The Tupelo journal., 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 a 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. wv. 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
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 it cost Israel forty added years of
exile. The inheritance prepared for
upon obedience. (Heb. 11:8, 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.
m. 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-
stion which followed correspond to
the number Of days they were absent
ffrom the camp. The first or the af-
h1rmative part OF their report was
fine, but the negative was 30 exagger-
ated as to turn the twelve tribes to
an act which amounted to q catas.
srophe. This land and this report is
such a true type of our Christian ex-c
!%perience. They brought back the evil
rdence of the truth Of Gods descrip-
FtfonNo of the land eek. 1875 and Deut.
'S:7-10) which was to be for them a
resting place after their wilderness
journey (Heb. Ssh, IA and As, 81.
But these spies had seer other
things, things to discourage, viz, men,
strong men, entrenched men ". 28).
They saw-those tribes, God had said
they would find Eek. 1879. They not
only saw all of this but, like all un-
believers, they magnifed their enc
mics. Today we see evil ~entrenched
behind special privilege, we see the
forces of evil that appear to us as
-.4 WY a.
sufficient"
III. The Minority Report, w. 1898.
Majorities may rule but minorities
are more frequently right, witness
history. A great cry of despair (Ch.
AID greeted this report. Caleb
sstilled the people ". 800 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 n
aclusion. 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 well able to overcome It."
(Cf. Rom. 1897; Phil. AID Ten men
Hooked upon man, the two saw be-
I'd man, God. a God who was able.
ten lost their lives even as they
AIRED. whereas Caleb and Joshua
ifyed to enjoy the fruits Of their Wis
lon OF faith. och. 1859, 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 of promised blessings (Heb. 8:
19), it always has and is still so do
Ing. Unbelief exaggerates and con.
tradicts.
Must Consider Entire Story.
81 w. The Sequel, Oh. II. No teacher
can properly present this lesson with
tout considering the entire story. The
s amazed people (14:1-4); the solemn
/ protest of Joshua and Caleb wv. g.
ID was met with threatened death
and God interviewed to protect his
faithful ones Cps. 34:7). 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. 13-19).' 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-
4cious pardon for the people, but with
it 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
insuflciency 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 a life of
Aaobedience ere they can enter that de-
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