The Red Cloud chief., 1913-10-16

Kadesh Barnea marks the place Of
the lsraeiites' first great defeat. Long
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-
tion Of whole train of unbelief. and
truly they chose death rather than
life. Josh 24.15.)
!. Tho 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 a part Of Gods
program, but by divine permission,
was a reflection upon Gods word
about the character Of the land. (See
'. 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 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 q means
an opportunity. whereby they discov
Ted themselves.
A True Type.
u. The Majority Report, w. $500.
Though these spies spent forty days
In conducting their investigation "a
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.
flrmative part of their report was
fne. 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 10
such a true type Of our Christian OK.
perience. They brought back the evi.
dence Of the truth Of Gods descrip
tion Of the land (Ex. 1855 and Deut.
S:7-10) which was to be for them q
resting place after their wilderness
Journey Heb. 3:8.11. II and 4:S, 81.
But these spies had seen other
things, things to discourage. viz. men.
strong men, entrenched men ". 2S).
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 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. so.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 ". S0) 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 1t was
Caleb and Joshua who brought theil
evidence with them ". 23). Theil
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 60 up at once and possess It;
for we are well able to overcome It.
(Cf. Rom. S:37: Phil. 4:19.) Ten mer
looked upon man, the two saw be
hind man. God. q God who was able
The ten lost their lives even as the!
feared. whereas Caleb and JOshui
iived to enjoy the fruits Of their Wis
ion Of faith. (Ch. 1859, Josh. 1874.
Unbelief cries. I'VE be not able." o
course not. for vain is the help o
, man." but belief. seeing God. in th'
, words of Caleb cries out for imme
, diate action. "Unbelief shuts itsel
out Of promised blessings Heb. 3
19), It always has and Is still 30 dc
, Ing. Unbelief exaggerates and cor
= tradicts.
4 Must Consider Entire story.
: ". The Sequel, ch. IL. No teache
can properly present this lesson with
q out considering the entire story. Tn
|. amazed people (14:1-4); the solem
!. protest Of Joshua and Caleb wv.
q 1D was met with threatened deaf
and God interviewed to protect hi
!, faithful ones FPS. 34:7). The enkir
d died anger of Jehovah ". II. 12)
9 met by that magnificent revelation q
n the beauty and strength OF the cha
acter Of Moses wv. 1870. He base
n his appeal upon the necessity Of mali
t tanning the honor Of Gods word an
I. pleads for mercy and compassion
!. This appeal was answered by q gr,
d cious pardon for the people. but wit
d Il came q declaration that discipliu
e was necessary.
ID We must remember that thei
lsraelites had the benefit of the fu
Ia revelation of the law. yet we see Il
9, insufilciency In producing perfe'
m character. Laws will not cure II
10 Ills of the body polite. Shining me
IL must enter into that fellowship vii
ID God that is the result of q life
q obedience ere they can enter that d
o. lectable land Of peace. plenty AZ