Article June 21, 1958 Issue

"WHO HATH BELIEVED OUR REPORT?"

KATHRYN PAULSON

How often two reports on the same subject will be at complete variance because of individual appraisals! An outstanding illustration of this is found in the Bible in the thirteenth and fourteenth chapters of the book of Numbers. Here is recorded the search of the land of Canaan by a selected group of twelve men sent out by Moses in obedience to God's command.

Upon their return forty days later, ten of the men reported to the Israelites that the land was one of walled cities and strong inhabitants, which the Israelites would not be able to overcome. The others, however, urged an immediate advance, describing the territory in glowing words and saying (14:7–9): "The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land."

Obviously both reports could not have been true, and in the light of later events the conclusion is that one group surveyed the land through the eyes of unreliable personal sense, of fear and limitation, while the other group saw it from the truer standpoint of spiritual discernment, of dominion and abundant good.

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