Satan knows this, and this is why one of the greatest things he's constantly working on is destroying every person's desires and abilities that God has gifted them with. Jesus said it well, "the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy". 
​
When a narcissist, and those filled with envy and coveting sees someone who is achieving something good, useful, has beauty, and exhibits skill and creativity-this is what brings resentment and a desire to destroy the goodness they see in you. It's evil, it's demonic.

​If someone in your life ridicules your abilities, insults your achievements, intentionally works to undermine your activities, or works to destroy your character in any way-do yourself a favor, and leave them and do not allow them to have access to your personal life. Don't allow them to be an influence in your life, to become like them.

These people never consider what it takes to succeed in anything that's difficult, that takes years to learn, or become skilled at. They don't have the discipline or strength of character themselves, and they hate those who they see do have the motivation and gifts to accomplish a goal, and an achievement. I feel sorry for people like this, it shows a very shallow person.

Take a bible, begin to read what God's heart and desire for you is-and realize that God is the only one you need to be concerned about, as to what He thinks of you, and what your abilities are. You may  need to make changes, and discipline yourself. God may convict you of changes you need to make, let Him be the one to help you to bring you out of your troubles, and problems. He's proven Himself to me over and over again, and His love for me. He will do the same for you.

There are many types of individuals in life, we are not all the same. There are outgoing people who like big crowds and enjoys being among large gatherings. There's also quiet people who enjoy studying, researching, gardening, fishing, and enjoying the company of one or two at a time. My attitude is to allow people to be what God has made them, and leave them alone. People who can accept the difference in character in other's, are those who desire a life of peace and understanding.

It takes diligence, time, stability, and practice to become good at anything in life. Few have the discipline to put into practice these traits to achieve lasting results. But, God places the desires and gifts in us, to see what we will do with them. I've learned over the years, that prayer in every endeavor I've taken on, was necessary to hear the Lord's guidance, and His wisdom, in achieving the successes that came. It took many years of discipline, work, learning, researching, and then going out and actually working with the Arabian horses I owned, to train them to become the champions they were. I learned many lessons during those years, in raising and training horses-and how it relates to many other aspects of life.

Every endeavor I've put my hands to, I've given first to God, and asked for His blessing, and His direction. I've used the things I learned during those years, in other areas of my life. It still bears fruit today. Some of the verses I went to often during those years of work and training, I've posted below.
​
​Whatever we set our hands to do, whatever we aim to accomplish, this should be our desire:
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Col 3:23  And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 
Col 3:24  Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 

Col 3:17  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. 
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Rom 12:11  Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 
Rom 12:12  Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;​

Ecc 9:10  Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. ​

There are people in life that have gained achievements, and endeavored to do things that developed a character about them that are timeless. In my life one of these people was Mark Twain. As a young girl I read many of his books, and some of them several times. His life and works were an inspiration to me, and his quotes show his no nonsense approach to life, that I relate to. He was not perfect, and there are things he said and did, I do not agree with. But, a wise person will be able to understand this, and still see the quality of the individual, and the strength of his character. 

Conclusion:
​In ending this, I'll say that, as to every person God creates, no matter what the condition of their souls-it should be the Christians desire that they would reach the potential God had originally intended for them, when they were born. As Paul spoke in his prayer:
Eph 1:17  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 
Eph 1:18  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 
Eph 1:19  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 
Eph 1:20  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 
Eph 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 
Eph 1:22  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 
Eph 1:23  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

No matter what your station is in life, God had a specific goal, and potential for you in His mind. May you find what that is, and achieve it. May you know the joy of an accomplished goal, of the satisfaction that discipline and success brings. Of the enduring strength of character it develops, and that in eternity it will follow you into the kingdom of God, to be used for His glory, in the realms of heaven.

If God has called you to a service for Him, let Corrie Ten Booms words be an inspiration, and encouragement to you, along your path and journey.
Shalom
Lorna Couillard

Final note: The trouble I've had in creating these graphics and posting them, and getting the material posted to this page, tells me the devil does not like what is here. I've hit the nail on the head again, because the troubles in getting this here, is some of the worst I've dealt with. The AI system in this computer is also a headache, that I wish I didn't have to deal with. It's getting worse as time goes by. But, I'll add it to the lessons learned here, that will be used sometime in the future-in heaven. All things work together for good, to those who love the Lord, and are called according to His purpose. 

