The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-08-30
SUNDAY MEpIrATIoN.

l. 1lRs.
We are still in the year 25iA A. b., OF 1890 B.
c. The children Of Israel, after remaining at
lit. Sinai for shout one year, moved on, by d.
rection of God through the cloud, NJ north
toward Canaan. They reSc.,sd the border Of
moved 1878 yeaFa from the events which we
study.
g. Plqss.
The incidents of tho lesson occurred st
Kade8h- B2rnea. That was . famous spot in
the experiences Of the Israelites. So Impressed
with tbis tAought Was DR.. IEumbull that he
said Kadesh-B2rnes is "tbe objective point
Of the lsr8elites in their movement from Sinai
to the Promised Land. 1t is Bhe place of their
testing of their failure of thoir Judging, and Of
their dispersion. 1t is their FGllyiug center foz
the 40 years Of their wandering, and the place
Of their reessembiing for their final move into
the land Of sheir ioRging5." Il vas an Cssis.
ihe travellers had sp5nt ever one year IL
wilderness. How refreshing Go Issue from It
into delightful veTdure, There were at that
place aigns Of Life. Bees hummod, birds sang,
rabbits bounded OYER the grass, Fer long
tins there was doubt SIS 20 the location Of
KGde8h-Barnea. The difficulty was increased
By the fact the BcdaResuB sro 60 Willy, niglead-
ing trayelars, lying Tor the very pleasure Of de-
ceit. In 1919 DIR. RoWland8 fixed the spot st
Ais Giadis Tor 'Aya Quaaees). In 1851 DR..
Irumbull confirmed tho opinion Of Dr. Row
lands 50 that now We may consider ths question
settled. Kadesh-Bsrnea is about so miles from
Hebron. e0fr0nl Jerusalem, 100 from Ms. Sinai.
g. Occasion.
Forty dsyB before the Lesson opsaB IL men SGT
out So spies from KadeBh-Barnea into Canasn.
(i3:25 On returning the - E3nitted tho
land was all that oould bs desired. The spies
differed oaly Is TO tho ability Of tho Israeitcs
to teke possession Of The territory. It was nos
Gods purpose to free the land from enemies,
allowing ths Isreelitas 70 settle in Canaan
without any effort Of their own. He willed
they subdue the land snd offered hiz assist
snoe. Tbs people we'll kneW they had peril
Gus and lsborious work before them il they
went a6 once into Canaan. The condition OF
the land, aud especially the claesag Of inhabit-
anita TO be D2at and overcome, therefore became
important factors for consideration. IL YVES
quite natural the lsTGeliGes were anxious 10
comprehend the situation. There Was nothing
wrong nor nnWise in tbs wish Of the people to
Teconn0itsT the territory beforehand. Ten said
itwss imprGoticable 10 attempt the conquest Of
Canaan, while two, Caleb s0d joshua, believed
the victory SeasiDle. They counted On Gods
help, which they were authorized 70 expect
Ihs occasion HheR the epaz returned and
made their reports was thrilling. We can ina
sgine the paOpis fEli of interest assembling
with ggsst expectations 10 lesrn the condition
of Canaan.
4. Effects Of lAs zfqjoYitg R:pert IS tae B;sority
The people wore delighted with the desorip-
lions given Of the land. II & could have been
had with no effort they wonld at once have
entered the territory. But they feared to meet
the enemies. In their reckoning they loft ont
Of consideration God az a f2etsz. They forgot
his promises.
Vers8 / says b" gH the compensation" We nsEisE,
yS anuvge eT4zve Tala!, apI Toahus D04,tIea-
scme algo Of tho masses syEapathizsd Eish the
two spies who sxhoTted Immediate entry sf the
land, There are slwsys few exceptionally
piOus SOILS. Is ruis, h0HsveT, ths people vera
demoraliEed. The word congregation" IN
yeTss 1 seems 20 sxOlEds wives sad children
OF Yegsa 2. Tie latter, However, probably
ghsred tia EEsPidAtlea ef thar husbands azd
bZoshaEss
IL Ia si1gulaF that men VIE waEs 70 tsiEz-
phenb ct Basl-zs2hoa, az, lz:4; 15;1-19) ;
T1en who lad Gssn sEeh evidences o. Gods
power, goodness and truth men who had
escaped such degradation and slavery; msn
WhOss leader Was 90 haFeic; meE wish sash
grand prospects jest la sight-liagulag saca
nen should ba3onao IS u5SSZig anszaaEs3 az she
report Of Sac 10.
