Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-08-31


23-33-Momory Verses, 80, 31--Goieen
Text, Mum. xiv, 9-Commcntary Pro-
pared by Row. D. NJ. Stcarno.
Copyright. 1907. by American Press Association
lnasmuch as all that happened to-
Israel was I'm example for US to profit
or take warning by ana Is written for
our ndmonition Il Cor y. ~, II must
be Il grief To our teacher the Holy
Spirit to pass by anything that lie
has written for liz.
Murinurlng and complaining was
such characteristic Of Israel that IL
we laid to heart the way they thus
grievcd the Lord we would prayerfully
seek 10 avoid either (xi. II. II Is not
easy 10 be In good health In Il bad at
mosphcrc, and we see even Moses af-
fected by lsrncl's unbelief and ques-
tionlnY the possibility of giving such
IL congregation flesh TO eat (Xi. 30.
Circumstances often become too
heavy for us, and we are compelled to
say, II am not able" (Ni. IN. but there
Is never anything too hard for Him,
and lie always has II way out FOR Ills
own der. xXXii. Il; 1 Cor. Y, 10.
Joshua's jealousy for the honor of
Moses (xi. %. 40 is somewhat like that
of the disciples who forbade Il man to
do miracles. because, as they snid. "lIe
followcth not us" duke tx, 10. 50).
Chapter Xii tells of the jealousy and
envy Of Miriam and Aaron. Moses own
and only sister and brother. and of
M!rlnm's leprosy and healing. The
Lords revelation of Himself OH behalf
OF Ills servant Moses makes us think
Of lisa. XII, -. IL; liv, II, where there
Is strong consolation for all who are
spoken against. See also Matt V, 10,
H.
In the lesson OF today concerning tho
sending forth OF the spies and their
report and the results II seems strange
that Moses should send men To see
whether the land was good or bad and
whether the people were strong or
weak. few or many vcrscs 1920, when
God had said that lie would drive out
their enemies and bring them unto
land flowing with milk aud honey QIx.
xxxiil. 1-3). The word Of the Lord
should have been sufficient for faith
to rest upon and go forward. but where
was their faith, and whore Is ours
when there ~ neither sight nor feeling
nor anything but just the word OF
the Lord with everything seemingly
against II. Consider our Lords word
10 the ruler whose little girl had just
died and also TO Martha and Mary
when Lazarus was dead and buried.
BE not afraid. only believe" "Said 1
not unto thee that II thou wouldst he
licvc thou shoultlst see" Mark v, &C;
John ri. i0l, ana see how faith must
rest upon the simple word of God IN
spite OF all circumstances.
Chapter Kill. l. ., with xxXli, s, looks
ut first sight rs II the sending OF the
spies was OF the Lord and Moses, but
the key to the situation Is In ncut 1,
%. where we hear Moses saying. "Ye
came near unto me, every one OF you,
and snid. We VIII send men before us.
and they shall search us out the land
and bring lis word again by what way
we must 20 up" 1t Is therefore clear
that the thought of spies came from
the unbclievlnR people. Meacs indorscd
II. and the Lord sanctioned 1t IN the
same way that He gave to Balaam
permission to 20 because hc insisted
upon going and granted hing TO Is
rnel because they would have one. lie
often permits Ills hcAdstrong, unbe-
lieving people To have their own way,
when they Insist upon 1t. that they
may learn by bitter experience how
narrl Inn 90
Well, they went and after forty days
they return, bringing with them n sam
pie of the fruit OF the land and ma
lority and minority report. All no.
linowledged that 1t was as the Lord
had said. "a land flowing With milk
and honey" (vcrso 2O. hut ten had
been so impressed with the sight of the
walled cities and the giants and their
own insignitlcancc that they insisted
that Israel was not able to go up and
take the land Only two, Caleb and
Joshua OF the tribes OF Judah and
Ephraim. Insisted that they should go
up, for. the Lord being with them. they
had nothing to fear and were we'll able
10 take the land verse 80 and xiv, CD.
The decision or the Lord was that
the nation should wander In the will
derness forty years, year for each
day TINT they had spent searching out
the land. till all That generation had
fallen in the wilderness, and that of
the C03,550 men of Israel Il. 46. Al out
side the tribe of Levi none but Caleb
and Joshua should ever enter the
promised land xiv, 2G-3S. The good
land was only eleven days journey
from IIoreb. so for forty years from
the time they left Egypt they We're
always within eleven or twelve days
journey of rest ana peace and never