​ So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken. And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God. And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there. 1Ki 18:20-40

Here we have a scene that could be an epic movie that would rival the Charlton Heston classic "The Ten Commandments", but I think it would take more than Hollywood could muster, to really do it justice. In this confrontation-only God Himself could present the faith of Elijah, his dedication, brazen audacity in his dialogue with the false prophets of Baal, his sarcasm, and what he went through to make sure, that when the fire came down from heaven-there was no way anyone could accuse him of making up what happened. There was no way to fake the answer that came from God, and consumed the sacrifice of his offering. This is how God works. If somebody is walking with God, and knows God; it will be evident for all to see. People would do well to use this story as a way of checking out the ministries and churches, and what they are teaching and preaching-and use this as a measuring line. 
Another point to this, notice how unreligious Elijah conducts himself. Faith in the One true God, is not religious, it is a personal relationship between God and the person. Below are some commentary on this story, to bring out other points to glean from it. The main point I'd emphasis is, God honors those, who honor Him. However, I can say with assurance, because it's happened to me, that those who behave this way today, may well find themselves shown the door of their church, and told to leave.
Shalom--​Lorna Couillard

​The debate on Mount Carmel was conducted by Elijah with remarkable ability. A vital question had forced its way into prominence.
​
I. When he met his opponents on Mount Carmel, Elijah had very clear convictions. In some way he had gained a strong hold upon God. He was personally conscious of God. Unlike many a speculative philosopher who has framed an elaborate argument to prove that God is, Elijah seems to have advanced with a single step to a firm belief in God. His name was an announcement of his belief: “My God is Jehovah!” A conviction like this is an argument in itself. Men are willing to listen to a man who believes what he says. This was an important element of the success of Moses, who was compelled to go into the presence of Pharaoh and there to demand the liberation of a large number of valuable slaves. Daniel had the same advantage when he was called upon to face the idolatry of Babylon: it was widely known that Daniel feared God. The ministry of Paul was always conditioned by this strong faith. He was more than a match for his antagonists because he knew whom he had believed. Athanasius, the youthful archdeacon of Alexandria, became the successful advocate of Christian truth at the Council of Nicaea in view of his recognition of the divinity of our blessed Lord. Luther at the Diet of Worms rallied the unorganised resistance of Germany to the papal authority when he exhibited his confidence in the evangelical doctrines. These men, and others like them, were “strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” They felt the rock upon which they stood. They had clarified their thought, so that they could utter it forcibly. If we can gain this consciousness we shall be prepared for the great debate.

II. When he challenged the Baal-worshippers to the proof by fire, Elijah undertook to press their opinions to a practical expression. The challenge was perfectly fair. They had accepted Baal and Ashtaroth as the representative of the life-principle in nature. They were asked to exhibit the results of their faith in these divinities. Any opinion which lays claim to the faith of man must bear the strain of his ordinary burdens. What is your religion good for? what is the quality of its manhood? What sort of a God does it present? what is its immortality?—these are questions which must be met. There is no escape from them. Now, we may inquire, What will be the natural results of the general prevalence of the opinions which antagonize the Gospel?
III. When he had repaired the altar of the Lord and placed upon it a sacrifice, Elijah made an appeal which met the terms of the Divine command. There was an old altar on Mount Carmel—perhaps a relic of patriarchal times, but certainly a witness to the-reality of a pure worship. As the day was closing Elijah called the people to this altar and began to repair it. You may safely press Christian truth to its proper issues. We should have a very happy world, indeed, if all Christians would show their faith by their works. Christ-like lives, what would they be!—how sober! how industrious! how pure! how sweet! how attractive! Multiply these Christ-like lives, and how beautiful the social life of the world would appear. It is essential, therefore, that the Christian in the great debate should state clearly “the truth as it is in Jesus.”
IV. When he had received the fire of the Lord, which consumed his sacrifice, Elijah drew from the people the confession, “Jehovah is God, Jehovah is God.” The occasion was pentecostal. Conviction was instantaneous. Out from the clear, dry atmosphere flames of fire leaped as Elijah was praying; they seized upon the sacrifice and consumed it with the wood upon which it rested; they licked up the water in the trench and left the altar bare. A transformation occurred. An explanation must be given. What could be said except to confess the supremacy of Jehovah? Prof. Christlieb of Bonn has remarked that the regeneration of the human soul is the standing miracle of Christianity. This regeneration converts corrupt natures into natures which are holy. It is associated with Christian truth, and with belief in that truth. (H. M. Booth, D. D.)

​Receiving no answer to his stern question, Elijah laid down the conditions of the contest. "The prophets of Baal," he said, "are four hundred and fifty: I stand alone as a prophet of Jehovah. Let two bullocks be provided for us; they shall slay and dress one, and lay it on wood, but-for there shall be no priestly trickeries today-they shall put no fire under. I, though I be no priest, will slay and dress the other, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under. Then let all of you, Baal-priests and people if you will, cry to your idols; I will call on the name of Jehovah. The God that answereth by fire let him be God."

