The Way
The Twelve Spies
They saw the same land and came back with different hearts
Story
At the camp in the Wilderness of Paran, Moses called out twelve men, a leader from each tribe. To Hoshea son of Nun he gave a new name, Joshua. Moses told them, go up into the Negev, then on into the hill country. See whether the land is good, whether the people are strong or weak, and bring back some of its fruit. It was the season of the first ripe grapes, and the twelve went up past Hebron, as far as Rehob in the far north, exploring the land for forty days.
When they returned, two men were carrying between them, on a pole, a single cluster of grapes cut in the Valley of Eshcol. They brought pomegranates and figs as well. They reported. It truly is a land flowing with milk and honey. But the people there are strong, the cities are large and fortified, and we even saw the descendants of Anak. Caleb quieted the stirring crowd and called out. Let us go up at once and take the land, for we can certainly do it. But the others shook their heads. Beside them we were like grasshoppers.
That night the whole community wept aloud. If only we had died in Egypt. Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt. Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes and cried out. The Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them. But the whole community talked of stoning them. Just then the glory of the Lord appeared above the tent of meeting. The Lord said, How long will this people treat me with contempt? Moses fell down and pleaded. In your great steadfast love, forgive this people. The Lord forgave them, yet the generation that would not trust God would never see the promised land, and would wander in the wilderness for forty years. Only Caleb and Joshua, and the children of that generation, would go into the land.
Walk this scene on the map →God's Words
My servant Caleb has a different spirit and has followed me wholeheartedly. I will bring him into the land he walked on, and his descendants will inherit it.
For the forty days you explored the land, a year for each day, you will bear the burden of your sins for forty years.
Let us go up right now and take the land. We can certainly overcome it.
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: Num 13:1–14:45
Background
Many identify Kadesh Barnea with the spring of Ain el Qudeirat south of the Negev, but there are other candidates nearby, such as Ain Qadeis, and views differ. Eshcol means cluster, and the valley is thought to be near Hebron.
Pause and Reflect
Do I see the troubles in front of me as big and God's promises as small?