The International Sunday School Lessons By J. LESSON I I I—October 19- -T he 19—14:25. G olden T ext . —I f God is for us, who i. I. O n th e B orders of C anaan . H. S. R eport op the S pies —Num. 13 :l- 3 , against us? —Rom. 8:31, R. V.
milk and honey (as Jehovah said) ; and this (the grapes, pomegranates and figs) is the fruit of it.” (2) Diverse: (a) “Strong people 1 wialled cities! Anakim! (“giants,” 1 Sam. 17:4-7), Amalakites!” etc., etc.” A formidable array! like to defend with their might 50 good a land. So with the Devil and the saints’ inheritance (Eph. 6:11-17; Rev. 12:7-12; 20:1-3). (b) Caleb, and Joshua said, “We are able to overcome it; let us go up at once and possess it.” Brave words. But the. ten said, “We are not able; they are stronger than we; the land ‘devours its inhabitants’ (wild beasts are there); the men were tall; gigantic; we were as grasshoppers in our sight and in theirs.” 5. Jehovah-nissi (Exod. 17:11-16). Where was He, that “Man of war?”. (Exod. 15:3). Not in their thought. What are walled cities to Him? (Joshua 6:20); or strong peoples (Isa. 37:36) ; or giants (2 Sam. 17 .'45-51); or wild beasts (Dan. 6:21, 22, 24); or grasshoppers (Ps. 106: 34, 35). Nothing is so weak as unfaith in God, and, next to that, in self. Make a grasshopper of self, and you and your god become grasshoppers in the sight of the enemy. Hence, Recipe for defeat:— Magnify your difficulty; minify your abil ity; miss the victory. So “all the congre gation cried and wept that night,” which should have been spent in prayerful prepa ration for advance, with the resolve, “I can bu t perish if I go, I am resolved to try; F or if I stay aw ay I know . I shall forever die.” It is better to try, and to die, than to cry. But. these, who feared to die in Canaan, now wished to have died in Egypt, or even in this wilderness. Well, they got their wish. They could not trust Jehovah,
1. Kadesh-Barnea. A few days from Sinai, on the southern boundary and bar- . rier of Canaan; springs of water; center of much arable and grazing places; Israel’s headquarters 38 years. 2. So. Near and Yet So Far. At the verge of the land they turned back.- So do many Christians fall short of rest by unbelief never, or only after years, to find the grace that might be theirs today. For God is the same and as ready now as ever. II. H eart and F lesh F ail . 1. Man Proposes , (Deut. 1:22, 23). Moses said, “There’s the land, God gives it; go, take it.” Israel said, “We’ll send, and see what it is.” They were wrong. Even with men, “Beggars must not be. choosers,” nor, “Look a gift horse in the month,” how much less with God! God had said, “It is good,” and “I will give.” 2. God Concedes (13:2).. “Send.” To prove the people, He approved the plan. Later they asked a king, Saul. God dis approved plan and man, yet granted both (1 Sam. 8:5-7). Let H im lead. Seek H ls way; walk in it. Say, “Not my plan, but thine.” Or, like Israel, we shall rue it (Ps. 106:15). 3. 7 he Expedition. Twelve men, princes, one for a tribe; a representative and competent commission, explored the land. It was a perilous venture (Joshua 2:1-3), but safely and thoroughly carried through- (13:21-25) ; due to Jehovah’s pro tection. Men with such experience should have made a courageous report. But the faith, courage and success Of today may fail tomorrow; unless we “abide in Him” m Cor. 10:12). 4. The Report (13:26-33). (1) Unani mous : They said, “Surely it flows with
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