Numbers 13:25-14:10
The Twelve Spies
Explore the Land of Canaan
After the Israelites came out of Egypt, they came to Kadesh
in the Desert of Paran. God commanded Moses to send twelve spies into the land
of Canaan.
The spies explored the land from the Desert of Zin to Lebo
Hamath. The journey was about 800 kilometres. They spied for 40 days in that
land. They returned, bringing with them some pomegranates and figs as proof
that it was a land flowing with milk and honey (13:23-24).
10 of the 12 spies came back with a negative report.
According to their report, the cities were fortified and very large; their
enemies were giants (descendants of Anak). If the Israelites attacked the city,
they would be swallowed like grasshoppers by giants!
However, the two remaining spies, Caleb and Joshua had
positive news to report. They encouraged the Israelites to enter and take
possession of the land, because they believed that God is faithful and will
definitely help them overcome their enemies (13:30-33).
Based on modern day democratic rule, majority wins! That
night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud.
Today, when we hear negative reports, or read horrifying news
in the newspaper, when people say negative things about the church, or when
people get hurt, natural disasters occurred, epidemics, we will also weep and
our faith shaken.
The people of Israel grumbled that Moses had brought them
into the wilderness to die under the sword of their enemies. They wanted to
elect another leader to bring them back to Egypt (14:1-4).
By wanting to turn back, it was a display of the people’s
unbelief. They cast aside God’s promise of giving them the land of Canaan. They
cast aside God’s grace that brought them out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, and
across the wilderness. They cast aside God’s covenant with them that was
established at Mount Sinai. By doing this, the Israelites were actually giving
up their identity as God’s chosen people.
It seems that as God’s people, we have to consistently
experience God’s promises with faith afresh every day.
God’s response to them was wrath. God intended to destroy
them, then raise up another nation from Moses. However, Moses begged God to
have mercy on the Israelites, just like how Jesus sacrificed himself to
intercede for the sinners.
God was compassionate and faithful; He pardoned the
Israelites and did not carry out the death sentence (14:8). Instead, God
punished the Israelites. They had to roam in the wilderness for 40 years. Every
man who was twenty years old or more shall die in the wilderness, never to
enter the promised land. Only the next generation of Israelites were allowed to
enter the promised land (14:27-35).
The Israelites that had no faith in God were punished to
wander in the wilderness for 40 years. This echoes the 40 days the spies spent
in the land of Canaan. They were afraid that they will be destroyed in the land
of Canaan, and thus chose to retreat. In the end, the very thing they were
afraid of - death, caught up with them outside the land of Canaan.
They were afraid that their wives and children would be taken
as plunder. But in the end, though they themselves would perish in the
wilderness, their wives and children would not die in Canaan; they would enter
it instead (14:31).
This was an ironic and severe punishment. The consequences of
faithlessness or unbelief were terrible indeed!
We Are to Go Through
Trials in Our Journey of Faith
“The 40 days of exploration” was a test of faith for the spies.
Kadesh is just right outside the land of Canaan. Previously, they had passed
the wilderness, where they experienced God’s providence and protection. They
learned to look up to God and obey God’s laws. They should be matured and
independent, able to face new challenges and enter the promised land to claim
their inheritance.
Before entering the promised land, they had to go through a
trial of faith. Like Abraham, their faith in God had to be tested. All of us
have to go through difficulties and trials in our journey of faith, in order
that our faith might be stronger, that we may draw closer to God and know His
heart.
How long have you believed in God? Are you at Kadesh today?
Maybe your faith is put under strenuous test right now. Let us all be prepared
to face our tests of faith, for God wants us to learn to depend on him, to base
our security in His promises to us.
The question today is, how do we be overcomers when faced
with tests, that we may be victorious instead of perishing in the wilderness?
Fix Our Eyes on God
All the twelve spies saw the same scene in the land of
Canaan. They all proved that it was a land flowing with milk and honey.
