Gods Sabbath

K ADESH B ARNEA

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them to make their actual entrance into the promised land, but they failed to ask Him. In the report of the way the Israelites be haved at Kadesh Barnea we have an example of how they ac cepted God’s general orders willingly, but then attempted to car ry them out by making their own specific orders. In so doing they doomed themselves to disaster.

What went Wrong at Kadesh Barnea?

God’s people fully accepted His promise and expected to come into immediate possession of their inheritance. There was no spirit of rebellion manifest among them and they promptly went about carrying out God’s general directions. Any observer not thoroughly educated in God’s ways, would have detected nothing at this point to suggest that things were going drastically wrong. God, through Moses, had commanded the Israelites to possess the land; they had enthusiastically ac cepted these directions, and quickly set about carrying them out. Twelve spies were selected and sent off on their mission. During the forty days of their absence, the spirit in the camp was excel lent. There was good fellowship and busy preparation for the en try into the promised land. It appeared as if Israel was in har mony with God. Why should there be anything wrong in this procedure? 1. Reason: Firstly, the exercise was a total waste of time. Six valuable weeks were spent trying to work out a plan which God had al ready arranged. From eternity, God had foreseen this situation and had prepared perfect procedures for the Israelites to follow. If they had trusted Him to reveal His plan, they would not have failed. Their march into Canaan would have been triumphant. 2. Reason: Secondly, no matter how wise, well-trained, or experienced the people might be, they could not possibly work out a plan to compare with God’s marvellous design. To match His work, they would have had to possess His wisdom, His total knowledge of