A Story of Treachery
by Peggy Harris W.A.S.H. Board Chair

It was time to go home.  The weary travelers had been on their way for a long time now and were looking forward to entering their new home.  The home that had been promised many generations ago.  Now on the verge of entering that new home something tragic happens!

God intended for the people to enter the land immediately.  He had already prepared the way for them.  His plan was to make the crossing into Canaan as uncomplicated as possible for the weary travelers.  But it was not to be God's way.  The people proposed that spies be sent up to survey the new country.  The Lord through Moses granted permission.  Twelve were selected from the tribes to enter and spy out the land.  They were gone forty days.  When they returned they were loaded with great mounds of fruit.  They told of finding the land rich and fertile.

But then the scene changed dramatically.  Hope and courage was replaced by cowardly despair when ten of the spies revealed the unbelieving sentiments of their hearts.   This cast a gloomy shadow over all who listened.  Forgotten was the leading in the past by God.  Forgotten was the power of God.  There was no waiting to reflect.  Reason was cast out the window.  They limited the power of God, and were distrustful of His leading.  Soon the murmuring began against Moses, Aaron and ultimately God. Accusations were made against their leaders of deceit and bringing trouble upon them.

A wail rose up with the confused murmur.  Caleb understood the situation and boldly stood in defense of the word of God.  He did all in his power to counteract the evil influences of the ten unfaithful spies.  For just an instant the people paused and were stilled to listen to him share words of courage and hope.  Yes the walls were high and the Canaanites strong.  But God was stronger and had already given them the land.

The ten spies interrupted Caleb and began describing all the obstacles in darker colors than they first did.  They even contradicted themselves!  Truth was distorted to sustain their influence.  They even went as far as to say now that the land was not prosperous and it would be impossible to live there.  When these men began to speak this way, they placed themselves under the control of Satan.

Revolt and mutiny followed.  Satan had full control.  The people seemed to have lost their reason.  They cried out wishing they had died in the wilderness.   They were rebelling against God himself!  They went so far as to talk about selecting a leader to take them back to Egypt!

Unbeknown to them the cup of iniquity was filled up for the Canaanites.  God's protection for them was being removed and they would be easy prey.  The land was assured to Israel.  However the false reports had done their work on the hearts of the Israelites and they were deluded.  Even if only two had brought back an evil report and all ten had spoken for the lord, the people because of their wicked unbelief would have accepted the two.  Only Caleb and Joshua stood on the side of God while the ten spoke out in rebellion.

Just as things were getting entirely out of hand God revealed His presence.  A flaming light filled the tabernacle.  None dared continue their resistance.   They were about to get their wish -- to die in the wilderness.  The ten spies were struck with a plague and perished before the eyes of all the people.  They read their own doom in this tragedy. It was not God's purpose that Israel should gain the land of Canaan by warfare.  By strict obedience to God's commands they could have taken the land.

After realizing their mistake, Israel then reversed themselves determining to go into the land that God had now forbidden them to enter.  They went and many were destroyed in battle.  That first defeat inspired the Canaanites with courage and resolution greatly increasing the difficulties of the conquest.

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It is now time to go home.  Weary travelers of this world have been on the way to heaven since 1844.  Six generations have looked forward to entering our new home, heaven.  The home that has been promised many generations ago.  Now, on the verge of entering our new home something happens!

In Testimonies for the Church Vol. 8, Page 104 and 105, Chapter entitled -- "What Might Have Been"  St. Helena, California, January 5, 1903.  To the Battle Creek Church --

"One day at noon I was writing of the work that might have been done at the last General Conference if the men in positions of trust had followed the will and way of God.   Those who have had great light have not walked in the light.  The meeting was closed, and the break was not made.  Men did not humble themselves before the Lord as they should have done, and the Holy Spirit was not imparted.

"I had written thus far when I lost consciousness, and I seemed to be witnessing a scene in Battle Creek.

"We were assembled in the auditorium of the Tabernacle.  Prayer was offered, a hymn was sung, and prayer was again offered.  Most earnest supplication was made to God.  The meeting was marked by the presence of the Holy Spirit.  The work went deep, and some present were weeping aloud.

"The speaker turned to those who had been praying and said: 'We have something to do.   We must confess our sins, and humble our hearts before God.'  He made heartbroken confessions and then stepped up to several of the brethren, one after another, and extended his hands, asking forgiveness.  Those to whom he spoke sprang to their feet, making confession and asking forgiveness, and they fell upon one another's necks, weeping.  The spirit of confession spread through the entire congregation.  It was a Pentecostal season.  God's praises were sung, and far into the night, until nearly morning, the work was carried on....

"No one seemed to be too proud to make heartfelt confession, and those who led in this work were the ones who had influence, but had not before had the courage to confess their sins.

"There was rejoicing such as never before had been heard in the Tabernacle.

"Then I aroused from my unconsciousness, and for a while could not think where I was.   My pen was still in my hand.  The words were spoken to me:  'This might have been.  All this the Lord was waiting to do for His people.  All heaven was waiting to be gracious.'  I thought of where we might have been had thorough work been done at the last General Conference, and an agony of disappointment came over me as I realized that what I had witnessed was not a reality."

Testimonies for the Church Vol. 9, Page 25:  "As a people we greatly need to humble our hearts before God, pleading His forgiveness for our neglect to fulfill the gospel commission."

Ibib, Page 271 entitled -- "Go Forward"

".....He sometimes tries the confidence of His people by having them move forward in faith.  Often He brings them into strait and trying places, bidding them go forward when their feet seem to be touching the waters of the Red Sea.  It is at such times, when the prayers of His servants ascend to Him in earnest faith, that He opens the way before them and brings them out into a large place.

"The Lord wants His people in these days to believe that He will do as great things for them as He did for the children of Israel in their journey from Egypt to Canaan.   We are to have an educated faith that will not hesitate to follow His instructions in the most difficult experiences.  'Go forward' is the command of God to His people."

We have been told that what we did not do when it was relatively easy to do, we must do under very difficult circumstances.

Today things have not changed.  Israel wandered forty years until all those over twenty years old had died except Moses, Joshua and Caleb.  We have wandered over 150 years since this message first came to us.  We could have been in heaven over 100 years ago!  One generation of Israelites perished in the wilderness.  We are now in the sixth generation of Adventists.  People listen more readily to evil reports.   It takes more words to speak negatively than positively.  It takes more effort to act negatively than positively.  God has given the call to finish the work and come home.  But we dally and wait for another report using all kinds of excuses.   The majority follow the negative reports declaring them to be from God!  What blasphemy!!  The ratios may vary but still only a remnant is obedient to God.   Only a very few have courage to speak the truth powerfully.  Only a few listen and move forward in faith.  No wonder we are told that only a remnant will experience the ultimate victory.

References: Numbers 13
                    Patriarchs and Prophets Chapter 34, The Twelve Spies Page 387-394
                    SDA Bible Commentary Vol. 1 Page 864
                    Testimonies for the Church Vol. 5 Page 378

This page last updated on Sunday January 29, 2006 11:14 AM

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