This "dog" was faithful, courageous, and loving. He was made the leader of a small group of people that went forth to discover something about a people who lived beyond the bushes in an enemy's land. They pressed their way under the guidance of "the dog" into the strange land. There they found the rich and fruitful vineyards, grapes, pomegranates and figs so large they did not know how to bring the fruits of the vine back to show the people in the camp. "The Dog" thought it out, and calling his fellow laborers to him, he put a stout stick across their shoulders to which he fastened the precious load. When the people saw "The Dog" returning with this wealth of good things they greeted them with shouts of joy. The friends of "The Dog" said, "These are the fruits of the enemy's country, but we will never be able to conquer the land because the soldiers protecting the land are very many and very strong."
Then the people cried out in despair and said, "Let us get another leader." Then "The Dog" stepped forward, and with a confident look in his face and a determined ring in his voice stretched forth his hand to command silence. There was a great hush among the people, and all was quiet in their ranks. Then "The Dog" said: "The land is splendid and rich and fruitful. God is on our side—we have no need to be afraid of the giants. The Lord is with us, fear them not." At last "The Dog" and his companions marched into the land, and found it flowing with milk and honey. Who was "The Dog"? His name was "Caleb" which is the Hebrew name for dog, and Captain Joshua was his companion. Read the full story if you wish. Its record is found in Numbers 13 and 14.
In closing remark we have giants to fight today— Pride, Anger, Sloth, Untruthfulness—but never forget the words of "The Dog," "The Lord is with us, fear them not."
Here is the story of another forgotten character.
This story can be used for a second address under the title of "Forgotten Names" or it can be used with this lesson also.
You now bring out from under the pulpit, a bundle of old papers which you remark are to be thrown into the waste-basket as worthless, but in the act of throwing them into the basket which you have put on the platform previously you find another visiting-card with another forgotten name upon it, which you now state you have rescued from the papers doomed for the fire. On the card you have written the words "The Mountaineer." This man was born in a wild mountain home. His parents passed away in his early days, and he could never remember them. As he wandered on the hillsides he talked with God, and the hills seemed to speak to him. He grew to manhood and became strong in body, and fleet of foot. He was a magnificent runner, and was so strong he once went forty days without food. The King of the land was a weak man with a wicked wife, and the King hated him because he was so good. One day this weak King and the young man met, and the King hissed out, "You are the man who is bringing ruin upon the land." He answered: "I have not brought ruin upon the land, but you and your father's house have forsaken the commandments of God, and worship idols. I challenge you, therefore, bring all your people to the mountain, bring your idols and their prophets, and let us see who is right." The King agreed to this, and at the appointed time they were all present on the mountain.
The tall Mountaineer, with bronzed face, hair streaming down his shoulders, wearing a rough coat of camel's hair, stepped forward and said: "Why halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him, but if the idols be God, follow them. Let us each build an altar, and put a bullock on it, but put no fire under it; then each of us in turn will call upon his God, and the God that answers by fire let him be God." Then he said to the false prophets, "It is your turn first." The heathen danced around their altar all the morning, and when noon came they were still dancing, but no fire came down. Then the Mountaineer called out to them and said, "Cry a little louder, perhaps your God is asleep or gone on a journey." Maddened by these words, they renewed their shouting, cutting themselves with knives and lancets until their blood splashed on them, but no fire came down. When the time for the evening sacrifice came they ceased their crying, and the Mountaineer called the people to come to him, and he told his men to throw barrels of water over his altar: after this was done, he prayed, and scarcely had he finished his prayer when there came out of the heavens a vivid flash of light which consumed the offering on the altar, and the people fell on their faces, and a great cry went up: "The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God." Who was this "Mountaineer"? He was the Tishbite, Elijah. The full story you will find in First Kings 18. This story teaches us the great fact that "If God be for us, who can be against us?"
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