Eotios thsi1 eezaaaS. /. TAey ns5sd SD
their voices. (Y. ID They i1dalgsd 10 leEd
aSnunciAticR and lRmsntstieB. 2, They cried.
g. They wept. They were utterly unnamed.
They Nere towards. They loved ease, ThQy
wantsd God to do everything while they
simply enjoyed. Thsy were growing INDECENT.
They Loss thsig Senses. 1t is humiilating to
hear such hsllooing from body Of men who
had been 70 sign2lly favored by Providence
men whe had seen such evidences Of power
such proofs Of tbs divine presence and help.
l. They murmnred against 2i0sas and Aaron,
neither Of whom was responsible for tins con
dit.On Of things. 5. They &leo fell 70 oens1ring
even God. Amoment's reflection showed them
Noses and Aaron were net solely tbs OTigios-
tors Of bho agadus ard travelling directions 6.
They wish they had died in Egypt; that shey
had remained Ia that land ElsYes and that
finally they might have found graves there.
How puAillaninaousi How much more noble
70 fight foT freedom than to languiah ia faint
heartedRega, subjeos to the lash! They wish
they had died in the Wilderness. They pre-
Isrred death 10 manly struggle, Many Of tAeiE
number did die during the travels in chs
Wilderness Of Sinai They spoke thought
lessIy. 1t cannot Do they wished themselves
all dead, Death VAS tho worst they could meet
IA the effort TO 20 into tho PesmiHsd Land.
How much bettsr to lay doWa lie in q heroic
attempt foE liberty z. They proceeded e
select q Captain Tor the retreat We learn
from Neh., 9:17, that Ghey actually crystal
iEsd their wish for s leader into fact. We
do not kR9w WHOM they selected lie il
complimentary to Moses that they could not
persuade him to accept the ignoble service
Rebellion was naYsE more open and bcld. Why
return TO Egypt2 They knew Gods wish tbsi
they go IN immediately snd posses Canaan
In the face, therefore, Of Gods paEposs and
command, they propose TO turn right about
and go TO Egypt. How could they arrange the
esmmiasRry depsrtmsntf They could not OK.
psot smiJtsn rocks, mama and gnails, etc, "a
be furnished by the very God whose will they
de8sd. 1hs wilderness wsa barren snd thiTsty
S. They carried thaig fear and opposition 50 fsy
as to st5anPt TO slay Caleb and joshua. Stones
WerS plenty and st0ning 10 death q common
method Of execution. The two spies BECAME
practically martyrs, and thus prototypes e 81
stePhsa ia the ChElEtisD Church
5. Efsess Of SIC Rs8siliO&.
4 On Moses. Most Of al, he must havs fsl;
chs shame ef the ignObls conduct Of the Isrz 81
ties. The decision TO elect new leader was :
special insult to him. They wanted lsade,
who would obey thom rather thsn obsy Gsd
Mosss fell on bis fees ia utter humiliatior, and
IN that attitude offered prayer fUll Of argu,
ment to Ged to suspend righteous Judgment
ESe8 the Ersysr, ysrses 1912
2 On Aaron. We do rot heaT shss he weak
sned, sa In tbs ease Of rebellion SIS Bit. Sinai
when in answer t. the popular cry ne mads !
calf for them to worship Tho presence O.
Moses Probably gave courage to his brother.
g. On Caleb and Joshua To express tie
deepest Indignation and grief, people ia these
days and places used 90 reRd their apparel. Il
might DO sR expensive way Of showing angel
To mod aTa