The Brinkley argus., 1913-10-17

Kadesh Barnea marks the place Of the Israelites' first great defeat. Long and bitterly did they regret that day of unbelief and not till new genera ton was reared did the nation as such enter into the land of promise The act of that day was the culmlsar ton of whole train of unbelief, ana truly they chose death rather than life. (Josh. 24.15)
 |. The sples. w. ia. God had com manded Israel to possess the lano' now as a precautionary measure they went about to investigate" This act which was not part of Gods program, but by divine permission, was a reflection upon Gods word about the character of the land. (See Iy. 19.) The eternal questions of man are to know the why and the how. God told Moses to send these men as a concession to their lack of faith, but it cost Israel forty added years of exile. The inheritance prepared for the faithful are always conditioned upon obedience. (Heb. Ills, etc.) l This act, commanded by God at the request of the people, was means, an opportunity. whereby they discov- cred themselves.
 "A True Type.
 ] q. The Majority Report, w. 25-29. 1 Though these spies spent forty days in conducting their investigation Ca \ modern form of political grafD, yet f every step was corroboration or Gods word and the years of desola-
 tion which followed correspond to the number of days they were absent from the. camp. The first or the -af- firmative part of their report was fine, but the negative was so exagger- ated as to turn the twelve tribes to an act which amounted to catas- Itrophe This land and this report IS such true type of our Christian ex- perienca They brought back the evil dence of the truth of Gods descrip- ton of the land (Ex. 1895 and Deut. S:7-l0) which was to be for them q resting place after their wilderness journey (Heb. 3:S-11. l4 and AS. 9. But these spies had seen other II strong men, entrenched men (v. 2S). They saw those tribes God had said they would find (ExJ 13:5). They not only saw all of this but, Nike all un- believers, they magnifled their ene-
 mies Today we see evil entrenched
 behind special privilege. we see the forces of evil that appear to us as
 giants and unbelief cries out. "Who is sufiicient?"
 III. The Minority Report, w. 3o-33.
 Majorfties may rule but minorities are more frequently right, witness
 history. A great cry of despair (Ch 14:D greeted this report. Caleb
 stilled the people (v 30) that they
 might get the other side of the story.
 His report agreed with the majority
 as to the desirability of possessing
 the land: indeed, we surmise it was
 Caleb and Joshua who brought their
 evidence with them (v. 23). Their
 report differed, however, in its con
 clusion. To the picture of the
 strength of those scattered through
 out the land Caleb bluntly replied, Let us go up at once and possess 1t; for we are well able to overcome it." } ter. Rom. S:37; Phil. 4:19.) Ten men } looked upon man, the two saw be- f hind man, God, God who was able
 The ten lost their lives even as they feared. whereas Caleb and Joshua , lived to enjoy the fruits of their vis-
 ion of faith. (Ch. 14:6-9, Josh. 15:14.) Unbelief cries, "We be not able," of course not. for vain is the help of man," but belief, seeing God. in the words of Caleb cries out for imme- diate action. ''Unbelief shuts itself out oe promised blessings (EIeb. g.: 19), 1t always has and is still so do-
 ing. Unbelief exaggerates and con
 tradicts.
 Must consIder Entire story. Il w. The Sequel. ch. 14. No teacher can properly present this lesson with : out considertng the entire story The
 amazed people (14:1-4): the solemn
 protest of Joshua and Caleb (vv. g.
 III was met with threatened death
 and God interviewed to protect his
 faithful ones (Ps. 34:7). The enkin-
 dled anger of Jehovah (v. Il. 12) Is
 met by that magnificent revelation of the beauty and strength of the char
 acter of Noses (vv. 13-19). He based
 his appeal upon the necessity of main-
 taining the honor of Gods word and
 pleads for mercy and compassion.
 This appeal was answered by a gra-
 cious pardon for the people. but with
 1t came a declaration that discipline
 was necessary.
 We must remember that these
 lsnaeaites had the benefit of the full revelation Of the law. yet we see its ins uficiency in producing a perfect
 character Laws will not cure the r ills of the body polite. Shining men
 must enter into that fellowship with
 God that is the result of life of } obedience ere they can enter that de.