Numbers 13:32-33 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched to the children of Israel, saying, The land… Character, like Achilles in disguise at the court of Lycomedes, does not disclose itself till the trumpet blast is sounded, and there is a rush for armour as besuits it. I. INTELLECTUAL. Schoolboy finds pathway beset with difficulties. They grow, rather than diminish. Nothing will tell its own mystery: how far we shall proceed will depend upon an unconquerable will and intensest application. As answers, we have illiteracy, scholarship, genius. II. SOCIAL Problems of life and government complex and infinite. A few lead; the multitude follow. III. INDUSTRIAL. We seek and find our own work. Just what is in us will come out. IV. RELIGIOUS. Here, too, difficulties will not remove themselves. Just how we approach them will reveal the infidel, athiest, or Christian. Conclusion: Life, in all its departments, is of one piece and like texture; and its difficulties are for trial, discipline, and mastery. (L. O. Thompson.) Parallel Verses KJV: And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. |
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