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the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel；〃 not knowing
what to do to turn them from their rash and passionate purpose。 Caleb and
Joshua attempted to quiet the
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tumult。 With their garments rent in token of grief and indignation； they
rushed in among the people； and their ringing voices were heard above the
tempest of lamentation and rebellious grief： 〃The land； which we passed
through to search it； is an exceeding good land。 If the Lord delight in us；
then He will bring us into this land； and give it us； a land which floweth
with milk and honey。 Only rebel not ye against the Lord； neither fear ye the
people of the land； for they are bread for us： their defense is departed
from them； and the Lord is with us： fear them not。〃
The Canaanites had filled up the measure of their iniquity； and the Lord
would no longer bear with them。 His protection being removed； they would be
an easy prey。 By the covenant of God the land was ensured to Israel。 But the
false report of the unfaithful spies was accepted； and through it the whole
congregation were deluded。 The traitors had done their work。 If only the two
men had brought the evil report； and all the ten had encouraged them to
possess the land in the name of the Lord； they would still have taken the
advice of the two in preference to the ten； because of their wicked
unbelief。 But there were only two advocating the right； while ten were on
the side of rebellion。
The unfaithful spies were loud in denunciation of Caleb and Joshua； and the
cry was raised to stone them。 The insane mob seized missiles with which to
slay those faithful men。 They rushed forward with yells of madness； when
suddenly the stones dropped from their hands； a hush fell upon them； and
they shook with fear。 God had interposed to check their murderous design。
The glory of His presence； like a flaming light； illuminated the tabernacle。
All the people beheld the signal of the Lord。 A mightier one than they had
revealed Himself； and none dared continue their resistance。 The spies who
brought the evil report crouched terror…stricken； and with bated breath
sought their tents。
Moses now arose and entered the tabernacle。 The Lord declared to him； 〃I
will smite them with the pestilence； and disinherit them； and will make of
thee a greater nation。〃 But again Moses pleaded for his people。 He could not
consent to have them destroyed； and he himself made a mightier nation。
Appealing to the mercy of God； he said： 〃I beseech Thee； let the power of my
Lord be great according as Thou hast spoken； saying； The Lord is
long…suffering； and of great mercy。 。 。 。 Pardon； I beseech Thee； the
iniquity of this people according to the greatness of Thy
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mercy； and as Thou hast forgiven this people； from Egypt even until now。〃
The Lord promised to spare Israel from immediate destruction； but because of
their unbelief and cowardice He could not manifest His power to subdue their
enemies。 Therefore in His mercy He bade them； as the only safe course； to
turn back toward the Red Sea。
In their rebellion the people had exclaimed； 〃Would God we had died in this
wilderness！〃 Now this prayer was to be granted。 The Lord declared： 〃As ye
have spoken in Mine ears； so will I do to you： your carcasses shall fall in
this wilderness； and all that were numbered of you； according to your whole
number； from twenty years old and upward。 。 。 。 But your little ones； which
ye said should be a prey； them will I bring in； and they shall know the land
which ye have despised。〃 And of Caleb He said； 〃My servant Caleb； because he
had another spirit with him； and hath followed Me fully； him will I bring
into the land whereinto he went； and his seed shall possess it。〃 As the
spies had spent forty days in their journey； so the hosts of Israel were to
wander in the wilderness forty years。
When Moses made known to the people the divine decision； their rage was
changed to mourning。 They knew that their punishment was just。 The ten
unfaithful spies； divinely smitten by the plague； perished before the eyes
of all Israel； and in their fate the people read their own doom。
Now they seemed sincerely to repent of their sinful conduct； but they
sorrowed because of the result of their evil course rather than from a sense
of their ingratitude and disobedience。 When they found that the Lord did not
relent in His decree； their self…will again arose； and they declared that
they would not return into the wilderness。 In commanding them to retire from
the land of their enemies； God tested their apparent submission and proved
that it was not real。 They knew that they had deeply sinned in allowing
their rash feelings to control them and in seeking to slay the spies who had
urged them to obey God； but they were only terrified to find that they had
made a fearful mistake； the consequences of which would prove disastrous to
themselves。 Their hearts were unchanged； and they only needed an excuse to
occasion a similar outbreak。 This presented itself when Moses； by the
authority of God； commanded them to go back into the wilderness。
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The decree that Israel was not to enter Canaan for forty years was a bitter
disappointment to Moses and Aaron； Caleb and Joshua； yet without a murmur
they accepted the divine decision。 But those who had been complaining of
God's dealings with them； and declaring that they would return to Egypt；
wept and mourned greatly when the blessings which they had despised were
taken from them。 They had complained at nothing； and now God gave them cause
to weep。 Had they mourned for their sin when it was faithfully laid before
them； this sentence would not have been pronounced； but they mourned for the
judgment； their sorrow was not repentance； and could not secure a reversing
of their sentence。
The night was spent in lamentation； but with the morning came a hope。 They
resolved to redeem their cowardice。 When God had bidden them go up and take
the land； they had refused； and now when He directed them to retreat they
were equally rebellious。 They determined to seize upon the land and possess
it； it might be that God would accept their work and change His purpose
toward them。
God had made it their privilege and their duty to enter the land at the time
of His appointment； but through their willful neglect that permission had
been withdrawn。 Satan had gained his object in preventing them from entering
Canaan； and now he urged them on to do the very thing； in the face of the
divine prohibition； which they had refused to do when God required it。 Thus
the great deceiver gained the victory by leading them to rebellion the
second time。 They had distrusted the power of God to work with their efforts
in gaining possession of Canaan； yet now they presumed upon their own
strength to accomplish the work independent of divine aid。 〃We have sinned
against the Lord；〃 they cried； 〃we will go up and fight； according to all
that the Lord our God commanded us。〃 Deuteronomy 1：41。 So terribly blinded
had they become by transgression。 The Lord had never commanded them to 〃go
up and fight。〃 I