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It was a great undertaking to follow Moses. How came Joshua to succeed when it seemed so likely he would fail?

1. Because — looking at the human side of the question —

(1) he did not foolishly try to reproduce his master and leader, to be a second Moses, but wisely strove to be his true self, and to do the particular work which God gave him to do; and(2) he entered upon and carried out his work in a spirit of complete devotedness to it; he lived to accomplish the one thing with which he was charged.

2. Because — looking at the Divine side of it — God was with him, encouraging and sustaining him. God made him great. He magnified him in the sense of the text, i.e., He raised him in the estimation of the people so that he received as much honour from them as even Moses enjoyed. God also magnified Joshua by making him strong, worthy, even great in himself. God held such close intercourse with him, so guided and disciplined him, so influenced and inspired him, that Joshua became a thoroughly true, loyal-hearted servant, a godly man living a faithful, consecrated life. Without the latter there would have been something unreal about the former. For there is —

I. A GREATNESS WE MUST DECLINE.

1. We may not seek to be made great by appearing better or wiser than we are.

2. We may not wish to occupy a position greater than that which we can honourably fill.

II. A GREATNESS TO BE COVETED AND ATTAINED. How should we care to be magnified? We should aspire to the two elements of greatness which God gave to Joshua, though in us they take a different form.

1. Honour or esteem. We may well dispense with the obsequious or the ceremonious, but we cannot be indifferent to the respectful. Homage we can do without, but the esteem of the wise and good we crave and should secure.

2. Influence. In the home in which we live, in the school in which we teach or learn, in the sphere of daily activity, in the social circle, and in the Church of Christ, we can all be exerting influence: we can be such and can live such lives that we shall be continually restraining from the evil, and impelling toward the right and the true course. And how will God magnify us?

(1) By building up in us a strong Christian character. In that strange experience through which God caused Joshua and Israel to pass (chap. Joshua 3.), both he and the priests were disciplined in faith, in obedience, and in steadfastness. By the privileges of the gospel and by the outworkings of His providence God is building us up in these and in other attributes of character, and is thus "making us great" and strong in His sight.

(2) By closely associating Himself with us. Joshua was magnified in the sight of Israel in that henceforth he was known to be a man who had God upon his side, to be one who could lean on God's strength and be sustained. God magnifies His servant now by causing him to be regarded by all who know him as one who walks with God, with whom God dwells, on whose side the Holy One, the Almighty One is ranged.

III. A GREATNESS WE CAN EXTEND OR CONFER.

1. We magnify God when we adore Him and celebrate His greatness and His faithfulness.

2. We magnify Christ when we commend Him and His gospel by lip and by life: when we constrain others to know and feel the pricelessness of His love, the excellency of His service, the greatness of His promises (see Philippians 1:20).

3. We make our brethren great, in the best sense, When we lead them into the path of heavenly wisdom.

(W. Clarkson, B. A.)

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KJV: And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host;

WEB: It happened after three days, that the officers went through the midst of the camp;