Numbers 11 – 13, cont’d

Numbers 11 – 13, cont’d

Chapter 13 and 14 might be better studied together, but I guess we can explore Numbers 13 by itself.

In chapter 13, we are introduced to one of my favorite Biblical characters: Caleb of the tribe of Judah. He is one of the twelve selected by Moses to scout out the land of Canaan. Just as early explorers of our great land sent scouts ahead of wagon trains and cavalry troops, so Moses appointed the twelve to explore the land of Canaan. Notice that one of the men sent was Hoshea (Joshua), Moses’ right-hand man.

The twelve were given specific instructions:

• Go north through the Negev into the hill country
• See what the land is like
• Find out whether the people living there are strong or weak, few or many
• Find out if the land they live in is good or bad
• Check if their towns have walls, or are unprotected like open camps
• Determine if the soil is fertile or poor
• Find out how many trees there are
• Bring back samples of the crops they see

The men did as they were told and even brought back a cluster of grapes from the valley of Eschol so large it took two men to carry it on a pole. They brought back samples of pomegranates and figs.

This was no quick trip; it took forty days. When they came back they showed the produce to the people and described the land as “a beautiful country—a land flowing with milk and honey.” But – and isn’t there always a “but?” – they said that the people who lived there were powerful, with towns that are large and fortified. There were even giants in the land.

When you consider what the Israelites had seen God do to the Egyptians with their own eyes, it puzzles me how they could not think God could make it possible for them to conquer these people.

Caleb and Joshua (as you’ll see in the next chapter), try to get the explorers and the people to go at once to conquer the land.

This is instructive to us. So many times in life, there are obstacles that seem insurmountable, but for God. He is able “to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think...” As someone once said, “Don’t tell God how big your problems are, but tell your problems how big your God is.

Tomorrow, it’s Numbers 14 – 15 and Psalm 90.

Until next time…