Twelve Spies
143
before Moses, in their own estimation prepared for conflict, but sadly
deficient in the sight of God and His sorrowful servant. They refused
to listen to the solemn warnings of their leaders that disaster and death
would be the consequence of their audacity.
When God directed them to go up and take Jericho, He promised
to go with them. The ark containing His law was to be a symbol of
Himself. Moses and Aaron, God’s appointed leaders, were to conduct
the expedition under His watchful direction. With such supervision
no harm could have come to them. But now, contrary to the command
of God and the solemn prohibition of their leaders, without the ark of
God and without Moses, they marched out to meet the armies of the
enemy.
During the time consumed by the Israelites in their wicked insub-
ordination, the Amalekites and Canaanites had prepared for battle.
The Israelites presumptuously challenged the foe that had not dared to
attack them; but just as they had fairly entered the enemy’s territory,
the Amalekites and Canaanites met them in force and fiercely repulsed
them, driving them back with great loss. The field of carnage was red
with their blood, and their dead bodies strewed the ground. They were
utterly routed and defeated. Destruction and death were the result of
their rebellious experiment. But the faith of Caleb and Joshua was
richly rewarded. According to His word, God brought these faithful
ones into the land that He had promised them. The cowards and rebels
perished in the wilderness, but the righteous spies ate of the grapes of
Eschol.
The history of the report of the twelve spies has an application
to us as a people. The scenes of cowardly complaining and drawing
back from action when there are risks to be encountered are re-enacted
among us today. The same unwillingness is manifested to heed faithful
reports and true counsel as in the days of Caleb and Joshua. The
servants of God, who bear the burden of His cause, practicing strict
self-denial and suffering privation for the sake of helping His people,
[155]
are seldom better appreciated now than they were then.
Ancient Israel was repeatedly tested and found wanting. Few
receive the faithful warnings given them of God. Darkness and unbelief
do not decrease as we near the time of the second advent of Christ.
Truth becomes less and less palatable to the carnally minded; their
hearts are slow to believe and tardy to repent. The servants of God