However, ten spies brought back negative news, while the other two brought
positive news (contrast 13:31-33 with 14:5-9).
Why was there such a disagreement of facts?
It was because Caleb and Joshua had faith, while the others
did not. Those without faith did not fix their eyes on God. They feared the
future and would rather return to the situation that they were once familiar
with.
Those with faith chose to fix their eyes on God, no matter
how bad the situation might seem.
Fear and unbelief distort peoples’ perception of things,
causing them to be unwilling to take that step forward. Conversely, faith is
believing in God’s faithfulness to His covenant, that He is love and will give
us the ability to overcome.
Caleb said, “Do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people
of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of
them.” (14:9)
The unbelieving Israelites called themselves “grasshoppers”,
but Caleb emphasized that the Canaanites are “food” that could be devoured by
them. It is because the “Lord is
with them” while the Canaanites’ “protection is gone”.
Caleb stressed that it was not the Israelites who will enter
the land by themselves, but it was God who will be leading them in. Therefore,
the key to their success is not determined by the condition of the inhabitants
of Canaan, but on their relationship with God.
People who have faith are like Caleb, they look at real
problems from God’s point of view. They have the courage to conquer the
“promised land” that God has given to them.
These are the eyes of faith, eyes that can see what others do
not – God’s guarding hand behind us. The eyes of faith do not enlarge problems,
which causes us to cower and retreat and fail to see God’s protection and help.
The people with faith sees God’s help, the unbelieving people
only sees the problems that are around them. The faithful people will surely
get to enter Canaan, the unbelieving will fall from the grace of God, barred
from entering the “promised land”.
Where are you today? What struggles are you going through?
What difficult decisions are you facing? Are you in the wilderness, or Kadesh,
or going deep into Canaan to spy out the land?
Some people see God’s power and promises, some sees the
difficulties and thorns on the road in front. What do you see? Do you believe
that God can help you to go through the difficulties in front of you?
Focusing on God Will
Unleash a Lifelong Power from On High
The people of Israel sinned against God and was barred from
entering the promised land. However, God commended Caleb, “But because my
servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will
bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.”
(14:24)
Your attitude when faced with problems will determine what
actions you will take. Caleb had the right attitude and the eyes of faith. This
enabled him to take the right action, that is, “We should go up and take
possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” (13:30)
Is your attitude similar to Caleb’s?
Some believers become disgruntled against God when they face
suffering and hurt. They even find fault with others, choosing to hide from God
and distance themselves from God, making the situation even worse.
Actually, we should focus on following God, making sure that
we have a close relationship with God. Then, we can have victory in our
adversity.
What actions are you taking? Are you moving forward with
courage, or shrinking and retreating?
After wandering in the wilderness for forty years, it was
finally time for the Israelites to enter the promised land – Canaan. God’s
promise to Caleb was not forgotten. God allowed Caleb to live another 45 years;
now he is 85 years old. God is a
faithful and wonderful God!
As the Israelites were preparing to attack the enemy, Caleb
also volunteered to fight. He proclaimed, “I am still as strong today as the
day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was
then.” (Joshua 14:7-11)
Those people, young or old, with a right attitude, that is,
to follow God all their life, will definitely receive grace and power from God.
From 40 years old to 85 years old, the physical body will deteriorate, but
Caleb’s strength remains! He continues to live a victorious life.
Do you hunger for this victorious life? What challenges do
you face today? Are you continuing to be victorious, or are you already
defeated? Is your faith weak, and doubtful towards God?
45 years ago, Caleb was victorious as a spy. 45 years later,
he was also victorious, because he held on to a mind-set: “Focus on following
God, believe in God!”
Has your attitude in following God changed?
Today, as you come before God, ask God to forgive your lack
of faith. Submit all your worries to God, focus on looking towards God and
following Him. Believe that God will certainly make a way for you.
Come to God in faith, because He is full of love, grace and
power, and He is able to help you enter your “promised land”.
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