Daughter of Deliverance by Gilbert Morris

to commit fornication?”
    Ardon stared openmouthed. “You? You’ve had trouble with feelings like this?”
    â€œOf course I have. All men do. Don’t think you’re something unusual. Moses never spoke of it that I know of, but I’m sure he had the same feelings. Why, our fathers Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, they all had to struggle with temptation, many temptations.” He smiled and put his hand on Ardon’s arm. “And I’m not sure right now that fornication is the worst sin.”
    â€œWhat could be worse than that?”
    â€œPride. Doubt of God. Things that nobody can see and go on inside your heart. These would be worse.”
    Phinehas could see that the young man was suffering with his guilt. “You’ve got to learn to be honest with yourself and with God. You are a man. You’re going to be tempted to do wrong. At times you may even give in to that temptation. That doesn’t mean you’re the worst sinner in Israel, my brother. It simply means that you’re on a pilgrimage. On a pilgrimage a man stumbles, he falls, he cuts his knees, he gets scars. But if he loves God, he’ll get up, scars and all, and fall forward. Then God has promised to be with him. Now, we will talk about this later, but you must stop beating yourself up.”
    â€œI’ll try, Phinehas, but it’s hard. I want to be a good man.”
    â€œNo, you want to be a perfect man, and that man has not lived since Adam. Determine to be obedient to God and make up your mind when you fail that you won’t quit.”
    Ardon studied the face of the priest and knew that he was right. He always was! “I’ll try, Phinehas. I’ll do my best.”
    ****
    â€œI’ve decided to send some men to spy out the land, Caleb.” Joshua had called Caleb into his tent. Now, looking very serious, Joshua abruptly added, “I’m telling you this because I’m going to send Ardon and Othniel to do the job.”
    Caleb wrinkled his brow. “I understand Ardon. He’s a fine soldier, but Othniel—you’d better think twice about him. Why would you choose him? He’s never shown any signs of being responsible.”
    â€œI’ve never told you this, but your brother Kenaz saved my life one time.”
    â€œI didn’t know that. He never spoke of it.”
    â€œI’m sure he didn’t. He was a modest fellow. We were hunting together and a lion came out. I was caught totally helpless. Kenaz stood his ground and sent an arrow straight into the lion’s open mouth. It killed him instantly. That lion would have destroyed me. I tried many times to thank him, but every time he just laughed. You know how he was.”
    â€œThat sounds like him all right. He was a good man. I wish Othniel were more like him.”
    â€œWell, I think I owe Kenaz something. Besides that, I think I see some potential in Othniel. I may be wrong, but I see a good man under that woman-chasing exterior. I want to give him a chance to become a man. So we’ll send the two of them out together. It’ll be all right. Ardon will keep an eye on him. You talk to him.”
    ****
    â€œJoshua has given me a mission, and he’s chosen you two to carry it out.”
    Ardon and Othniel stood before Caleb. They had been brought in immediately, and now they listened as Caleb said, “Joshua wants to get some idea about the city of Jericho. It’s the most powerful city in our way. We can’t conquer the land until Jericho is conquered. Joshua wants to know more about it. How many soldiers are there? What kinds of weapons do they have? Are they good soldiers? The things we need to know that would help us.”
    Othniel shifted uncomfortably. “Did he really say I was to go, Uncle?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œI don’t see why. I’m not much of a soldier.”
    â€œJoshua is the commander in chief, Othniel. You’ll go, and you, Ardon,