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The Story of Redemption
we are well able to overcome it.” But the men that went up with
him said, “We are not able to go up against the people; for they are
stronger than we.” And they continued to repeat their evil report, and
declared that all the men were of great stature. “And there we saw
the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were
in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
Israel Murmurs Again
“And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and
the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel murmured
against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said
unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or
would God we had died in this wilderness! And wherefore hath the
Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives
and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return
into Egypt? And they said one to another, Let us make a captain,
and let us return into Egypt. Then Moses and Aaron fell on their
faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of
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Israel.”
The Israelites not only gave vent to their complaints against
Moses but accused God Himself of dealing deceitfully with them
by promising them a land which they were unable to possess. Their
rebellious spirit here rose so high that, forgetful of the strong arm of
Omnipotence which had brought them out of the land of Egypt and
had thus far conducted them by a series of miracles, they resolved
to choose a commander to lead them back to Egypt, where they
had been slaves and had suffered so many hardships. They actu-
ally appointed them a captain, thus discarding Moses, their patient,
suffering leader; and they murmured bitterly against God.
Moses and Aaron fell upon their faces before the Lord in the
presence of all the assembly of the congregation, to implore the
mercy of God in favor of a rebellious people. But their distress and
grief were too great for utterance. They remained upon their faces
in utter silence. Caleb and Joshua rent their clothes as an expression
of the greatest sorrow. “And they spake unto all the company of the
children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to
search it, is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in us, then