Twelve Spies
141
The greatest excitement now rages among the people; their worst
passions are aroused, and they refuse to listen to reason. The ten
unfaithful spies join them in their denunciations of Caleb and Joshua,
and the cry is raised to stone them. The insane mob seize missiles
with which to slay these faithful men. They rush forward with yells
of madness, when, lo! the stones drop from their hands, a hush falls
upon them, and they shake with terror. God has interposed to check
their rash design. The glory of His presence, like a flame of light,
illuminates the tabernacle, and all the congregation behold the signal
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of the Lord. One mightier than they has revealed Himself, and not
one dares continue his resistance. Every murmurer is silenced, and the
spies, who have brought the evil report, crouch terror-stricken, with
bated breath.
Moses arises from his humiliating position and enters the taberna-
cle to commune with God. Then the Lord proposes to immediately
destroy this rebellious people. He desires to make of Moses a greater
nation than Israel; but the meek leader of His people will not consent to
this proposition. “And Moses said unto the Lord, Then the Egyptians
shall hear it, (for Thou broughtest up this people in Thy might from
among them;) and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for
they have heard that Thou Lord art among this people, that Thou Lord
art seen face to face, and that Thy cloud standeth over them, and that
Thou goest before them, by daytime in a pillar of a cloud, and in a
pillar of fire by night. Now if Thou shalt kill all this people as one
man, then the nations which have heard the fame of Thee will speak,
saying, Because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the
land which He sware unto them, therefore He hath slain them in the
wilderness.”
Moses again refuses to have Israel destroyed and himself made a
mightier nation than they. This favored servant of God manifests his
love for Israel and shows his zeal for the glory of his Master and the
honor of His people. Thou hast forgiven this people from Egypt even
until now; Thou hast been long-suffering and merciful hitherto toward
this ungrateful nation; and however unworthy they may be, Thy mercy
is the same. He pleads: Wilt Thou not therefore spare them this one,
and add this one more instance of divine patience to the many Thou
hast already given?