Beginning of the End - Ellen G. White

distress and concern he "tore his clothes, and fell to the earth on his
face before the ark of the Lord until the evening, he and the elders of
Israel; and they put dust on their heads."
"Alas, Lord God," he cried, "why have You brought this people
over the Jordan at all--to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to
destroy us? ... O Lord, what shall I say when Israel turns its back
before its enemies? For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the
land will hear it, and surround us, and cut off our name from the
earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?"
The answer was, "Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face?
Israel has ... transgressed My covenant which I commanded them."
It was a time for prompt and firm action, not for despair and
wailing. There was secret sin in the camp, and it must be searched
out and put away. "Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you
destroy the accursed from among you."
One Family's Sin Brings Defeat to All Israel
One of those appointed to carry out God's judgments had
ignored His command, and the nation was held accountable for the
transgressor's guilt: "They have even taken some of the accursed
things, and have stolen and deceived." They were to cast lots to find
the guilty. This took a little time and left the matter in doubt so that
the people might feel their responsibility and be guided to search
their hearts and humble themselves before God.
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