The St. Louis Republic., 1902-08-16

the divine element. They responded "wt
be not able. for they are stronger than we.
In their thoughts the conflict would be mar
against man, the weaker yielding TO tns
stronger. Here were the two sentences
/ I'VE are able" I'VE be not able" standing
! over against each other. each bursting forth
& out OF the heart but having behind II ia, an
In man. The ten had not learned the secret
of success in all undertakings, as plainly
and repeatedly affirmed Czech. iv, 8 in the
lament. phil iv. 13)
! THE DISCOURAGEMENT- 3:
! and 80. This response. declaring inability
was followed by other statements designed
to discourage all attempts to enter Canaan
1t was said by the spies THAI the land was
inhabitants. and there vera extravagant.
representations concerning the stature OF
man. in comparison with whom they seemed
view cid not agree with that presented at
first. and the fact may be accounted for in
been official. drawn up under the supervis-
ion OF Joshua, who presumably was the
/ leadar Of the party. and silently approved
by the ten who thought their ends could De
gained in another way, but who gave their
real convictions under stress Of new cir
cumstances. . The ten. upon a little re-
Election. in view of the proposal, may have
changed their opinions. or they may have
colored the statements by their fears 3. 1t
is possible that among those who heard the
report at first there were some who inf1a-
changed conclusion. This seems the more
probable from what followed.
THE COMPLAINT-Uerses 1 and p. The
words spoken by the ten unbelieving spie=.
whether rejecting their sentiments or those
The congregation, pessimistic to the last
degree, lifted up their voices and cried
aloud. They repaired to their tents and
that night weeping was heard throughout
the camp The lack of faith caused utter
despair. The expedition had proved fall
ure. They had come forth into the wilder
,,1N Hz Nya
The land promised TO the fathers could not
be possessed. It was thought that death In
the land OF Egypt or In the great wilderness
which had recently been crossed was prefer
able to their present unhappy condition.
Shut in on all sides by mountains. unable TO
go forward. the people turned as they had
done on former occasions TO lay the blame
upon Moses, the leader, and Aaron. the
high priest, under whose guidance they had
been. It was long and bitter complaint
that was made to these men OF God.
THE RETURN-Uerses and a. fhe un-
belief of the assembly did not rest with
complaint against leaders.t even aues
toned the wisdom OF the Almighty IL was
strange that they did not recall the events
at Pihahiroth (EX. xiv. S-I3l and the de
liverance that came ana concluae tnat .Se;- hGr
great extremity as he did before Instead
they feared that they would fall by the
sword. exposed as they were to the mighty
people about them. and they deemed It bet
Ter to retrace their steps and re-enter
Egypt the land from which they had come
ty OF Moses. to elect another captain; and
under him march back to the land of bond
age This was insipient rebellion against
Moses against God. against national ira
ditions and hopes. 1t was the same as 10
deny the covenant which was made at
Sinai. to relinquish the promises running
through the centuries. to turn away from
national honor and privilege, and TO be
merged forever IN the great kingdom at the
south
THE REFLECTION Here Is a por-
traiture of the Israelitish nation. showing
on what a low plane the people lived. how
unable they were TO apprehend their mis-
sion and destiny, how unprepared 10 meet
2 There Is a striking con-
trast between the two who believed ana
were made strong and the ten who doubted
and feared and were weak They are sam
pies of men seen in all ages, who achieve
on the one hand and fall on the other. j
Ability and inability are conditioned upon
heart states-a firm reliance upon GOO
clothes a man with might. the absence OF
1t renders one timid and imbecfie. T. Unbe-
lief dstorts and colors things. magnif1es
difficulties. diminishes resources, creates
obstacles and becouds the vision s. 1t re-
ouirss genuine heroism for two men TO
stand firm for their conviction of what Is
right and possible when the multitude are
disheartened. S. True faith laughs at i'm
possibilities and waits for Gods time and
method for the accomplishment of Gods
work.