The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-10-16

anu Dfttefty ulu tuey TekTet tnht udy
Of unbelief and not TIL q new genera
ton was reared did the nation a.
such enter into the land of PROMISE
The act Of that day was the culminar
ton Of q whole train of unbelief. and
truly they chose death rather than
life Josh. 24.16.)
!. The Spies. w. "a God had com
manded Israel to possess the land.
now as q precautionary measure they
went about to Investigate" This
act, which was not q part Of God's
program. but by divine permission,
was q reflection upon Gods word
about the character Of the land, (See
'. 49, The eternal questions Of man
are to know the why and the how.
God told Moses to send these men
a. q 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. f1:s, etc)
This act, commanded by God at the
request Of the people. was . means.
an opportunity. whereby they discov-
cred themselves.
A True Type.
". The Majority Report, w. $3.50.
Though these spies spent forty days
in conducting their investigation "a
modern form Of political graft). yet
every step was q corroboration OF
Gods word and the years of desolar
ton which followed correspond to
the number Of days they were absent
from the camp. The first or the az
flrmative part Of their report was
fine, but the negative was 30 exagger
ated AZ to turn the twelve tribes b
an act which amounted to Q catas-
trophe. This land and this report b
such . true type Of our Christian ex-
perience. They brought back the EVIL
dence Of the truth Of Gods descrip-
ton Of the land (Ex. 1875 and Deut
S:7-10) which was to be for them o
resting place after their wilderness
journey (Heb. 3:s-11. II and 4:S, 81
But these spies had seen other
things, things to discourage, viz, men,
strong men, entrenched men ". 28l.
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 magniied their enc
mics. Today we see evil entrenchell
behind special privilege, we see the
forces of evil that appear to us as
giants and unbelief cries out, who is
sufficient"
~. The Minority Report, w. 3o-33.
Majorities may rule but minorities
are more frequently right, witness
history. A great cry Of despair tCh
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 tho
strength of those scattered through
out the land Caleb bluntly replied,
Let US 60 up at once and possess ID,
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. q 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. 1869, Josh 15:14)
Unbelief cries, I'VE be not able" Of
course not, for vain 10 the help Of
man." but belief. seeing God. IN the
words Of Caleb cries out for imme
date action. "Unbelief shsts itself
out Of promised blessings (Heh. b
1s), It always has and 10 still 90 do
Ing. Unbelief exaggerates and con-
tradicts.
Must Consider Entire stony.
w. The Sequel, Gu. ~ No teacher
can properly present this lesson with
out considering the entire story. Tho
amazed people (14:1-Di the solemn
protest Of Joshua and Caleb wv. g.
III was met with threatened death
and God interviewed to protect hin
faithful ones FPS. 34:T. The enktn-
died anger Of Jehovah ". II, ~ b
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 . grar
eious pardon for the people, but with
II came Q declaration that discipline
was necessary.
We must remember that theae
Israel,tes had the benefit Of the fun
revelation Of the law. yet We see tn
insuf'iciency In producing . perfect
character. Laws will not cure the
Ills Of the body polite. Shining men
must enter into that fellowship with
God that 10 the result Of q life OF
obedience ere they can enter that Do
lectable land OF peace. plenty and
power which lies before them Fail
ing In q knowledge Of him and his
resources. difficulties are magnined
and our strength IL minimixed. TO
view people ~ giants and ourselves
- grssshoppsrs b 70 court defeat