The Bible Story Vol 2_w.pdf - Herbert W. Armstrong

having us slain by giants! Our wives and our children will all die if we
follow Moses any further!"
"We want to go back to Egypt!" was a common cry. "Let us choose a
leade r who knows what is best for us-one who knows the shortest an d
fastest route back to Egypt!" (Numbers 14:1-4.)
"We have already picked out th ose who can lead us!" some of the
Israelites screamed. "Let us pu t down Moses and his officers so that our
leaders can take over!"
Only the most rebe llious and rabble-rousing dared suggest ousting
Moses, and not a grea t part of the Israelites fell in with such a suggestion
of violence. However, it was plain to Moses that this unhappy situation
could explode into a worse one within minutes. There was only one wise
thing to do. Moses mot ioned to Aaron. The two of them mounted the
platform. For a few seconds they silently regarded the clamoring crowd .
Then they knelt down and bent over with their forehea ds touching the
floor of the platform . In this abject position they called on God to step in
and take control of the people.
When the dem ons tr ators saw th eir leaders bowing in prayer they
quieted down to a low murmur.
Angered and shocked at the manner in which their fellow scouts had
spoken and acted, J oshua and Caleb decided to ta ke adva ntage of this
quieter period to try once more to bring the truth to the people. Joshua
once more went to the platform and walked out in front of Moses and
Aaron.
"Fellow Israelite s!" J oshua cried out. "I' m here again to assure you of
what all twelve of us have witnessed-that Canaan is a good, pr oductive
land . There are no giants such as have been desc ribe d to you, thoug h there
are some men who are several feet taller than our men . There is a good
supply of water. We saw no unusual signs of disease or pestilence. Canaan is
so much bet ter tha n any land we have come through so far that it would be
very foolish not to claim it. Let us not rebel against our Creator. Otherwise
He might decide to with hold this promised land from us!"
People looked on with sto ny faces as Joshua stepped back and Caleb
came forward to stand in front of the two men who were still prostrate.
"What J oshua has just told you is true!" Caleb shouted to the people.
"God is offering us a wonderful future if only we obey Him. Surely He is
already displeased by your attitude of refusal to go into Canaan and take
what our Creator wants us to have for our own happiness. As for fearing
the Canaanites, there is no reason for that. As long as God is with us, no
people- even if they were all giants-can overcome us!"
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