Gods Sabbath

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E NTERING INTO G OD ’ S S ABBATH R EST

Angry and impatient with the people, Moses struck the rock in stead of speaking to it as the Lord had specifically directed. (See Numbers 20:7–12.) Moses’ fears were not realized. God sees differently from hu man sight. If the situation had been as serious as it appeared, God would have returned them to the desert to die as had the previous generation. The Lord foresaw that, despite this serious lapse of confidence in Him, they would yet attain the standard of faith and follow the correct procedures necessary to qualify them to advance against the Canaanites. However, the state of unbelief exhibited when the water fail ed, did cause a delay, and imposed on the Israelites a further de tour. While they were expressing their enraged feelings over the loss of their water supply, Satan was agitating the hearts of the Edomites. When Israel at last applied for permission to cross the land of Edom, their application was refused. Had Israel acted promptly when God called for advance, instead of murmuring when the water stopped, they would have been admitted through Edom and thus been spared the tiresome desert jour ney. (See Numbers 20:14–21.) Unable to pass through the land, the twelve tribes were now diverted southwards around Edom, then northwards on the eastern side of the Dead Sea. They final ly entered Canaan by crossing the Jordan River from a different entrance point. “Had the people, when brought into trial, trusted in God, the Captain of the Lord’s host would have led them through Edom, and the fear of them would have rested on the inhabitants of the land, so that, instead of manifesting hostility, they would have shown them favor. But the Israelites did not act promptly upon God’s word, and while they were complaining and murmuring, the golden opportunity passed. When they were at last ready to pres ent their request to the king, it was refused. Ever since they left Egypt, Satan had been steadily at work to throw hindrances and temptations in their way, that they might not inherit Canaan. And by their own unbelief they had repeatedly opened the door for him to resist the purpose of God.” Patriarchs and Prophets , 422.6. Shortly after they began this detour, the old spirit of murmur ing, born of evil unbelief, broke out again, exposing them to the vicious attacks of the serpents. (See Numbers 21:4–9.) This ex