patriarchs and prophets-µÚ89½Ú
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¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
false¡¡report¡¡of¡¡the¡¡unfaithful¡¡spies¡¡was¡¡accepted£»¡¡and¡¡through¡¡it¡¡the¡¡whole
congregation¡¡were¡¡deluded¡£¡¡The¡¡traitors¡¡had¡¡done¡¡their¡¡work¡£¡¡If¡¡only¡¡the¡¡two
men¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡the¡¡evil¡¡report£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡the¡¡ten¡¡had¡¡encouraged¡¡them¡¡to
possess¡¡the¡¡land¡¡in¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lord£»¡¡they¡¡would¡¡still¡¡have¡¡taken¡¡the
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the¡¡side¡¡of¡¡rebellion¡£
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cry¡¡was¡¡raised¡¡to¡¡stone¡¡them¡£¡¡The¡¡insane¡¡mob¡¡seized¡¡missiles¡¡with¡¡which¡¡to
slay¡¡those¡¡faithful¡¡men¡£¡¡They¡¡rushed¡¡forward¡¡with¡¡yells¡¡of¡¡madness£»¡¡when
suddenly¡¡the¡¡stones¡¡dropped¡¡from¡¡their¡¡hands£»¡¡a¡¡hush¡¡fell¡¡upon¡¡them£»¡¡and
they¡¡shook¡¡with¡¡fear¡£¡¡God¡¡had¡¡interposed¡¡to¡¡check¡¡their¡¡murderous¡¡design¡£
The¡¡glory¡¡of¡¡His¡¡presence£»¡¡like¡¡a¡¡flaming¡¡light£»¡¡illuminated¡¡the¡¡tabernacle¡£
All¡¡the¡¡people¡¡beheld¡¡the¡¡signal¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lord¡£¡¡A¡¡mightier¡¡one¡¡than¡¡they¡¡had
revealed¡¡Himself£»¡¡and¡¡none¡¡dared¡¡continue¡¡their¡¡resistance¡£¡¡The¡¡spies¡¡who
brought¡¡the¡¡evil¡¡report¡¡crouched¡¡terror¡stricken£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡bated¡¡breath
sought¡¡their¡¡tents¡£
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will¡¡smite¡¡them¡¡with¡¡the¡¡pestilence£»¡¡and¡¡disinherit¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡will¡¡make¡¡of
thee¡¡a¡¡greater¡¡nation¡£¡¨¡¡But¡¡again¡¡Moses¡¡pleaded¡¡for¡¡his¡¡people¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡not
consent¡¡to¡¡have¡¡them¡¡destroyed£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡himself¡¡made¡¡a¡¡mightier¡¡nation¡£
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Lord¡¡be¡¡great¡¡according¡¡as¡¡Thou¡¡hast¡¡spoken£»¡¡saying£»¡¡The¡¡Lord¡¡is
long¡suffering£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡great¡¡mercy¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡Pardon£»¡¡I¡¡beseech¡¡Thee£»¡¡the
iniquity¡¡of¡¡this¡¡people¡¡according¡¡to¡¡the¡¡greatness¡¡of¡¡Thy
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡391
mercy£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡Thou¡¡hast¡¡forgiven¡¡this¡¡people£»¡¡from¡¡Egypt¡¡even¡¡until¡¡now¡£¡¨
The¡¡Lord¡¡promised¡¡to¡¡spare¡¡Israel¡¡from¡¡immediate¡¡destruction£»¡¡but¡¡because¡¡of
their¡¡unbelief¡¡and¡¡cowardice¡¡He¡¡could¡¡not¡¡manifest¡¡His¡¡power¡¡to¡¡subdue¡¡their
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turn¡¡back¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡Red¡¡Sea¡£
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have¡¡spoken¡¡in¡¡Mine¡¡ears£»¡¡so¡¡will¡¡I¡¡do¡¡to¡¡you£º¡¡your¡¡carcasses¡¡shall¡¡fall¡¡in
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spies¡¡had¡¡spent¡¡forty¡¡days¡¡in¡¡their¡¡journey£»¡¡so¡¡the¡¡hosts¡¡of¡¡Israel¡¡were¡¡to
