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 these heavenly  bodies  obeyed  the  command  of  Josue,  the  servant  of God,  ought  to  have  proved  to  them  that  the  God  of  Israel  was  infinitely more  powerful  than  their  self-made  deities  which,  far  from  being able to  help  them,  were  compelled  to  help  their  enemies.

The power  of  prayer.  Full  of  faith,  Josue  prayed,  and  at  his  prayer the day  was  prolonged.

The power  of  faith.  “By  faith  the  walls  of  Jericho  fell  down” (Hebr. n,  30). The Israelites  knew  very  well  that  their  marching  round the town,  the  blowing  of  the  trumpets  and  the  shouting  of  the  multitude could not,  of  themselves,  overthrow  the  walls;  but  full  of  faithful  confidence in  God,  they  did  exactly  everything  that  He  commanded,  and through their  faithful  obedience  God  worked  the  miracle.

Josue, the ninth  type  of  Jesus  Christ.  He  was  this,  inasmuch  as he  led  the  Israelites  into  the  Land  of  Promise,  and  triumphantly  conquered it. Jesus Christ,  by  His  Death  and  Resurrection,  has  overcome sin, Satan  and  death,  and  has  opened  to  us  the  kingdom  of  heaven. He leads  us  there  by  His  doctrine,  His  example  and  His  grace,  and especially by  holy  Baptism.

The passage  of  the  Jordan  (as  well  as  that  of  the  Red  Sea)  is  a type  of  Baptism, by  which  we  enter  the  kingdom  of  God  upon  earth, i. e.  the  holy  Church,  and  acquire  a claim  to  those  priceless  means  of grace  which  Jesus  Christ  bequeathed  to  His  Church.

The Promised  Land  was  a figure  of  heaven.  As  the  Israelites  did not obtain  possession  of  Chanaan  till  they  had  toiled,  fought,  and suffered much,  so  Christians  cannot  enter  heaven,  the  true  land of promise,  unless  they  contend  bravely  against  the  enemies  of  their salvation.

Processions. By  God’s  command  the  Israelites  went  in  procession round Jericho  thirteen  times. These were  religious  processions,  in  which the Ark  of  the  Covenant  was  carried.

After crossing  the  Jordan  the  Israelites  had to fight  for  a long  time  before  they  acquired  the  Promised  Land. Thus we,  after  our  holy  Baptism,  must  fight  against  the  enemies of our  souls,  especially  against  evil  inclinations  and  passions. “Labour as  a good  soldier  of  Christ  Jesus. . . He also  that striveth for  the  mastery  is  not  crowned  except  he  strive  lawfully” (2 Tim.  2,  3.  5). As a reward,  we  shall  receive  the  everlasting possesion of  heaven. Fight especially  against  your  besetting  sin. Make a good  resolution  to  overcome  it  every  day,  and  let  it  be the  object  of  your  particular  examination  of  conscience.