The Dolores star., 1924-02-08

US: fear them not.-Num. l4:9-
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-why Israel Failed at Kadesh.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
lC-The Crisis at Kadesh.
l. The Spies Sent Out (Num. 13:
1920.
Less than two years had passed since
the IsraeIites were delivered from their
Egyptian bondage. They were now
ut kadesh-barnea, within sight of the
promised land. Moses urged them to
20 In and take immediate possession
(Deut. :2D, but they failed because
of their unbellef (Heb. 3:l9). The
record in Deuteronomy 1925 shows
that God did not take the initiative in
sending out the spies but that request
was made by the people. Representa-
tive men, ruler from each tribe. were
secured. There was three-fold pur-
pose in sending out the spies:
l. To see whether the land was as
God had told them ". 1s).
.. To see whether the people who
dwelt there were strong or weak, few
or many ". 1s).
3. To see whether the cities were
made up of strongholds or tents ". 19).
u. The Commission Executed
(Num. 13 :21-25).
They entered the land from the
south and traversed 1t to its northern
limit. They spent 40 days in this in
Sestlgatlng exploration. On their re-
turn from the north, they gathered
some specimens of the fruit of the
land. Two of them. perhaps Caleb and
Joshua, bore cluster of grapes upon
a staff between them as witness that
God had spoken the truth about the
land
III. The Spies Rendered 4 Report
(Num. 13 :2G-33).
On their return this committee of
explorers rendered a report to the
whole congregation. 1t was not unani-
nous.
l. The Majority Report wv. 2629).
"a A land flowing with milk and
honey ". 2O. AS a proof thereof,
they exhibited the fruit. t2) The peo-
pie who live there are strong ". 2S).
(3) The people live In walled cities
". 2s). (4) The land IL inhabited
W y.
themselves us grasshoppers. Further
more, they saw the people SO dis
tributed, the Amalekites in the south,
the Hittites, Jebusites and the Amor
ties in the mountains, and the Canaan
ties along the sea. that 1t was impos-
Sible to take them.
2. The Minority Report wv. 3O-33).
In part this report agrees with the
first. 1t does not ignore the difficult
ties nor dispute the facts. 1t denies
the conclusions OF the majority. They
did not minimize the task before them,
but asserted that with Gods help they
were well able to take possession Of
the land, and urged immediate action.
The ten had their eyes on the difficult
ties, but Caleb and Joshua fixed their
eyes upon God. Caleb lived to see his
suggestions made real.
~. Tho Rebellion Of the People
(Num. II :1-1O).
This rebellion began by crying,
which shows that they were towards.
Having left God out Of the question,
they now weep and howl.
l. Murmuring wv. 1-S). This weep
ing and bowling was turned into mur-
muring against Moses and Aaron.
Though too weak and cowardly to
take their enemies in the power Of
God, they could assail their leaders.
They even wished that they had died
in Egypt.
2. Proposition to Organize to Re.
turn to Egypt wv. 8. ~. They pro
posed to select captain as their
leader. God took them at their word
sent them back to wander in the
wilderness for 3S years. during which
time they all died except Joshua and
Caleb.
8. Moses and Aaron PROSTATE Them.
selves ". 81.
4. Joshua and Caleb Protested wv
go. They rent their clothes. They
insisted that the land was good and
that, If the Lord delighted in them, He
would bring them into the land.
5. The People Were Filled With
Murderous Hate and Proposed Stoning
Joshua and Caleb w. 10Y.
6. Gods Interposition ". 1O). He
manifested His glory before all the
children of Israel in vindication of the
loyalty Of Joshua and Caleb. God then
proposed punishment for Israel.