wander¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wilderness¡¡forty¡¡years¡£
When¡¡Moses¡¡made¡¡known¡¡to¡¡the¡¡people¡¡the¡¡divine¡¡decision£»¡¡their¡¡rage¡¡was
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unfaithful¡¡spies£»¡¡divinely¡¡smitten¡¡by¡¡the¡¡plague£»¡¡perished¡¡before¡¡the¡¡eyes
of¡¡all¡¡Israel£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡their¡¡fate¡¡the¡¡people¡¡read¡¡their¡¡own¡¡doom¡£
Now¡¡they¡¡seemed¡¡sincerely¡¡to¡¡repent¡¡of¡¡their¡¡sinful¡¡conduct£»¡¡but¡¡they
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urged¡¡them¡¡to¡¡obey¡¡God£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡were¡¡only¡¡terrified¡¡to¡¡find¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had
made¡¡a¡¡fearful¡¡mistake£»¡¡the¡¡consequences¡¡of¡¡which¡¡would¡¡prove¡¡disastrous¡¡to
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occasion¡¡a¡¡similar¡¡outbreak¡£¡¡This¡¡presented¡¡itself¡¡when¡¡Moses£»¡¡by¡¡the
authority¡¡of¡¡God£»¡¡commanded¡¡them¡¡to¡¡go¡¡back¡¡into¡¡the¡¡wilderness¡£
392
The¡¡decree¡¡that¡¡Israel¡¡was¡¡not¡¡to¡¡enter¡¡Canaan¡¡for¡¡forty¡¡years¡¡was¡¡a¡¡bitter
disappointment¡¡to¡¡Moses¡¡and¡¡Aaron£»¡¡Caleb¡¡and¡¡Joshua£»¡¡yet¡¡without¡¡a¡¡murmur
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God's¡¡dealings¡¡with¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡declaring¡¡that¡¡they¡¡would¡¡return¡¡to¡¡Egypt£»
wept¡¡and¡¡mourned¡¡greatly¡¡when¡¡the¡¡blessings¡¡which¡¡they¡¡had¡¡despised¡¡were
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them£»¡¡this¡¡sentence¡¡would¡¡not¡¡have¡¡been¡¡pronounced£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡mourned¡¡for¡¡the
judgment£»¡¡their¡¡sorrow¡¡was¡¡not¡¡repentance£»¡¡and¡¡could¡¡not¡¡secure¡¡a¡¡reversing
of¡¡their¡¡sentence¡£
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it£»¡¡it¡¡might¡¡be¡¡that¡¡God¡¡would¡¡accept¡¡their¡¡work¡¡and¡¡change¡¡His¡¡purpose
toward¡¡them¡£
God¡¡had¡¡made¡¡it¡¡their¡¡privilege¡¡and¡¡their¡¡duty¡¡to¡¡enter¡¡the¡¡land¡¡at¡¡the¡¡time
of¡¡His¡¡appointment£»¡¡but¡¡through¡¡their¡¡willful¡¡neglect¡¡that¡¡permission¡¡had
been¡¡withdrawn¡£¡¡Satan¡¡had¡¡gained¡¡his¡¡object¡¡in¡¡preventing¡¡them¡¡from¡¡entering
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divine¡¡prohibition£»¡¡which¡¡they¡¡had¡¡refused¡¡to¡¡do¡¡when¡¡God¡¡required¡¡it¡£¡¡Thus
the¡¡great¡¡deceiver¡¡gained¡¡the¡¡victory¡¡by¡¡leading¡¡them¡¡to¡¡rebellion¡¡the
second¡¡time¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡distrusted¡¡the¡¡power¡¡of¡¡God¡¡to¡¡work¡¡with¡¡their¡¡efforts
in¡¡gaining¡¡possession¡¡of¡¡Canaan£»¡¡yet¡¡now¡¡they¡¡presumed¡¡upon¡¡their¡¡own
strength¡¡to¡¡accomplish¡¡the¡¡work¡¡independent¡¡of¡¡divine¡¡aid¡£¡¡¡¨We¡¡have¡¡sinned
against¡¡the¡¡Lord£»¡¨¡¡they¡¡cried£»¡¡¡¨we¡¡will¡¡go¡¡up¡¡and¡¡fight£»¡¡according¡¡to¡¡all
that¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¡our¡¡God¡¡commanded¡¡us¡£¡¨¡¡Deuteronomy¡¡1£º41¡£¡¡So¡¡terribly¡¡blinded
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up¡¡and¡¡fight¡£¡¨¡¡It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡His¡¡purpose¡¡that¡¡they¡¡should¡¡gain¡¡the¡¡land¡¡by
