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 Reuben, Simeon,  Juda,  Zabulon,  Issachar,  Dan,  Gad,  Aser, Nephtali, Benjamin,  Ephraim  and  Manasses. Thus were  the  promises fulfilled  which  God  had  made  to  the  patriarchs. When Josue was  old,  he  assembled  the  people  and  admonished  them  to observe  the  law and  to  avoid  intercourse  and  marriage  with  the heathen. Josue died  at  the  age  of  one  hundred  and  ten  years.

The Omnipotence  of  God.  By  God’s  will  the  running  waters  of  the Jordan rose  up  like  rocks;  at  His  bidding  the  strong  walls  of  Jericho fell down; and  by  His  command  the  light  of  day  was  prolonged. Nothing can resist  God’s  omnipotence,  nothing  can  hinder  the  workings  of  divine Providence.

The Faithfulness  of  God. The  promise  which  God  had  made  to Abraham  six  hundred  and  fifty  years  before  was  now  fulfilled,  and  by His  wonderful  guidance,  Abraham’s  descendants  were  now  given  possession of  the  Promised  Land. God also  fulfils  what  He  threatens. Not one of  those  men  who  departed  from  Egypt,  except  Josue  and  Caleb, entered the  Promised  Land. They all  died  in  the  desert,  as  God  said they should  die. God has  promised  us  everlasting  happiness  if  we  keep our baptismal  vows,  that  is,  if  we  stand  fast  in  faith,  keep  the  commandments, and  use  the  means  of  grace  given  to  us: if  we  neglect  to do  this,  we  shall  not  go  to  heaven,  but  to  hell.

The object  of  miracles. During  the  journey  of  the  Israelites  to  the Promised Land  God  worked  great  miracles  for  His  people. Now that it was  a case  of  completing  the  great  work,  and  putting  His  people  in possession  of  the  Promised  Land,  He  worked  still  greater  miracles. By doing  this  the  Lord  wished  to  confirm  His  people’s  faith  in  His omnipotence, and  their  confidence  in  His  loving  care. He wished them also  to  learn  that  they  could  do  nothing  by  their  own  strength and numbers,  and  that  it  was  only  by  His  help  they  could  attain  to the  Promised  Land,  and  that  they  therefore  owed  Him  an  everlasting debt of  gratitude. Neither can  we  reach  the  promised  land  of  heaven by our  own  strength,  but  only  by  the  help  of  God’s  grace.

The folly  of  idolatry  was  proved  to  the  Chanaanites  by  the  miracle which made  the  sun  to  shine  on  the  earth  for  a longer  time  than  was its wont,  and  this  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  defeat  upon  them. The Chanaanites worshipped  the  sun  and  moon  as  gods,  and  the  fact  that