No challenge could be fairer, for Baal was the Sun-god; and what god could be more likely to answer by fire from that blazing sky? The deep murmur of the people expressed their assent. The Baal priests were caught as in a snare. Their hearts must have sunk within them; his did not. Perhaps some of them believed sufficiently in their idol to hope that, were he demon or deity, he might save himself and his votaries from humiliation and defeat; but most of them must have been seized with terrible misgiving, as they saw the assembled people prepared to wait with Oriental patience, seated on their abbas on the sides of that natural amphitheatre, till the descending flame should prove that Baal had heard the weird invocation of his worshippers. But since they could not escape the proposed ordeal, they chose, and slew, and dressed their victim. From morning till noon-many of them with wildly waving arms, others with their foreheads in the dust-they upraised the wild chant of their monotonous invocation, "Baal, hear us! Baal, hear us!" In vain the cry rose and fell, now uttered in soft appealing murmurs, now rising into passionate entreaties. All was silent. There lay the dead bullock putrescing under the burning orb which was at once their deity and the visible sign of his presence. No consuming lightning fell, even when the sun flamed in the zenith of that cloudless sky. There was no voice nor any that answered.

Then they tried still more potent incantations. They began to circle round the altar they had made in one of their solemn dances to the shrill strains of pipe and flute. The rhythmic movements ended in giddy whirls and orgiastic leaping which were a common feature of sensuous heathen worship; dances in which like modern dervishes, they bounded and yelled and spun round and round till they fell foaming and senseless to the ground. The people looked on expectant, but it was all in vain.

Up to now the Prophet had remained silent, but now when noon came, and still no fire descended, he mocked them. Now, surely, if ever, was their time! They had been crying for six long hours in their vain repetitions and incantations. Surely they had not shouted loud enough! Baal was a god; some strange accident must have prevented him from hearing the prayer of his miserable priests. Perhaps he was in deep meditation, so that he did not notice those frantic appeals; perhaps he was too busy talking to some one else, or was on a journey somewhere; or was asleep and must be awakened; or, he added with yet more mordant sarcasm, and in a gibe which would have sounded coarse to modern ears, perhaps he had gone aside for a private purpose. He must be called, he must be aroused; he must be made to hear.

Such taunts addressed to this multitude of priests in the hearing of the people, whom they desired to dupe or to convince, drove them to fiercer frenzy. Already the westering sun began to warn them that their hour was past, and failure imminent. They would not succumb without trying the darker sorceries of blood and self-mutilation, which were only resorted to at the most dread extremities. With renewed and redoubled yells they offered on their altar the blood of human sacrifice, stabbing and gashing themselves with swords and lances, till they presented a horrid spectacle. Their vestments and their naked bodies were besmeared with gore as they whirled round and round with shriller and more frenzied screams. They raved in vain. The shadows began to lengthen. The hour for the evening Minchah, the evening meal-offering, and oblation of flour and meal, salt and frankincense, drew near. It was already "between the two evenings." They had continued their weird invocations all through the burning day, but there was not any that regarded. There lay the dead bullock on the still fireless altar; and now their Tyrian Sun-god, like the fabled "Hercules," was but burning himself to death on the flaming pyre of sunset amid the unavailing agony of his worshippers.

Then Elijah bade the sullen and baffled fanatics to stand aside, and summoned the people to throng round him. There was nothing tumultuous or orgiastic in his proceedings. In striking contrast with the four hundred and fifty frantic sun-worshippers, he proceeded in the calmest and most deliberate way. First, in the name of Jehovah, he repaired the old bamah-the mountain-altar, which probably Jezebel had broken down. This he did with twelve stones, one for each of the tribes of Israel. Then he dug a broad trench. Then, when he had prepared his bullock, in order to show the people the impossibility of any deception, such as are common among priests, he bade them drench it three times over with four barrels of water, from the still-existent spring, and, not content with that, he filled the trench also with water. Lastly at the time of the evening oblation he briefly offered up one prayer that Jehovah would make it known this day to His backsliding people that He, not Baal, was the Elohim of Israel. He used no "much speaking"; he did not adopt the dervish yells and dances and gashings which were abhorrent to God, though they appealed so powerfully to the sensuous imaginations of the multitude. He only raised his eyes to heaven, (1Ki_18:36) and cried aloud in the hush of expectant stillness:-

"Jehovah, God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, Let it be known this day that Thou art God in Israel, And that I am Thy servant, And that I have done all these things at Thy word. Hear me, Jehovah, hear me. That this people may know that Thou, Jehovah, art God, And that Thou hast turned their heart back again."

