Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-08-03
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
LESSON v. THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, AUG. 4.

Text OF the Lesson, Num- XIII. 1870, e3-
sS-Memory Verses. eo-Goiden Text,
Mum. XIV. o-Commentary by the Rev.
d. NJ. stearns.
IL Having left Hercb, where they had
been so long cncampcd, they came to Ka-
fesh-barnes. on the south border Of the
land, which was IL days journey from
Horcb. Here tho people asked that spies
might be sent TO search out the land and
bring word rs TO tho best way to enter
tDeut. |, 2, 81, 22). 1t seems strange
that Moses should be pleased with this
said that 1t was good and large land
flowing with milk and honey lex. lii, 81,
and when God Himself always went before
them in the cloud, but we remember the
story of Hohab
IS Since God had testified as to the land
and had s;iid that Flo would give it TO
them, what did it matter whether the In
habitants wero few or many. strong or
weakg Had not the God Of Israel shown
them His power in Egypt and at the Red
sea, and was not His presence a sufficient
assurancef But they did so forgot God.
I Just as we do.
10. 1t locks as If they were going to see
II God meant what He said, and If He was
as good as His word (Ex. xiii, 8; xxxiii,
2 81. But one inay say, Why find fault
with the spies when God commanded
them oversees /, 2)s But little attention
to Deut- l. 20, will show that God only
permitted them to have their own way in
this matter, as He did afterward in that of
king q Sam. viii, O. :, 81, a2).
20. 1t seems odd TO tell them to be of
good courage when unbclicf was sending
them forth. Ii requires faith in God 10
mako any ono to be of good courage, but
going to see If His word was true would
hardly tend to courage. Listcnto Paul In
the storm at sea when everything seemed
against him. II believe God, that 1t shall be
even as it was told me- (Acts xvii 25).
90, "a. One would think that all fears
would be dispcllcd by visit to the very
place where Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lay
buried. How could they help thinking OF
the faith Of Abraham and being strength
ened thereby? Then such grapes and poine-
granates and figs-how could their hearts
help crying out, "It IS all just as He saids"
Some one has suggested that those two
carrying the grapes mako us think OF tho
Old and New Tcstaments-thc ono ahead
did not see what he was carrying, but the
one behind saw both the ono ahead and
the grapes too Yet both carried the sano
fruit. Jesus, tho True Vine, Is tho bur
den Of tho whole book, but Is more clearly
revealed In the New Testament.
rs. "And they returned from searching
of the land after 40 days" And because
of their unbelicf they, though so nearly
possessing the land, were turned back into
the wilderness TO wander for 40 years, n
year for each day (Num. xiv, 34) Some
time we will see deeper meaning in all
the forty day experiences Of Scripture.
20, 81. They could not but bring good
report of tho land; they could not say
aught else concerning it than Surely 1t
iloweth with milk and honey, and this In
tho fruit OF it," God always means what
He says, and wo arc perfectly safe in TAX
ing Him at His word. When He makes
statement, we must either honor Him by
believing 1t, or dishonor Him by our I'M
belief and mako Him liar q John v, iO),
Rather let us believe His every word, and
thus set TO our seal that God Is true.
2S 90. Nevertheless the people BIO
strong" And SO they talk Of the giants,
and all the inhabitants Of tho land and
the walled cities. God had mentioned these
nations and had said that He would drive
them out (Ex. xxxiv, III. Observe His
seyenfold 81 will, beginning and ending
with II am jehovah in Ex. vi, 6-s, and
see what desperate unbelief these men were
guilty Of in putting the least obstacle be-
fore the people, instead OF the living God
who had already done so wondrously for
them. 1t Is refreshing TO turn to Caleb
and listen to him.
&c. "Let us go up at once and possess It,
for we are well able to overcome It," Here
Is confidence in God, and it Is well founded
it rests on His power who mado all
things and of whom the prophet said, ''Ah,
Lord God, behold Thou hast madc tho
heaven and the earth by Thy great power
and stretched out arm, and there is moth
ing too hard for Thee" der. xxi, I'D.
These encouraging words by which Caleb
sought TO still the people wcro from his
heart (Joshua xiv, 12), for he wholly fol-
lowed the Lord.
81. "We be not able to go up against the
people, for they are stronger than We" II
was not question Of they and we" but
only of them and God. He who brought
them out of Egypt was able to bring them
into Canaan, and in that light Caleb and
Joshua saw it, for they said, ''Pho Lord is
WIN uSt ltsiT tiitlll HOt tAiNt VI 0nlu
we have learned our own inability to save
ourselves we will not DO likely to lot the
Lord save us, and until we have learned
our inability to keep ourselves we will not
know the JOY of His keeping power. We
want deeper knowledge and experience
Of all that Is included in the words, mot
/, but Christ"
80, SO. "They and We was to tho unbe-
levers suggestive of giants and grasshop-
pcrs, and resulted in much weeping and
murmuring on the part Of the people, and
o call for new captain who would lead
them back to Egypt, so that the Lord had
to say to Moses: "How long will this peo-
pie provoke Me? How long will it be ere
they believe Me, for all the signs which
have Showed among thems" xiv, IL If
we place ourselves face to face with our
difficulties, we will ofttimes DO discour-
aged, but when we place our difficulties
face to face with God, then victory Is sure,
and peace ard JOY are ours Tho matter that
He makes His own is as good as accom-
plished. In quietncss and in confidence Ia
our strength lisa. Xxx, 15)