The Elbert County tribune., 1913-10-17


and bitterly did they regret that day
of unbelief and not till a new genera
tion was reared did the nation as
such enter into the land of promise.
The act of that day was the culmina-
ton of whole train of unbelief, and
truly they chose death rather than
life. Josh 24.15.)
|. The Spies. w. 1-3. God had COM
manded Israel to possess the land,
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
v. 19) The eternal questions OF man
are to know the why and the how.
God told Moses to send these men
as concession to their lack OF faith,
but 1t cost Israel forty added years of
exile. The inheritance prepared for
the faithful are always conditioned
upon obedience. (Heb. 11:S. etc)
This act, commanded by God at the
request of the people, was a means,
an opportunity, whereby they discov-
cred themselves
A True Type.
II. The Majority Report, w. 1929.
Though these spies spent forty days
in conducting their investigation Ga
modern form of political graft), yet
every step was a corroboration of
Gods word and the years of desola-
ton 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-
trophe. This land and this report ia
such true type of our Christian ex-
perience. They brought back the evil
dence of the truth of Gods descrip-
tion of the land (Ex 1876 and Deut
8:7-10) which was to be for them a
resting place after their wilderness
journey (Heb. 3:s-11, IA and AS, 81.
But these spies had seen other
things, things to discourage, viz, men,
strong men, entrenched men ". 28).
They saw those tribes God had said
they would find (Ex. 1850. They not
only saw all of this but, like all un-
believers, they magniffed their ene-
mics. 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
sufficient"
III. The Minority Report, w. 3o-33.
Majorities may rule but minoIities
are more frequently right witness
history. A great cry of despair (Ch.
14:D greeted this report. Caleb
stilled the people ". 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 ". 23) Their
report differed however. in its con-
clusion. To the picture of the
strength of those scattered through
out ile land Caleb bluntly replied,
Let us go up at once and possess it
for we are well able to overcome it."
(Cf. Rom. s:37; Phil. 4:19) Ten men
looked upon man, the two saw be-
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 Wis.,
ion of faith. (Ch. IA: SO, Josh. 15:14.)
Unbelief cries, I'VE be not able" of
course not, for vain is the help of
man." bu, belief, seeing God, In the
words of Caleb cries out for imme-
date action. "Unbelief shuts itself
out of promised blessings (Heb. 8:
19), 1t always has and is still SO do
ing. Unbelief exaggerates and CON
tradicts
Must Consider Entire Story.
~. The Sequel, ch. IA. No teacher
can properly present this lesson with
out considering the entire story. The
amazed people 14:1-G; the solemn
protest OF Joshua and Caleb wv. G.
11) was met with threatened death
and God interviewed to protect his
faithful ones Cps. 34:D. The enkin-
died anger of Jehovah ". IL, 12) is
met by that magnificent revelation of
the beauty and strength of the char
acter of Moses wv. 1919. He based
his appeal upon the necessity of main
tanning 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
lsraelites had the benefit of the full
revelation of the law, yet we see its
insufficiency in producing a perfect
character. Laws will not cure the
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.
lectable land of peace, plenty and
power which lies before them. Fail.