Gods Sabbath

96

E NTERING INTO G OD ’ S S ABBATH R EST

enough to see the root of the problem. They did not confess that they had brought all their woes on themselves by making their own specific orders for the execution of God’s general orders. Not unless they came to the place where they saw and confessed this problem, while looking to God as their Plan Maker and Problem Solver, could they be trusted to go forward. Faith without God’s works is dead. Therefore, to repent as they did was insufficient to prepare them for the promised land. There is a repentance which is acceptable to God and there is one which is not. For instance, the repentance shown by Balaam and by Judas was very real, but was not the type which could free them from their problem. Likewise, the superficial sorrow felt by the Israelites did not give God the opportunity to change the decree sentencing them to death in the wilderness. When their so-called repentance did not change God’s decree, the people refused to accept the divine solution and once more began to form alternative solutions of their own. This proved that there was no real change of heart. They showed that they would follow God’s general orders only if He accepted their spe cific ones. In direct contradiction to His merciful solution, they determined to invade Canaan (see Deuteronomy 1:41–43). Their plan contained nothing that originated in God the Source. Therefore, it had no prospect of success. Yet, despite the power ful lessons their immediate past experiences should have taught them, they were utterly confident that their plan would work this time. Insight into these principles is given in the following para graph: “When they found that the Lord did not relent in His decree, their self-will again arose, and they declared that they would not return into the wilderness. In commanding them to retire from the land of their enemies, God tested their apparent submission and proved that it was not real. They knew that they had deep ly sinned in allowing their rash feelings to control them and in seeking to slay the spies who had urged them to obey God; but More Human Works