27. TWELVE SPIES IN THE LAND

"They brought up an evil report of the Land'

Aim

To show that we should believe in what God has promised because He will help us if we put our faith and trust in Him

Synopsis

Israel traveled northward through the Wilderness of Paran, and after a number of stopping places they came to Kadesh-Barnea, on the border of the Promised Land. Moses told them to go in and possess the land God had promised to give them, saying, "Fear not, neither be discouraged" (Deut. 1:20-21) but they lacked faith. They forgot God's promise at Sinai: "Behold I send an angel before thee" and "I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee" (Exod. 23:20-27). It seemed they did not believe God could do this for them. The people came to Moses asking that men be sent to spy out the land, and God allowed this, although it showed their lack of faith in His Word.

Numbers 13 and 14

THE LAND SPIED OUT: Numbers 13:17-25

Moses sent twelve men € a ruler (or chief man) from every tribe - to spy out the land. For forty days they went through the land of Canaan then came back with their report. They brought with them some of the fruits € figs, pomegranates and a huge bunch of grapes from Eshcol (the name means - a cluster of grapes").

THE SPIES REPORT: Numbers 13:26-33

The men reported that the land was "a good land" just as God had told them € "surely it floweth with milk and honey". They all agreed € but ten of the spies discouraged the people. They said that the cities had strong, high walls and giants lived there. Only two of the spies, Caleb and Joshua, had enough faith to believe that God would keep His promise to overthrow these cities and giants and give them the land. Caleb said, "Let us go up at once and possess it, for we are well able to overcome it". But the ten spies said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we. There we saw the giants, the sons of Anak ... and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight". They thought only of the difficulties to be overcome - the strong cities and the huge men they had seen. They forgot that their God would fight for them.

GOD TURNS THE PEOPLE BACK INTO THE WILDERNESS: Numbers 14

The hearts of the people were filled with fear when they heard the report of the ten spies. They did not believe God's promise that all the land would be theirs. They murmured against Moses and Aaron and wanted to choose a new captain to lead them back to Egypt! Joshua and Caleb tried to change their minds by saying, "If Yahweh delight in us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it us ... only rebel not ye against Yahweh" (vv. 7-9). The people turned on them and would have stoned them, but God's glory suddenly appeared. Then the Israelites heard His mighty voice, speaking through an angel: "How long will this people provoke me? I will smite them with pestilence and will make of thee (Moses) a greater and mightier nation". Moses pleaded with God to forgive His people for His great Name's sake. Moses was very humble; he did not want anything for himself. He thought only of God's promise to Israel and what the unbelieving nations would say if it were not fulfilled. God heard Moses and said, "I have pardoned according to thy word; BUT AS TRULY AS I LIVE, ALL THE EARTH SHALL BE FILLED WITH THE GLORY OF THE LORD". God would not destroy the nation altogether but told them how He would punish their disobedience and their unbelief. All the faithless people who were twenty years old or more at that time, would die in the wilderness. They would not enter the Promised Land. "After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years". They had already spent two years wandering in the desert since leaving Egypt. Now they must wander for a further thirty eight years (Deut. 2:14), until all the men who had rejected God's promise had died. The ten spies who had discouraged the people died of a plague sent by God (Num. 14:37).

When they heard these terrible words, the people changed their minds. Instead of accepting what God had said, they now decided to go in and possess the land. Moses warned them not to do so, because God was not with them, but many of them marched into Canaan and were attacked and had to flee back into the wilderness. So they were forced to wander in the wilderness as God had said they must.

The only two faithful spies, Joshua and Caleb, were given a promise that they would live to enter the land, together with the children of those who had rebelled and died.

LESSON FOR US

Even though all Israel lacked faith in the promise of God, Caleb and Joshua stood fast to their belief that God would do that which He had promised. This is an example for us to follow in these days when so many people reject God's Word. It takes courage to stand up for one's faith when surrounded by unbelievers, but God is pleased when we do this.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

GOD'S PURPOSE WITH THE EARTH: Numbers 14:21

We have seen how God chose Israel, guided them and brought them to Sinai. There he told them that it was His purpose to make them a "holy nation", separate unto Himself. They would be called by His Name and must keep His commandments, showing His glory to the nations around them. But though wonderful things were done in the midst of them (eg bread from heaven, quails, water out of the rock) they did not believe His words. Because of Israel's lack of faith, God rejected them and they did not enter the Promised Land. Yet God told Moses: "As truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of Yahweh* (Num. 14:21). This is still God's purpose with the earth. Thousands of years have passed since God spoke these wonderful words to Moses and we do not yet see the earth filled with His glory. Because few of the children of Israel have been faithful to their God down through the ages, He has graciously called men and women out of other nations to believe and obey Him, that they might share that glorious future with "the seed of Abraham". He is today still calling out of the Gentiles a people for His Name (Acts 15:14). Those who believe His Word and obey His commandments can, by baptism into the Lord Jesus Christ, become "the seed of Abraham and heirs according to the promise" (Gal. 3:26-29). When the Lord Jesus Christ returns (Acts 1:11) to set up His Kingdom (Dan. 2:44) the wonderful hope God promised Israel will be fulfilled.

QUESTIONS

Short Answers

1. How many Israelites were sent into the land to see what it was like?

2. What did ten of these say when they returned?

3. What were the names of the two faithful spies?

4. What did Caleb and Joshua say that Israel should do?

5. Why was God angry with the people when the 12 spies returned?

6. How were the people punished when they refused to go into the land of Canaan?

Detailed Answers

2. Tell the story of the spies going into the land of Canaan and the result of their visit.

3. How did God punish the nation of Israel for their wickedness when they were on the border of Canaan?

4. How can we follow the example of Joshua and Caleb?

Additional Answers

2. € But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with My Glory € . On the basis of these words, can you explain:

1. What was the purpose of God with His people Israel who gathered before Him at Sinai?

2. How did they fail?

3. What is God's purpose today with people out of all nations who believe and obey His word?