Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 199

6. What kind of report did the ten spies bring back concerning the promised land?

"They brought up _an evil report_ of the land which they had searched."

Num. 13:32.

7. What did Caleb say of the ability of Israel to take it?

"Let us go up at once, and possess it; for _we are well able to overcome it_." Verse 30.

8. What did the ten spies say?

"But the men that went up with him said, _We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we_." Verse 31.

9. Why did not Israel attain to the standard of righteousness?

"But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? _Because they sought it not by faith._" Rom. 9:31, 32.

10. When told of the disciples' failure to heal an afflicted son, what did Christ say of that generation?

"He answereth him, and saith, _O faithless generation_, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto Me." Mark 9:19.

11. What did Christ say to Thomas because he did not believe the testimony of his brethren concerning His resurrection?

"Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and _be not faithless, but believing_." John 20:27.

NOTE.-The Lord rebuked Thomas for his unbelief, because he would not accept the testimony of so many credible witnesses who had seen Him. How much more reprehensible is that unbelief which holds out against the present "cloud of witnesses" of prophecy fulfilled and fulfilling!

12. After speaking of the numerous examples of faith presented in Hebrews 11, what does Paul exhort us to do?

"Wherefore seeing we also are compa.s.sed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us _lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us_, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." Heb. 12:1.

NOTE.-The "every weight" here spoken of includes those traits of character and habits of life that r.e.t.a.r.d or hinder our running successfully the Christian race. These are to be laid aside. But there is one thing referred to here that is more than a weight; it is a _sin_, and one that easily besets us all,-the sin of _unbelief_. To be unbelieving, therefore, is sinful.

13. Why did many fail to enter into G.o.d's rest anciently?

"And to whom sware He that they should not enter into His rest, but to them that _believed not_? So we see that _they could not enter in because of unbelief_." Heb. 3:18, 19.

14. How are these unbelieving ones spoken of?

"But with whom was He grieved forty years? was it not with _them that had sinned_, whose carca.s.ses fell in the wilderness?" Verse 17.

15. What lesson should we learn from their course?

"_Let us therefore fear_, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it." Heb. 4:1.

NOTE.-G.o.d does not change. If He was grieved at the unbelief of the Israelites, and refused them admittance to Canaan in consequence, He cannot permit us to enter the heavenly rest as long as we indulge in unbelief.

16. What should all labor to do?

"Let us labor therefore _to enter into that rest_, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." Verse 11.

17. Against what are we warned when rebuked of G.o.d?

"My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, _nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him_." Heb. 12:5.

18. Whom does the Lord chasten?

"_For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth_, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth." Verse 6.

19. When G.o.d made a promise to Abraham that seemed impossible of fulfilment, how did the patriarch receive it?

"He staggered not at the promise of G.o.d through unbelief; but was _strong in faith_, giving glory to G.o.d." Rom. 4:20.

20. For what was Abraham's faith counted?

"For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed G.o.d, and _it was counted unto him for righteousness_." Verse 3.

21. When troubled with doubts, how should we pray?

"Lord, I believe; _help Thou mine unbelief_." Mark 9:24.

22. What is promised those who believe when they pray?

"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and _ye shall have them_." Mark 11:24.

Judging

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

Slaying The First-Born. "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

Rom. 12:19.

1. What warning does Christ give concerning judging?

"Judge not, that ye be not judged." Matt. 7:1.

2. What is Satan called in the Scriptures?

"_The accuser of our brethren_ ... which accused them before our G.o.d day and night." Rev. 12:10.