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NUMBERS 13:26

THE TRAGEDY OF KADESH-BARNEA

Intro: History of Israel is typical history "written for our examples."

I. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CANAAN.
        A. God had promised it to Abraham.
                1. Now 500 years later. God brings Abraham's descendants to fulfill
                   that promise.
                        a. Plagues.
                        b. Red Sea.
                        c. Kadesh Barnea.
        B. River Jordan a death. Canaan heaven.
                1. Victorious Christian life "in the heaven lies." 
                        a. No sin in heaven.
                        b. No battles in heaven.
                        c. No defeats in heaven.
        C. What Canaan represented:
                1. Liberty for oppression. "Sin shall not dominion over you."
                2. Rest for wandering. "There remaineth a rest for the people of God."
                3. Possession for promise. Promise into fact. Doctrine into
                        experience.
                4. Variety for monotony. "Our soul loatheth this light bread."
                        Love - that passeth knowledge. 
                        Joy  - unspeakable & full of glory. 
                        Peace - that passeth human understanding.

II. THE LEGITIMATE WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE.
        A. The journey from the Red Sea to Kadesh Barnea.
                1. New convert led to bitter experiences (Marah..
                2. (Trust God for provisions) Sweet experiences (Elim..

III. THE KADESH BARNEA CRISIS.
        A. They sent out spies.
                1. Confusing report.
                        Timorous ten - we are not able.
                        Trustful two - we are well able.
                        Two - cities are walled & very great.
                        Two - their defense is departed from them.
                        Ten - the men are giants.
                        Two - neither fear ye the people.
                2. Ten saw through the eyes of unbelief. Two looked through the
                   eyes of faith.
                        a. The majority impeached God's word. power. goodness.
                           (Too big for God?)
        B. They decided to return to Egypt.

IV. THE ILLEGITIMATE WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE.
        A. Sinful, rebellious experience.
                1. "Our children shall be a prey."
        B. Experience marked by:
                1. Restlessness.
                        No restful Christians in the wilderness (murmuring..
                2. Discontent - Not contented.
                3. Fruitlessness (their battles only gain right to pass through land.
                   battles of rebellion not conquest).
                4. Experience negative (they were no longer doing the Egyptian things).
                        Some so interested in what they are not doing -- they
                        are doing nothing.
                5. Vacillation.
        Conclusion: parting of the ways (Kadesh-Barnea..