The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-07-27
INTRODUCTION.

are not effective incentives to great
achievements. To exaggerate Difficult
ties and overestimate hazards, is to in
wife failure in advance. 1t is we'll, as we
are taught. to count the cost OF every
great undertaking. Then, the choice
having been made, it is best to annihi-
late the difficulties Of the morrow from
the present, by failing to see them. The
Providence that leads US into our perils
can lead us through them. Sufficient
unto the day is the evil thereof" We
should pursue the right way confidently,
against even seemingly insuperable ob'
stacles. in the assurance that all things
are possible with God.
LESSON STORY.
The host of Israel on leaving the
plain of Sinai, marched northward to
Kadesh Barnea, near the southern Dor
der of Canaan.
The location of this place had been
much in dispute; but since DIR. IL. Z.
Trumbull, by personal visit and ex-
haustive investigation. claimed to have
identified the ancient site with the mod
ern Ain Qadees, 1.-THE Holy Well" there
has been a general acceptance OF his
opinion. Ain Qadees is eleven days
journey from Sinai and fifty miles south
of Beersheba. DR.. Trumbull describes
the place as an extensive hill-encircled
plain, several miles wide, very fertile,with
two wells, large pool, and stream flow
ing from a rock; the surrounding rocky
.eminences making it the natural strate-
gic stronghold of the southern border OF
Palestine. The Bible name. Kadesh
Barnea, 1.-The Holy Place of the Desert
Wandering" was probably given to it at
a period subsequent to the Israelites'
encampment there. 1t having been the
central point of the host for thirty-eight
years, and having become the burial
place of the entire race of veterans who
came out of Egypt, and especially be-
cause it was the burial place of Aaron
and Miriam, it would inevitably receive
some such designation as was given to
it by the name, 1.-THE Holy Place OF the
Desert Wandering"
Although modern travellers find it but
eleven days journey from Sinai to ka-
desh, it is not to be supposed that the
host of Israel completed the journey in
so short time The march was first
eastward as far as the Elanitic Gulf, the
eastern arm of the Red Sea; thence
northward in the Arabah, the depression
southwark from the Dead Sea; it pro-
ceeded along the base Of the mountain
range of Edom, then turned westward
and assembled to the table land of Ka
desh. When we take into account this
circuitous route and recall the difficulty
of moving such mass of people. we
shall hardly set time limit Of less than
month to this march from Sinai to the
border of Canaan.
L. The Commission Given to
the Twelve Spies.-vs. 1920.
When the people arrived at the natural
resting place, Kadesh, they were disin-
clined to go further. There was now
formal request made by the people to
Moses that spies be appointed to go in
advance to the Promised Land and re-
turn and report upon the condition OF
the country and the best route thither.
The zigzag journey the Israelites had
just completed from Sinai to Kadesh,
with its seemingly needless delays and
hardships, may have emphasized this
demand.
1t was the choice of Moses not to delay
in the onward march. He was now past
eighty years of age; he naturally desired
to complete the home-leading of his peo-
pie before he became incapacitated by
extreme age. He had trust in God that
all the difficultit s. as they rose, could be
overcome. He asked for no more definite
knowledge of the future than had been
already vouchsafed to him.
But Moses reckoned it better to con-
cede to the demand Of the people and
appoint the men who should act as pio-
neers for the host. 1t is probable that
he believed that the report of the spies
would be inspiriting to the people. He
therefore made formal appointment of
twelve men, reckoned princes, represent
ing the twelve tribes of Israel. The
names of these twelve men are preserved
to US in the record Mum. -: 4-15); but
because of their over prudence, which
had the effect of craven cowardice, ten
of the twelve names are now scarcely
worthy of being recalled from their
semi oblivion. Only the names of Caleb
and Joshua, the heroes of unwaveriug
faith and dauntless courage. are with
pleasure recalled from among the list Of
the twelve spies.
Moses commissioned the spies to go
first to the South, the southern section
of the Promised Land; thence they were
to proceed northward "up into the
mountains" which meant, as the event
showed, the heights of Lebanon. They
were to carefully observe the inhabi-
tants. their number, their physical con-
dition. what proportion were tent dwell
ers and what proportion lived in fortified
oifiac An aotinno 70 oOt1ld time he r,oda