I was reading again recently in Numbers chapter 14.  It's a familiar story, but one that never fails to teach me something new.  I just want to focus on one point for now, namely the Israelites' response to the encouragement from Caleb and Joshua to trust the Lord and follow Him into Canaan. When the other spies discouraged the nation from believing God, Joshua and Caleb said "the land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land.  If the Lord is pleased with us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it to us-a land which flows with milk and honey.  Only do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they shall be our food.  Their shadow has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them."  They didn't speak angrily, incite anger or even call the other guys weenies (or whatever the Hebrew equivalent is).  They planted their feet on God's Word and proclaimed the Hope of God's people.

Verse 10, however, tells us that "all the congregation said to stone them with stones."  That response is a familiar one to God's people today.  But, remember the end of that story.  The Lord remembered Caleb and Joshua.  They crossed the Jordan.