When the Israelites entered Canaan, they did not fulfill God's purpose by taking possession of the whole land. After making a partial conquest, they settled down to enjoy the fruit of their victories. In their unbelief and love of ease, they congregated in the portions already conquered instead of pushing forward to occupy new territory. Thus they began to depart from God. By their failure to carry out His purpose, they made it impossible for Him to fulfill to them His promise of blessing. Is not the church of today doing the same thing? With the whole world before them in need of the gospel, professed Christians congregate where they themselves can enjoy gospel privileges. They do not feel the necessity of occupying new territory, carrying the message of salvation into regions beyond. They refuse to fulfill Christ's commission, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15. Are they less guilty than was the Jewish church?

Da israelitterne drog ind i Kanaan, opfyldte de ikke Guds hensigt, at de skulle tage hele landet i besiddelse. Efter at de havde erobret en del af det, slog de sig ned for at nyde frugten af deres sejre. Fordi de var vantro og elskede at leve i ro og mag, bosatte de sig i de egne, der allerede var indtaget, i stedet for at gøre nye fremstød og indtage andre dele af landet. På denne måde begyndte de at skille sig fra Gud. Ved at undlade at gennemføre Guds plan gjorde de det umuligt for ham at opfylde løftet om, at han ville velsigne dem. Forholder det sig ikke på samme måde med menigheden i dag? Selv om hele verden behøver evangeliet, flytter de, der giver sig ud for at være kristne, til steder hvor de kan glæde sig over de goder som evangeliet fører med sig. De føler ikke nødvendigheden af at bosætte sig på nye steder og bringe budskabet om frelse til fjerne egne. e nægter at opfylde Kristi befaling: "Gå ud i al verden og forkynd evangeliet for al skabningen!" Er de mindre skyldige, end den jødiske menighed var?