A Missed Opportunity
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Key Verse: “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 defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us; fear them not.” Selected Scriptures: |
THE ISRAELITES HAD been guided in all their affairs by God, with his providential cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night. God’s care had been with them throughout their journeys, the setting up of their camp in various places, and the lengths of their stays. They had also been miraculously fed the manna.
Now the Israelites were camped in the wilderness of Paran, and it was from here that Moses would direct the children of Israel concerning the promised land of Canaan, and how they were to go about possessing it. The people, however, wanted to send spies to investigate the nature of the country before entering it. “Behold, the Lord thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged. And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search us out the land, and bring us word again by what way we must go up, and into what cities we shall come.”—Deut. 1:21,22
Knowing the Israelites’ reluctance to proceed directly to the promised land, God instructed Moses to send one spy from each of the twelve tribes of Israel to scout out the land. Forty days later, Joshua and Caleb brought back an encouraging description of what they had seen, but the other ten returned with an unfavorable report. These spies were more fearful, and lacking faith in God. They claimed Israel could never defeat the powerful enemies they would encounter in the land of Canaan.
Joshua and Caleb tried to calm the people’s fears concerning the report of the majority of the spies, and warned the children of Israel against rebellion. They, however, were unsuccessful. As a punishment for lack of faith, God let them wander in the wilderness for forty years. Most of those who began that journey, and who were of military age, died during that period of time. The Levites were excluded from military service, and Joshua and Caleb were the only ones of that group to enter the promised land.
Israel represents the experiences of the church class during the Gospel Age, and Canaan illustrates the condition of rest that the Lord’s people enjoy during the present time, when Christians are brought into the greater rest of faith. The name Joshua means ‘deliverer of the people.’ It fittingly typifies our Lord Jesus, who leads his people into this rest.
When Israel entered Canaan, they fought many battles to overcome the inhabitants. The Christian also experiences trials and difficulties in overcoming the weakness of the flesh, the world, and the temptations of Satan. As these submit themselves to God’s will, they are developed by God’s providences.
Only a few of the many Israelites who began the journey were permitted to enter the promised land. Likewise, only the faithful class of Christians will receive the grand inheritance of entering the kingdom as the Bride of Christ.