The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-08-01
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
AUGUST 4.
Lesson Text: "Thc Report of the
Spies," Mum. KILL, 1920; 23-
33-Golden Text: Mum. XIV,
documentary.

H. Having left Horeb, where they hal
been so long encamped. they came Kalesh.
barnea. on the south border OF the land
which was eleven days journey from Horeb
Here the people asked that spies might be
sent to search out the land and bring word
as to the best way TO enter (Deut. l., 2, 81
22). II seems strange that Moses should b,
pleased with this thought OF sending spie.
when God had said that II was good and
large land flowing with milk and honey (Ex
ill.,, 81, and when God Himself always wen
before them in the cloud, but We remember
the story of Hobab.
lS. Since God had testified as TO the land
and had said that He wouh give IL to them
what did II matter whether the inhabitant,
were few or many, strong or wcak2 Hac
not the God OF Israel shown them His powe,
In Egypt and at the Red Sea. and was no,
His presence n sufficient assurance? But
they did so forget God. just as we do.
19. lt looks "a IL they were going to see n
God meant what He said. and IL He was n,
good as His word (Ex. xiii, 8; Nxxiii., 6, 3l
But one may say, Why find fault with tn.
spies when God commanded them (verses 1
2)P But little attention to Deut. -, %, will
show that God only permitted them to hav,
their own way In this matter, as He die
aftcrward In that OF king Il sam. viii q
z, q, 2O.
90 II seems odd to tell them to be Of good
courage when unbelef was sending then
forth. II requires faith In God to make ans
one to be OF good courage. but going to see
II His word was true would hardly tend &c
courage. Listen To Paul I'm the storm at sea
when everything seemed against him, II be.
lieve God, that II shall be even as II wastold
me" acts xvii, 25).
20, "a. One would think that all fear.
would be dispelled by visit 10 the yer,
nlnpp NVhprp Ahrnh Iaann nj L..
buried. How could they help thinking oi
the faith OF Abraham and being strength.
ened thereby? Then such grapes and pome-
granatos and ngs--how could their hearts
help crying out, 1T Is all just a. He saidY"
Some one has suggested that these two car.
rying the grapes make us think Of the Old
and New Testaments-the one ahead did no,
see what he was carrying. but the one be.
hind saw both the one ahead and the grapes
too. Yet both carried the same fruit Jesus.
the True Vine, Is the burden OF the whole
book. but IL more clearly revealed In the
New Testament.
20. "And they returned from searching OF
the land after forty days" And because OF
their unbelief they. though so nearly pos.
sessing the land, were turned back into the
Wilderness to wander for forty years, year
for each day (Num. XIV, 3i). Some time we
VIII see deeper meaning in all the "folty
day experiences Of Scripture.
20, ~. They could not but bring a good
report OF the land; thoy could not say aughi
else concerning IL than "Surely II doweth
with milk and honey, and this Is the fruit OF
it." God always means what He says, and
we are perfectly safe In taking Him at His
word. When He makes u statement, we musj
either honor Him by believing IL, or dishonoi
Him by our unbelief and make Him u liai
U John ", l0). Rather let us believe His
every word, and thus set to ourseal that God
Is true.
2s, 30. Nevertheless the people be strong"
And so they talk OF the giants, and all the
Inhabitants Of the land and the walled cities.
God had mentioned these Nations and had
said that He would drive them out (Ex.
xxxiv., 1D. Observe His sevenfold 'T will, W
beginning and ending with ~ am jehovah"
In Ex. VI, 6-s, and see what desperate un.
belief these men were guilty OF in putting tn,
least obstacle Before the people, instead OF
the living God who had already done sc
wondrously for them. II ia refreshing &c
turn to Caleb, and listen TO him.
80. Let us go up at once ana possess Il,
for we are well able to overcome it," Here
is confidence In God, and II Is we'll founded
lit rests on His power who made all things
and OF whom the prophet said, "Ah. Lord
God, behold Thou hast made the heaven and
the earth by Thy great power and stretched
out arm, and there IL nothing too hard foi
Thee" der. XXxii., 10. These encouraging
words by which Caleb sought TO still the peo.
pie were from his heart (Joshua xiv, 12), foi
he wholly followed the Lord.
81. 1--WE be not able to go up against the
people, for they are stronger than We" Ii
was not question Of "they and we," bui
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 II. for they said "The Lord il
with us; fear them not" (Xiv., 9). Until we
have learned our own inability to save our.
selves, We will not be likely to let the Lord
save US, and until we have learned our ina
bllity to keep ourselves we will not know the
Joy OF His keeping power. Wewan. II deeper
knowledge and experience Of all that Is in.
cluded In the words. "Not 1, but Christ"
32, 33. "They and We" was TO the unbe.
levers suggestive OF giants and grasshoppers
and resulted in much weeping and murmur.
Ing on the part OF the people. and a call fol
new captain who would lead them back tc
Egypt, so that the Lord had to say tC
Moses Glow long will this people provoke
Me2 How long will 1t be ere they believe
Me, for all the signs which | have showed
among them?' (xiv., ~. II we place our
selves face to face with our difficulties, We
will ofttlmes be discouraged, but when we
place our difficulties face to face with God
then victory Is sure, and peace and Joy ar,
ours. The matter that He makes His own |,
as good rs accomplished. In quietness ant
In confidence is our strength Elsa. Xxx., l5)
Lesson Helper.