Article April 29, 1916 Issue

Man's Dominion

ALICE BALE

One day while pondering over the many wonderful instances given in the Scriptures of the power of Spirit over matter, a student of Christian Science turned by chance to the account of the fall of Jericho as found in the book of Joshua. The first lesson which came to her from this wonderful story was that of obedience. Through his communion with God, Joshua perceived the one way in which the task before them could be accomplished, and he obeyed the command to march around the city. He did not stop to listen to the arguments of mortal mind, that no city could be taken without a battle after the approved fashion, but he gave the order to the people, who in turn obeyed without question. The ark was before them, which Mrs. Eddy has defined as "the understanding of Spirit, destroying belief in matter" (Science and Health, p. 581); then followed the armed men, girt, we may well believe, with the "whole armor of God."

Six days they "compassed the city," once each day, and on the seventh day, the day of victory, they did more than on any other. Seven times they marched about the walls, speaking no word, according to the command. Did they, it might be asked, ever think their work was useless, to no purpose, that they were accomplishing nothing except to go around in a circle? When their work was finished there came the command, "Shout ; for the Lord hath given you the city." Their leader was confident of the power of Spirit before he saw its manifestation, even as Jesus, standing before the tomb of Lazarus, could say, "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me." Then all doubts and questionings were put away. Again was the voice of Spirit obeyed, and "the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him." Each did the thing that was his to do at that instant, and as a result the wall, as a type of error, gave way before them, was put under their feet. The victory was complete, but it had not been won by material methods.

Here we recall the crossing of the Red Sea and the Jordan on dry ground, when the Israelites went forward without faltering. Although the chronicle reads, "The feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water," still they pressed on, and "stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan," even at the flood time of the year. So we after making a start are often called upon to stand firm, and not for one moment fear that the waters will come down upon us. We may remember the three Hebrews in the burning furnace; also that Jesus walked on the water and stilled the tempest with a word ; that he passed through solid walls and removed himself from one place to another in an instant ; indeed his whole life, even from birth, was on a plane far above that of material law, so called.

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