Conflict & Courage

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Proverbs 28:13.  {CC 121.1}        Achan acknowledged his guilt, but when it was too late for the confession to benefit himself. He had seen the armies of Israel return from Ai defeated and disheartened; yet he did not come forward and confess his sin. He had seen Joshua and the elders of Israel...

Neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. Joshua 7:12.  {CC 120.1}        The sin of one man caused Israel to be beaten before the enemy. Something more than prayer was required. They were to get up and cleanse the camp of Israel.  {CC 120.2}        Have you considered why it was that all who were connected with Achan were also subjects of the punishment o...

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have. Hebrews 13:5, R.S.V.  {CC 119.1}        Achan had fostered covetousness and deception in his heart, until his perceptions of sin had become blunted, and he fell an easy prey to temptation. Those who venture to indulge in a known sin will be more readily overcome the second time. The first transgression opens the door to the...

All the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat. Joshua 6:5.  {CC 118.1}        At the taking of Jericho the mighty General of armies planned the battle in such simplicity that no human being could take the glory to himself. No human hand must cast down the walls of the city, lest man should take to himself the glory of victory. So today no human being...

I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Joshua 1:5.  {CC 117.1}        Study carefully the experiences of Israel in their travels to Canaan. . . . We need to keep the heart and mind in training, by refreshing the memory with the lessons that the Lord taught His ancient people. Then to us, as He designed it should be to them, the teachings of His Word will ever be interesting a...

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein; for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Joshua 1:8.  {CC 116.1}        If men will walk in the path that God has marked out for them, they will have a counselor whose wisdom is far...

For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: to keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. Proverbs 6:23, 24.  {CC 115.1}        The crime that brought the judgments of God upon Israel was that of licentiousness. The forwardness of women to entrap souls did not end at Baal-peor. Notwithstanding the pun...

"Be on your guard against covetousness in any shape or form. For a man's real life in no way depends upon the number of his possessions." Luke 12:15, Phillips.  {CC 114.1}        The curse which Balaam had not been permitted to pronounce against God's people, he finally succeeded in bringing upon them by seducing them into sin.  {CC 114.2}        Balaam witnessed the success of his diabolical sche...

But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof. Proverbs 1:25.  {CC 113.1}        In the night season the angel of God came to Balaam with the message, "Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed." . . .  {CC 113.2}        A second time Balaam was tested. In response to the solicitations of the ambassadors he professed great conscient...

They have abandoned the right road and wandered off to follow the old trail of Balaam, son of Beor, the man who had no objection to wickedness as long as he was paid for it. 2 Peter 2:15, Phillips.  {CC 112.1}        Balaam was once a good man and a prophet of God; but he had apostatized, and had given himself up to covetousness; yet he still professed to be a servant of the Most High. He was not...

I besought the Lord at that time, saying, ... I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. But the Lord was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the Lord said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter. Deuteronomy 3:23-26.  {CC 111.1}        Never, till exemplified in the sacrifice of Chris...

They angered him at the waters of Meribah, and it went ill with Moses on their account; for they made his spirit bitter, and he spoke words that were rash. Psalm 106:32, 33, R.S.V.  {CC 110.1}       Had Moses and Aaron been cherishing self-esteem or indulging a passionate spirit in the face of divine warning and reproof, their guilt would have been far greater. But they were not chargeable with wi...

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:4.  {CC 109.1}        Notwithstanding the fact that Moses was the meekest man that lived upon the earth, on one occasion he drew the displeasure of God upon himself. . . . The undeserved reproaches of the people which fell upon him led him for a moment to forget that their murmuring was not against...

These men are arrogant and presumptuous--they think nothing of scoffing at the glories of the unseen world. 2 Peter 2:10, Phillips.  {CC 108.1}        It is hardly possible for men to offer greater insult to God than to despise and reject the instrumentalities He would use for their salvation. . . .  {CC 108.2}        In the rebellion of Korah is seen the working out, upon a narrower stage, of the...

Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. Numbers 13:30.  {CC 107.1}        It was Caleb's faith in God that gave him courage; that . . . enabled him to stand boldly and unflinchingly in defense of the right. From the same exalted source, the mighty General of the armies of heaven, every true soldier of the cross of Christ must receive strength and courage to overc...

And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel. Numbers 13:32.  {CC 106.1}        The Lord commanded Moses to send men to search the land of Canaan, which He would give unto the children of Israel. . . . After they had spoken of the fertility of the land, all but two spoke very discouragingly of their ability to possess it. . . . As the people li...

Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy? Proverbs 27:4.  {CC 105.1}        Their [Miriam's and Aaron's] accusations were borne by Moses in uncomplaining silence. It was the experience gained during the years of toil and waiting in Midian--the spirit of humility and long-suffering there developed--that prepared Moses to meet with patience the unbelief and murmu...

Wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? Numbers 12:8.  {CC 104.1}        In the affections of the people and the honor of Heaven she [Miriam] stood second only to Moses and Aaron. But the same evil that first brought discord in heaven sprang up in the heart of this woman of Israel, and she did not fail to find a sympathizer in her dissatisfaction. . . .  {CC 104.2}    ...

They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul. Psalm 106:13-15.  {CC 103.1}       Whenever their appetite was restricted, the Israelites were dissatisfied, and murmured and complained against Moses and Aaron, and against God.  {CC 103.2}        G...

He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen. Psalm 105:26.  {CC 102.1}       Aaron was a man of amiable disposition, whom God selected to stand with Moses and speak for him. . . . God might have chosen Aaron as leader; but He who is acquainted with hearts, who understands character, knew that Aaron was yielding and lacked moral courage to stand in defense of the right under all circums...

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20:1.  {CC 101.1}        Nadab and Abihu would never have committed that fatal sin had they not first become partially intoxicated by the free use of wine. They understood that the most careful and solemn preparation was necessary before presenting themselves in the sanctuary, where the divine Presenc...

And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. Leviticus 10:1.  {CC 100.1}        Next to Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu had stood highest in Israel. They had been especially honored by the Lord, having been permitted with the seventy elders to behold His...

And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. Exodus 33:11.  {CC 99.1}        After the transgression of Israel in making the golden calf, Moses again goes to plead with God in behalf of his people. . . . He has learned from experience that in order to have an influence with the people he must first have power with God. The Lord reads the sincerity and unselfish pu...

And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them? Exodus 32:21.  {CC 98.1}        Aaron endeavored to shield himself by relating the clamors of the people. . . . But his excuses and prevarications were of no avail. . . .  {CC 98.2}        The fact that Aaron had been blessed and honored so far above the people was what made his sin so heino...

They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image. Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass. Psalm 106:19, 20.  {CC 97.1}       In the absence of Moses, the judicial authority had been delegated to Aaron, and a vast crowd gathered about his tent, with the demand, "Make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, . . . we wot not what is be...