warfare£»¡¡but¡¡by¡¡strict¡¡obedience¡¡to¡¡His¡¡commands¡£
Though¡¡their¡¡hearts¡¡were¡¡unchanged£»¡¡the¡¡people¡¡had¡¡been¡¡brought¡¡to¡¡confess
the¡¡sinfulness¡¡and¡¡folly¡¡of¡¡their¡¡rebellion¡¡at¡¡the¡¡report¡¡of¡¡the¡¡spies¡£¡¡They
now¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡value¡¡of¡¡the¡¡blessing¡¡which¡¡they¡¡had¡¡so¡¡rashly¡¡cast¡¡away¡£¡¡They
confessed¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡their¡¡own¡¡unbelief¡¡which¡¡had¡¡shut¡¡them¡¡out¡¡from
Canaan¡£¡¡¡¨We
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡393
have¡¡sinned£»¡¨¡¡they¡¡said£»¡¡acknowledging¡¡that¡¡the¡¡fault¡¡was¡¡in¡¡themselves£»¡¡and
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repentance£»¡¡it¡¡served¡¡to¡¡vindicate¡¡the¡¡justice¡¡of¡¡God¡¡in¡¡His¡¡dealings¡¡with
them¡£
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repentance£»¡¡they¡¡will¡¡be¡¡convinced¡¡of¡¡their¡¡sin¡¡and¡¡will¡¡be¡¡constrained¡¡to
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God¡¡in¡¡His¡¡dealings¡¡with¡¡them¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡thus¡¡that¡¡God¡¡sets¡¡counteragencies¡¡at
work¡¡to¡¡make¡¡manifest¡¡the¡¡works¡¡of¡¡darkness¡£¡¡And¡¡though¡¡the¡¡spirit¡¡which
prompted¡¡to¡¡the¡¡evil¡¡course¡¡is¡¡not¡¡radically¡¡changed£»¡¡confessions¡¡are¡¡made
that¡¡vindicate¡¡the¡¡honor¡¡of¡¡God¡¡and¡¡justify¡¡His¡¡faithful¡¡reprovers£»¡¡who¡¡have
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be¡¡finally¡¡poured¡¡out¡£¡¡When¡¡¡¨the¡¡Lord¡¡cometh¡¡with¡¡ten¡¡thousand¡¡of¡¡His
saints£»¡¡to¡¡execute¡¡judgment¡¡upon¡¡all£»¡¨¡¡He¡¡will¡¡also¡¡¡¨convince¡¡all¡¡that¡¡are
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will¡¡be¡¡brought¡¡to¡¡see¡¡and¡¡acknowledge¡¡the¡¡justice¡¡of¡¡his¡¡condemnation¡£
Regardless¡¡of¡¡the¡¡divine¡¡sentence£»¡¡the¡¡Israelites¡¡prepared¡¡to¡¡undertake¡¡the
conquest¡¡of¡¡Canaan¡£¡¡Equipped¡¡with¡¡armor¡¡and¡¡weapons¡¡of¡¡war£»¡¡they¡¡were£»¡¡in
their¡¡own¡¡estimation£»¡¡fully¡¡prepared¡¡for¡¡conflict£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡were¡¡sadly
deficient¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡God¡¡and¡¡His¡¡sorrowful¡¡servants¡£¡¡When£»¡¡nearly¡¡forty
years¡¡later£»¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¡directed¡¡Israel¡¡to¡¡go¡¡up¡¡and¡¡take¡¡Jericho£»¡¡He¡¡promised
to¡¡go¡¡with¡¡them¡£¡¡The¡¡ark¡¡containing¡¡His¡¡law¡¡was¡¡borne¡¡before¡¡their¡¡armies¡£
His¡¡appointed¡¡leaders¡¡were¡¡to¡¡direct¡¡their¡¡movements£»¡¡under¡¡the¡¡divine
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contrary¡¡to¡¡the¡¡command¡¡of¡¡God¡¡and¡¡the¡¡solemn¡¡prohibition¡¡of¡¡their¡¡leaders£»
without¡¡the¡¡ark£»¡¡and¡¡without¡¡Moses£»¡¡they¡¡went¡¡out¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡the¡¡armies¡¡of¡¡the
enemy¡£
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warning£»¡¡¡¨Wherefore¡¡now¡¡do¡¡ye¡¡transgress¡¡the¡¡commandment¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lord£¿¡¡but¡¡it
shall¡¡not¡¡prosper¡£¡¡Go¡¡not¡¡up£»
394
for¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¡is¡¡not¡¡among¡¡you£»¡¡that¡¡ye¡¡be¡¡not¡¡smitten¡¡before¡¡your¡¡enemies¡£