Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi was the representative and tribal ruler among the twelve men sent to search and explore Canaan. The men returned after forty days with abundant fruit as evidence that the land was good, but all except Caleb and Joshua discouraged the people from trying to possess it. Joshua, with one other spy, gave a faithful account of the attractiveness and richness of the promised land and encouraged the people to go up and possess it in the strength of God.
The evil and unfaithful report of the spies led Israel into unbelief, rebellion, and cowardly rebellion. As a result Israel was sentenced to wander in the wilderness for forty years, causing a long delay in entering the promised land, with the spy mission occurring forty years before the journey from Mount Hor. After the favorable time had passed, the people presumptuously went up to fight despite warning that the Lord was not with them, and their advance ended in defeat.
That spy experience, together with seeing God's wonderful works by Moses and understanding the disposition of the people, qualified Joshua for leadership and for the promised conquest of Canaan under divine guidance. After the death of Moses, Joshua was appointed leader of Israel to conduct them to the promised land, well qualified by having served Moses through the wilderness wandering, having seen God's wonderful works by Moses, having understood the disposition of the people, and having proved faithful as a spy.
The history of the report of the twelve spies applies to God's people today. The cowardly complaining and drawing back from action when risks are to be encountered, and the unwillingness to heed faithful reports and true counsel seen in the days of Caleb and Joshua, are re-enacted now. Ancient Israel was repeatedly tested and found wanting, and few received the faithful warnings given by God. Darkness and unbelief do not decrease as the time of the second advent of Christ nears.
Truth becomes less palatable to the carnally minded, whose hearts are slow to believe and tardy to repent. The servants of God who bear the burden of His cause with strict self-denial and privation to help His people are seldom better appreciated now than then. Long the Lord has borne with His people, forgiven their wanderings, and waited for room in their hearts, but false ideas, jealousy, and distrust have crowded Him out. Few professedly of Israel whose minds have been enlightened by divine wisdom dare come boldly forward as Caleb did and stand firmly for God and the right. Because those chosen to conduct His work will not turn from integrity to gratify the selfish and unconsecrated, they become the target for hatred and malicious falsehood. Satan is wide awake and working warily in these last days, and God calls for men of spiritual nerve and stamina to resist his artifices, with continual evidences of their Master's wisdom and assistance to keep them from discouragement.
Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi was the representative and tribal ruler among the twelve men sent to search and explore Canaan. The men returned after forty days with abundant fruit as evidence that the land was good, but all except Caleb and Joshua discouraged the people from trying to possess it. Joshua, with one other spy, gave a faithful account of the attractiveness and richness of the promised land and encouraged the people to go up and possess it in the strength of God.
The evil and unfaithful report of the spies led Israel into unbelief, rebellion, and cowardly rebellion. As a result Israel was sentenced to wander in the wilderness for forty years, causing a long delay in entering the promised land, with the spy mission occurring forty years before the journey from Mount Hor. After the favorable time had passed, the people presumptuously went up to fight despite warning that the Lord was not with them, and their advance ended in defeat.
That spy experience, together with seeing God's wonderful works by Moses and understanding the disposition of the people, qualified Joshua for leadership and for the promised conquest of Canaan under divine guidance. After the death of Moses, Joshua was appointed leader of Israel to conduct them to the promised land, well qualified by having served Moses through the wilderness wandering, having seen God's wonderful works by Moses, having understood the disposition of the people, and having proved faithful as a spy.
The history of the report of the twelve spies applies to God's people today. The cowardly complaining and drawing back from action when risks are to be encountered, and the unwillingness to heed faithful reports and true counsel seen in the days of Caleb and Joshua, are re-enacted now. Ancient Israel was repeatedly tested and found wanting, and few received the faithful warnings given by God. Darkness and unbelief do not decrease as the time of the second advent of Christ nears.
Truth becomes less palatable to the carnally minded, whose hearts are slow to believe and tardy to repent. The servants of God who bear the burden of His cause with strict self-denial and privation to help His people are seldom better appreciated now than then. Long the Lord has borne with His people, forgiven their wanderings, and waited for room in their hearts, but false ideas, jealousy, and distrust have crowded Him out. Few professedly of Israel whose minds have been enlightened by divine wisdom dare come boldly forward as Caleb did and stand firmly for God and the right. Because those chosen to conduct His work will not turn from integrity to gratify the selfish and unconsecrated, they become the target for hatred and malicious falsehood. Satan is wide awake and working warily in these last days, and God calls for men of spiritual nerve and stamina to resist his artifices, with continual evidences of their Master's wisdom and assistance to keep them from discouragement.