V. 19.— So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Thus we see that they could not enter the promised land because of unbelief. Faith in God was essentially necessary to their expelling the Canaanites, who were by far more warlike than themselves. They indeed quitted Egypt under the assurance that they should inherit Canaan; they followed the leader whom God had appointed through the sea, but they were at this period escaping from the house of bondage, where their lives had been embittered by oppression; besides, Pharaoh’ s army was behind them, and to stop was certain destruction. Such were the motives by which they were induced to enter the path through the mighty waters which God had opened for them. But their circumstances on the borders of Canaan were very different. They were, so to speak, naturalized in the wilderness; albeit there was neither earing nor harvest, all their wants were richly supplied. The spies had given a description of the warlike condition of the Canaanites; they represented it as certain destruction to invade the land, so that every natural principle forbade their making the attempt. There was a lion in the way; and thus it is that the conduct of men is often ascribed to their faith, when, in fact, they are walking by sight influenced by worldly motives, while they give themselves, and receive from others credit for being actuated by confidence in God. Such was the case with Israel at the Red Sea. There was, doubtless, a remnant whose dread of the sea was overcome by faith in God; but the great body of Israel were children in whom there was no faith, while their conduct on some occasions appeared to result from this Divine principle.