THE Scriptures narrate many incidents analogous to our experiences in the journey from sense to Soul, and often are heavy burdens lifted, countless problems rendered less obscure by even a slight understanding of the lessons learned by the earnest student. The writer has recently been greatly helped by the account of the children of Israel before Jericho, and has noted some of the lessons drawn, hoping to aid others thereby. All are familiar with the story,—how at the moment of entrance to the land of promise their former leader, Moses, passed from them, and further progress was commanded under a new and untried leader, Joshua; how at the outset the formidable walls of Jericho confronted them, and they were bidden to its conquest; how each further step was divinely and definitely directed, and unfaltering obedience was accorded; and finally, how the complete overthrow of the city followed the claim of victory and praise for its accomplishment.
Every student of Christian Science duplicates the experiences of the children of Israel. All of us have our period of wilderness wandering, our glimpse of the eternal law of God, our timid drawing back from offered opportunity to "possess the land," our unwise attempts to force our way into the land of promise; at some stage of our journey we rely more or less completely upon some human leader,—friend, practitioner, or teacher,—until by divine authority such a sense of dependence is withdrawn and we go forward, fearing and trembling lest our own untried understanding of divine Principle fail us. Even the marvelous demonstration at the brink of Jordan, where the waters, touched by the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant, receded and all went over dry shod (which is repeated whenever the pure understanding of God's presence touches the waves of mortal mind and rolls them back harmless before the onward march of Truth) did not, nor does it now, always seem to afford sufficient proof of God's omnipresence and omnipotence before the frowning battlements of Jericho. In their admitted helplessness the children of Israel looked to Joshua for advice and succor, and our divinely appointed Leader has counseled us that our first resource should be reliance upon divine Principle.
How often at the outset of our following, when we have for the first time acknowledged divine Principle as our sole guide, does a test come to us such as came long ago to Israel. Let us see how sturdily the problem was faced. The story tells us they were encamped in the plains of Jericho, evidently in full view of the city, and we learn that this encampment was maintained and strict order and system were observed during all the period of waiting for the city to surrender. Often when a problem confronts us, if it be one of such seeming magnitude as to require the exercise of continued patience, and more especially one which is constantly presented to our thought, do we yield to temptation, become impatient and confused, and thus break camp, forsaking the orderly marshaling of our thoughts and depriving ourselves of that repose and restful confidence which betokens full trust in divine guidance. Not to be routed by the appearance of error, but to know that God is the only real power, that He will disclose His power in outward manifestation at the right moment and in the proper manner, is to ally one's self with Him in imperishable covenant, and to render constantly available that "operation of God" which recognizes no obstacle to progress and admits no impediment to success.
