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Patriarchs and Prophets
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 mercy, and as Thou hast forgiven this people, from
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Egypt even until now.”