Gods Sabbath

90

E NTERING INTO G OD ’ S S ABBATH R EST

absence of forty days, the people, who were cherishing high hopes, rushed out to hear their report and the plans they had formulated. The news of the spies’ return was carried from tribe to tribe, and was hailed with rejoicing. All this indicated faith, not unbelief. The spies brought samples of the fruit, showing the fertility of the soil. It was the time of ripe grapes, and they brought a clus ter so large that it had to be carried between two men. They al so brought figs and pomegranates which grew there in abun dance (see Numbers 13:23). As the report was given to the people, the fertility and good ness of the land were described, in response to which their faith and happiness knew no bounds. “We went into the land to which you sent us,” the spies began, “and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit.” Numbers 13:27. “The people rejoiced that they were to come into possession of so goodly a land, and they listened intently as the report was brought to Moses, that not a word should escape them. ... The people were enthusiastic; they would eagerly obey the voice of the Lord, and go up at once to possess the land.” Patriarchs and Prophets , 387.3. Thus far in the story, faith with their own works was still very much alive. But, at this point, what was true of the people had ceased to be true of ten of the spies and would soon cease to be true of the people as well. Unbelief reigned in the hearts of ten of those spies and as they communicated what they had seen, the same wicked unbelief developed in the people. After describ ing the beauty and fertility of the land, all but two of the spies enlarged upon the difficulties and dangers that lay before them. “But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Am orites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan. ... the men ... said, ‘We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.’” Numbers 13:28–29, 31. The change in the people from faith to disbelief was as incred ible as it was swift. One moment they were filled with confident expectations; the next they were giving expression to that dis may and disappointment which is the offspring and evidence of