The prayer, with its triple invocation of Jehovah’s name, and its seven rhythmic lines, was no sooner ended than down streamed the lightning, and consumed the bullock and the wood, and shattered the stones, and burnt up the dust, and licked up the water in the trenches; and, with one terror-stricken impulse, the people all prostrated themselves on their faces with the cry, "Yahweh-hoo-ha-Elohim. Yahweh-hoo-ha-Elohim!" "The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God!"-a cry which was almost identical with the name of the victorious prophet Elijahu-"Yah, He is my God." (Expositor's Bible)

​Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Jos 1:9

This expression "Be strong" does not mean "Be strong in body," but "Be strong in mind;" "Be strong in spirit;" "Be brave."

An order like this could not have been a mere mockery, an order which Joshua was unable to obey. The word which bade him be strong was an assurance at the same time that if he would, he might be strong according to his day.

I. The first secret of true courage is to know and be sure that we have some power. Hence the wisdom of the maxim of the ancients, "Know thyself"—learn to see what thy real capacity is, and knowing that, shrink not from venturing on putting it to the proof. It is not too much to say that all men go wrong by underestimating themselves? For what deeper self-depreciation is there than for a man to live in the world forgetful of what he is brought here for—forgetful of his Christian privileges, of his Christian name, of his Christian freedom?
​
II. We all have some power; the question is, How much and what? That is the question we should ask ourselves every day; it is the great question of our early life especially, for on the right answering of it all our success depends. Our weaknesses guarded against often become our strength; and our best lessons, if we heed them, are our mistakes. Joshua’s strength was a knowledge of his weakness. Beware of thinking you have no strength because you are not omnipotent. God says to us all, whatever worthy work we are entering upon, "Be of good courage; be strong!"
(A. Jessopp, Norwich School Sermons, p. 97)

Relating Joshua's Life to the Christian

There can be no satisfactory meditation which does not center in God Himself. (Jos_1:9.) “Have not I commanded thee?” We must look through the written word up to God, whom it is meant to reveal. We must look through all revelation on to Him. The Bible is light on God. The miracles of Christ are not recorded to excite wonder, they are to reveal God. It is possible to make Gethsemane, the Lord’s Supper, and even the Cross so many superstitions. The brazen serpent became a relic at which men stopped, rather than a memory through which they went on to God. Hezekiah did holy work, then, to break it in pieces, and to call it “Nehushtan.” If Christ be not risen again, even Calvary is worthless; “Your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” Gethsemane, the Supper, the Cross, are only good as they reveal the finished atonement and love of the living Savior, and through Him the pardon and love of God. Riddling all superstitions of mere Bible-reading and formal religion through and through, the living Son of God looks down from heaven, and says to Saul of Tarsus, “That they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified BY FAITH THAT IS IN ME.” (Act_26:18.) Faith is to be in the living Christ, not in cold duties and dead things. Trench has somewhere said, “Our blessedness is that Christ does not declare to us a system, and say, ‘This is the truth;’ so doing He might have established a school: but He points to a person, even to Himself, and says, ‘I am the Truth;’ and thus He founded, not a school, but a Church, a fellowship which stands in its faith upon a person, not in its tenure of a doctrine, or at least upon this only in a sense which is mediate and secondary.”
​(Preacher's Homiletical)

Joshua's Orders

IT WAS a host of young men and women that stood on the verge of Jordan, waiting the signal to enter the Promised Land. God had said that He would give them every place upon which the sole of their foot should tread (Jos_1:3). What an incentive this was for pressing on - Every time an Israelite put his foot forward on the territory of Canaan, he realized that piece of land would come into the possession of his people.

There is a counterpart of this in our own experience. We must learn to put down our foot upon the Promises of God's Word, and say: "These are mine by right, and shall be mine in actual enjoyment." In General Gordon's journal, he tells us that often before he reached some strange or hostile tribe, it seemed as though they had been given to his faith and subdued before he reached them. In combating your spiritual foes, dare to believe that God has given them into your hand, and go forward assured that not one of them shall stand before you. This is a blessed promise: "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee" (Jos_1:5). It does not matter how fierce the tempter, how often you have failed, how inveterate the bad habits, if you will dare to believe that God is with you, not one of all the band of besetting sins shall be able to stand before you. God cannot fail, and will not forsake; be strong, and go forward!
The one thing that God asks of all of us is that we should obey up to the hilt.

Here are our marching orders, and we must keep them well before us"

(1) We must meditate upon the Scripture day and night; it must not depart from our heart or mouth.

(2) We must be strong even when obedience seems impossible, and when all influences are brought to bear to weaken our resolution, we must still dare to obey the voice of God. And as we advance we shall find that the dreaded forms of opposition are but shadows; when they are touched with the spear-point of faith, they will divide and we shall pursue our way.   (Our Daily Walk)