Gods Sabbath

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E NTERING INTO G OD ’ S S ABBATH R EST

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, illuminat ed 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.” Patriarchs and Prophets , 390.2. The Israelites had now been reduced to desperate straits. Their plight was brought about by the direct outworking of the course they had followed. This account provides convincing proof that when people institute themselves as plan makers in God’s place, the worst is bound to happen. How different the story would have been if they had trusted God in His rightful position as their Leader and Plan Maker! At this point, the people faced well-deserved annihilation, but Moses, manifesting a spirit of love unmerited by the multitude, entered the tabernacle and pleaded on their behalf. It was one of the greatest intercessory prayers of history and its effect was telling (see Numbers 14:13–20). It did not change the character or disposition of God, but it did wield a force which enabled Him to continue His protection instead of abandoning them to Sa tan’s malice and certain destruction which would have followed. The people’s plan to select a captain to lead them back to Egypt, after they had removed all opposition by murdering God’s appointed leaders, was devised by them to solve problems caused by previous plans devised by them. In no way could this improve their situation. Instead, it considerably worsened mat ters. Their move compelled God to surround His faithful ser vants with a wall of protection. The unfaithful spies were de prived of God’s personal protection and swiftly fell prey to the destructive forces around them (see Numbers 14:36–37). Those spies who died there probably included the newly chosen leader who was to have led them back to Egypt. The people beheld in this event the collapse of another of their schemes. This reduced their position to one in which they could not enter the promised land, or return to Egypt, or even stay where they were. A seri ous problem had turned into a crisis.