Numbers 13:1-14:44

Here’s a bit of Bible trivia.

Do you know who these men were and what they did? Shammua. Shaphat. Igal. Palti. Gaddiel. Gaddi. Ammiel. Sethur. Nahbi. Geuel.

Let me know, if you knew.

They are 10 of the 12 men from the 12 tribes of Israel whom Moses sent ‘to spy out the land” of Canaan, the promised land, before they began their conquest. The other two names are more familiar to Bible students–Caleb and Joshua.

These men were numbered among the men of war who totaled 603,550 (Num. 1:46). They were leaders in their respective tribes. They were warriors. Hand picked. Chosen because they were the best of the best.

These 12 were sent on a 40 day reconnaissance mission to search the land before they began military operations to conquer it.

Our text records the report of the 10 men who offered these assessments.

• The people are strong.
• The cities are fortified
• We saw giants in the land.
• They are stronger than we are.
• We are not able to defeat these people.
• The land devours its inhabitants.
• We felt insignificant and weak like tiny grasshoppers.

However, Caleb and Joshua who saw the same land, the same people and the same resources offered a totally opposite report and conclusion.

• Don’t fear the people.
• Their protection is gone.
• They are bread for us.
• The Lord is with us.
• We are well able to overcome.
• The Lord will give us the land.
• The Lord delights in us.

As a result, the congregation of Israel who had seen the mighty hand of God defeat the Egyptian gods, destroy Pharaoh’s army, and provide, protect, and providentially guide them during the past two years of their journey, cried, complained, and criticized Moses and Aaron. They rebelled against their leadership. Refused to move forward. And even resigned themselves to returning to Egyptian captivity.

We’ve all heard of the power of positive thinking. But negative thinking is powerful too. The fearful, faithless, doubting, and self-effacing negative attitudes of these 10 men influenced an entire nation.

Fear leads to doubt. It makes the wolf appear bigger than he is. Timidity and focusing on ourselves and our weakness and inability negates the power of God to work in our lives.

How many churches have been negatively influenced, not by 10 men, but just 1 or 2? How many good ideas have been tabled due to doubt? How many projects have been discarded and never begun by focusing on our fear instead of our faith? How many Christians have become disheartened, discouraged, and dismayed by weak “leaders” who only saw giant obstacles, instead of God-sent opportunities?

Because the people listened to the wrong “leaders,” God punished them with an additional 38 years of wandering in the wilderness. Do you know what happened to those 10 men? They all died.

Do you know how many of the men of war perished in the wilderness? 603, 548.

Do you know who survived and entered the promised land? Only 2. Caleb and Joshua.

Both men were rewarded for the fearless commitment and faithful devotion to the Lord. Like Joshua, Caleb was said to be a man “with a different spirit” (Num. 14:6). Different than the negative nay-sayers. Different from the crowd. And different from the weak, cowardly, capitulating “leaders” around them.

What the church needs today are more positive men (and women) like Caleb and Joshua. Christians who will stand up. Speak up. And rise up to the occasion. Courageous people who are confident in the Lord, faithful to His calling, surrendered to His will, and obedient to His Word.

Remember history does not remember or reward those who say, “It can’t be done.” Rather, it recognizes and honors those who say, “Let’s do it,” as they move forward.

Moses’ call and challenge to Israel 38 years later when they did conquer Canaan needs to be our rallying cry today.

“Listen, Israel! Today you are moving forward to do battle with your enemies. Do not be fainthearted. Do not fear and tremble or be terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you to fight on your behalf against your enemies to give you victory” (Deut. 32:3-4).

In the words of the 19th century Hymnist, Sabine Baring-Gould…

Onward Christian soldiers
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
Christ, the royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
See his banners go!

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman