Numbers 13:30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. 1. The kingdom of heaven challenges the inquiry of all men. It addresses an appeal to human reason, and to human trust. Though itself a revelation, and therefore not to be handled as a common thing, nor to be tested by common instruments, yet Christianity invites the most careful inquest. It does not seek to rest upon the human intellect as a burden, but to shine upon it as a light. ]f Christianity may be represented under the image of a land, such as ancient Canaan, then it is fair to say of it, that it offers right of way over its hills and through its valleys, that its fruits and flowers are placed at the disposal of all travellers, and that he who complains that the land is shut against him speaks not only ungratefully but most falsely. 2. Different reports will, of course, be brought by the inquirers. The result of the survey will be according to the peculiarities of the surveyors. As streams are impregnated by the soils over which they flow, so subjects are affected by the individualism of the minds through which they pass. Thus Christianity may be said to be different things to different minds. To the speculative man it is a great attempt to solve deep problems in theology; to the controversialist it is a challenge to debate profound subjects on new ground; to the poet it is a dream, a wondrous vision many-coloured as the rainbow, a revelation many-voiced as the tunes of the wind or the harmonies of the sea. (1) Some inquirers will see all the hindrances. (2) All will confess that there is something good in the laud. (3) Those who hold back by reason of the difficulties will come to a miserable end. (a) We don't escape by false reasoning. (b) We don't escape by fear. Application: 1. Some have shown the spirit of Caleb — what is voter testimony? 2. Will you resolve, in Divine strength, to follow the Lord fully? (J. Parker, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. |
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