Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun was the man named among the twelve tribal rulers sent to search the land of Canaan. Oshea the son of Nun of Ephraim is Joshua, who later became the acknowledged leader of Israel after Moses to conduct the people into the promised land. The search lasted forty days, and the men returned with abundant fruit, agreeing that the land was good and fertile.
Most of the explorers discouraged Israel from entering by stressing the strength of its inhabitants and their fortified cities. By contrast, two, Caleb and Joshua, gave a faithful report of its richness and attractiveness and urged the people to go up and take possession in the strength of God. The unbelief and rebellion connected with the reconnaissance brought punishment and disaster on Israel, who were turned back to wander in the wilderness for forty years. That long delay in entering Canaan was still recalled forty years later.
After the favorable time to enter had passed, Israel's attempt to go in then led to defeat. Joshua was well qualified for leadership because he had served as Moses' prime minister through most of the wilderness wandering, had seen God's wonderful works wrought through Moses, and well understood the disposition of the people. His history as one of the two faithful spies further qualified him for office, and God's promise to be with him as with Moses and to give him the conquest of Canaan if he faithfully observed the divine requirements removed his fear over the magnitude and importance of his trust.
The unfaithfulness and unbelief of some of the spies stands as a warning against words and actions that discourage others. The history of the two faithful spies applies to God's people today, when the same cowardly complaining and drawing back from action where risks must be met are re-enacted, and the same unwillingness to heed faithful reports and true counsel is shown. Joshua and Caleb bore the burden of God's cause with strict self-denial and suffering of privation to help His people, yet such workers are seldom better appreciated now than then.
Ancient Israel was repeatedly tested and found wanting, and few received God's faithful warnings. Darkness and unbelief do not decrease near the time of the second advent of Christ, truth becomes less palatable to the carnally minded, and hearts are slow to believe and tardy to repent. The Master gives His servants continual evidences of His wisdom and assistance to keep them from discouragement. Long He has borne with His people, forgiven their wanderings, and waited for them to give Him room in their hearts, but false ideas, jealousy, and distrust have crowded Him out.
Few of professed Israel enlightened by divine wisdom dare come boldly forward as Caleb did and stand firmly for God and the right, while those the Lord has chosen to conduct His work will not be turned from integrity to gratify the selfish and unconsecrated and for this become the target for hatred and malicious falsehood. Satan is awake and working warily in these last days, and God calls for men of spiritual nerve and stamina to resist his artifices.
Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun was the man named among the twelve tribal rulers sent to search the land of Canaan. Oshea the son of Nun of Ephraim is Joshua, who later became the acknowledged leader of Israel after Moses to conduct the people into the promised land. The search lasted forty days, and the men returned with abundant fruit, agreeing that the land was good and fertile.
Most of the explorers discouraged Israel from entering by stressing the strength of its inhabitants and their fortified cities. By contrast, two, Caleb and Joshua, gave a faithful report of its richness and attractiveness and urged the people to go up and take possession in the strength of God. The unbelief and rebellion connected with the reconnaissance brought punishment and disaster on Israel, who were turned back to wander in the wilderness for forty years. That long delay in entering Canaan was still recalled forty years later.
After the favorable time to enter had passed, Israel's attempt to go in then led to defeat. Joshua was well qualified for leadership because he had served as Moses' prime minister through most of the wilderness wandering, had seen God's wonderful works wrought through Moses, and well understood the disposition of the people. His history as one of the two faithful spies further qualified him for office, and God's promise to be with him as with Moses and to give him the conquest of Canaan if he faithfully observed the divine requirements removed his fear over the magnitude and importance of his trust.
The unfaithfulness and unbelief of some of the spies stands as a warning against words and actions that discourage others. The history of the two faithful spies applies to God's people today, when the same cowardly complaining and drawing back from action where risks must be met are re-enacted, and the same unwillingness to heed faithful reports and true counsel is shown. Joshua and Caleb bore the burden of God's cause with strict self-denial and suffering of privation to help His people, yet such workers are seldom better appreciated now than then.
Ancient Israel was repeatedly tested and found wanting, and few received God's faithful warnings. Darkness and unbelief do not decrease near the time of the second advent of Christ, truth becomes less palatable to the carnally minded, and hearts are slow to believe and tardy to repent. The Master gives His servants continual evidences of His wisdom and assistance to keep them from discouragement. Long He has borne with His people, forgiven their wanderings, and waited for them to give Him room in their hearts, but false ideas, jealousy, and distrust have crowded Him out.
Few of professed Israel enlightened by divine wisdom dare come boldly forward as Caleb did and stand firmly for God and the right, while those the Lord has chosen to conduct His work will not be turned from integrity to gratify the selfish and unconsecrated and for this become the target for hatred and malicious falsehood. Satan is awake and working warily in these last days, and God calls for men of spiritual nerve and stamina to resist his artifices.