THERE is a very beautiful lesson to be learned from the Bible story of Caleb of the tribe of Judah —the son of Jephunneh. In Numbers we are told that Moses, by the commandment of God, sent from the wilderness of Paran those men, including Caleb, who were the "heads of the children of Israel." They were sent to spy out the land of Canaan, and were to report on the fruitfulness of the land. Their search lasted forty days, after which they returned to tell of a land flowing with milk and honey and bearing much fruit. But in spite of this good report, some of the leaders demurred; and we read, further, that the men who went with Caleb said, "We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we."
Against this discouraging murmuring of the doubting Israelites Caleb stood firm; and later, in the book of Joshua, we read of the victorious outcome of his stand, in the words: "Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God. And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God."
Christian Scientists to-day are standing in a position similar to that of the leaders of the tribes of Israel. They have the same opportunities almost daily either to follow wholly or to wander, as did the children of Israel, in the wilderness of false beliefs; and it may seem to be a long trail through the wilderness. It is interesting to note that the wanderings of the Israelites under various disheartening experiences extended over a period of forty years.
