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In all these characters there is one thing that is constant. The working upon the mind
of man to "choose" (as he blindly imagines) his own ruler, which ruler actually usurps the
place that God alone should occupy. This will be fully demonstrated when the Beast, the
False Prophet and the Antichrist bring Satanic rebellion to its dreadful end.
#5.
The typical character of the Canaanite.
pp. 181 - 183
While nothing short of a survey of the whole Bible would be necessary to set out full
details of the conflict of the ages, we believe that were it undertaken the essential features
already adduced would remain unchanged, though they might be more clearly seen in the
light of the fuller study. As however we cannot contemplate so exhaustive a study in this
series, we pass to others aspects of the subject, and in this article would look rather to the
ultimate triumph of truth than dwell longer upon the temporary triumph of evil. For this
purpose, we may find much help in the record of Israel's crossing of the Jordan, the fall
of Jericho, the partition of the Land of Promise, and the added reward given to Caleb, the
overcomer. Before we picture the situation at the brink of Jordan, it will be necessary to
go back in history to discover something of the origin and purpose of the Canaanite
inhabitants of the Land of Promise against whom Joshua's offensive was directed.
Who were the Canaanites? How did they get to Palestine? and what is their spiritual
significance? The Canaanites were a people descended from Canaan, the son of Ham,
who was a son of Noah. It will be remembered that upon awakening from sleep induced
by drinking the wine he had made, Noah, with prophetic insight, pronounced a curse
upon Canaan, the offspring of Ham. In Scripture therefore Canaan stands as one who is
already at enmity and subjected to a curse.
The "Land of Canaan" is the name of the land known to us as Palestine, and the Land
of Promise, and it is significant in connection with the analogy of terrestrial warfare
which we are using, to mark how and when the land of Canaan, and the Canaanites
themselves, first appear on the page of Scripture. Abram had received the call of God to
go forth into a land that God would show him, and Gen. 11: 31 records the beginning of
Abram's response.
"And they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go unto the land of
Canaan; and they came to Haran, and dwelt there" (Gen. 11: 31).
The journey commenced, it is true, but it came to a standstill too soon, for having
reached Haran, they dwelt there. But after the death of Abram's father, Terah, Abram
responded to the divine call:
"And Abram took Sarai his wife . . . . . and they went forth into the land of Canaan;
and into the land of Canaan they came" (Gen. 12: 5).