The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1913-10-17
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDMSC1OOL
LESSON
(By z. o. SELLERS, Director OF Evening
Department, The Moody Bible Institute,
Chicago)
LESSON FOR OCTOBER 49,.
REPORT OF THE SPIES.

LESSON TEXT-Numbers 13:1-3, 25-3S.
GOLDEN TEXT-"If God is for US.
who Is against u.s." Rom. $751;
Kadesh Barnea marks the place of
the Israelltes' 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 culmina-
ton OF a whole train of unbelief, and
truly they chose death rather than
life. Josh. 24.15)
l. The Spies. w. 1-3. God had COM
handed Israel to possess the land,
now as 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. 49, 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 1t cost Israel forty added years Of
exile. The inheritance prepared for
the faithful are always conditioned
upon obedience. Heb. 1873, 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.
u. The Majority Report, w. 25-29.
Though these spies spent forty days
in conducting their investigation "a
modern form Of political graft, yet
every step was a confederation OF
Gods word and the years of desola-
ton which followed correspond to
the number Of days they we're 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 a catas-
trophe. This land and this report is
such true type OF our Christian ex-
perience. They brought back the evil
dence OF the truth Of Gods descrip-
ton of the land Eek. 1876 and Deut
S: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. 1879. They not
only saw all Of this but, like all I'M
believers, they magnified their enc
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 Ia
sufficient"
~. Tho Minority Report, w. 3o-33.
Majorities 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 ". 30) that they
might get the other side or the story.
His report agreed with the majority
as to the desirability of possessing
the land; indeed, we surmise 1t 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 the land Caleb bluntly replied,
Let US go up at once and possess It;
for we are we'll 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. 1859, Josh. 15:14)
Unbelief cries, I'VE 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-
date action. "Unbelief shuts itself
out OF promised blessings Heb. 8:
49, 1t always has and is still so do
ing. Unbelief exaggerates and con-
tradicts,
Must Consider Entire Story.
Nv. inc OCQucl, VII ~ NO tedCueT
can properly present this lesson with
out considering the entire story The
amazed people (14;1-D; the solemn
protest Of Joshua and Caleb wv. g.
III was met with threatened death
and God interviewed to protect his
faithful ones FPS. S4:O. The enlkin-
died anger OF Jehovah ". II. 12) is
met by that magnificent revelation of
the beauty and strength Of the char
acter Of Moses wv. 1870. 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
II came a declaration that discipline
was necessary.
We must remember that these
Israelites 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