Spies sent to the Promise Land

Introduction

Biblical Timeline

Israelites were going to and in Egypt.

They were brought into Egypt through Joseph to be saved from the famine. They were later put into slavery by the Egyptians.

God would deliver them from slavery and bring them into the promise land through Moses. Within this time, God establishes his covenant relationship with the nation of Israel, establish the Law and Sacrifices, the tabernacle, and guides them to the promise land.

Set out from Sinai

The Israelites travel from Mt Sinai to the boundary of the promise land.

God is going to send 12 scouts into the Land to spy out what’s in the land they are going to posses.

Scouts sent out. (Num. 13:1–25)

The names of the men (Num. 13:1–16): Twelve men are chosen to scout out the land of Canaan, the Promised Land. Among them are Caleb from the tribe of Judah and Joshua from the tribe of Ephraim.

Lords instructions (1-2)

Numbers 13:1–2 (ESV)

1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel. From each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a chief among them.”

Spy out - to spy explore v., to secretly explore something to gain information. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

They are commanded by the Lord to spy out the land before the conquest of the Land. We will read later about what they are to go in and look for.

“which I am giving to the people of Israel.” God once again tells them that they are going into the Land to conquer it and make it their land.

Who is to Scout out the Land? Chief (Leader) from each tribe.

Spies identified (3-16)

Numbers 13:3 (ESV)

3 So Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran, according to the command of the Lord, all of them men who were heads of the people of Israel.

We see that they picked one person from each tribe of Israel. (vs 4-16)

The nature of the mission (Num. 13:17–25): Moses instructs the scouts to do two things:

Find out what the inhabitants are like (Num. 13:17–22)

Numbers 13:17–22 (ESV)

17 Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan and said to them, “Go up into the Negeb and go up into the hill country, 18 and see what the land is, and whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many, 19 and whether the land that they dwell in is good or bad, and whether the cities that they dwell in are camps or strongholds, 20 and whether the land is rich or poor, and whether there are trees in it or not. Be of good courage and bring some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes. 21 So they went up and spied out the land from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob, near Lebo-hamath. 22 They went up into the Negeb and came to Hebron. Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were there. (Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)

Spy out the Land - “Go up into the Negeb and go up into the hill country...” (20)

Goodness of the Land for productivity - Good or bad, trees or not.

Towns and cities - camps or strongholds

Spy out the People - “whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many...” (19)

number of people - Few or many

Strength of the people - weak or strong

Spies route - “the land from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob, near Lebo-hamath.” (21)

Route north through the Land of Canaan (21)

Inhabitants of the Land.

Numbers 13:22 (ESV)

22 They went up into the Negeb and came to Hebron. Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were there. (Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)

This will be important later with the report of the 10 Spies. Let’s do some study on the descendents of Anak.

Arba is the founder of Kiriath-arba (Hebron)

Joshua 14:15 (ESV)

15 Now the name of Hebron formerly was Kiriath-arba. (Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim.) And the land had rest from war.

Anak’s descendents are known as Anakim.

Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai are descendents of Anak that the scouts see in the promise land.

Anakim is the name for the descendents of Anak.

Deuteronomy 9:1–3 (ESV)

1 “Hear, O Israel: you are to cross over the Jordan today, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than you, cities great and fortified up to heaven, 2 a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you have heard it said, ‘Who can stand before the sons of Anak?’ 3 Know therefore today that he who goes over before you as a consuming fire is the Lord your God. He will destroy them and subdue them before you. So you shall drive them out and make them perish quickly, as the Lord has promised you.

Bring back samples of the crops grown in the land (Num. 13:23-25).

Numbers 13:23–25 (ESV)

23 And they came to the Valley of Eshcol and cut down from there a branch with a single cluster of grapes, and they carried it on a pole between two of them; they also brought some pomegranates and figs. 24 That place was called the Valley of Eshcol, because of the cluster that the people of Israel cut down from there. 25 At the end of forty days they returned from spying out the land.

Valley of Eshcol - Near the city of Hebron.

Sample produce of the Land

Reports from the Scouts. (Num. 13:26–33; 14:6-10)

General report of the Land (Num. 13:26-29):

Scouts return (26)

Numbers 13:26 (ESV)

26 And they came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the people of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh. They brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land.

Their report (27-29)

Numbers 13:27–29 (ESV)

27 And they told him, “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the Negeb. The Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the hill country. And the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and along the Jordan.”

Good of the Land (27)

good produce of the Land. they believe it flows with milk and honey.

“The phrase a land flowing with milk means that Canaan was ideal for raising goats and cows. Feeding on good pastureland the goats, sheep, and cows were full of milk. Flowing with honey means that the bees were busy making honey. Milk and honey suggested agricultural prosperity. This is the first of numerous references in the Old Testament to the “land flowing with milk and honey” (cf. v. 17; 33:3; Lev. 20:24; Num. 13:27; 14:8; 16:13–14; Deut. 6:3; 11:9; 26:9, 15; 27:3; 31:20; Josh. 5:6; Jer. 11:5; 32:22; Ezek. 20:6, 15).” (Hannah, John D. “Exodus.” The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Vol. 1. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. 112. Print.)

Bad of the Land (28-29)

The people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large.

The descendants of Anak.

The Amalekites dwell in the land of the Negeb.

The Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the hill country.

And the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and along the Jordan.”

The faithless report of the ten (Num. 13:30-33): “The people living there are powerful, and their cities and towns are fortified and very large.… We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. We felt like grasshoppers next to them, and that’s what we looked like to them!”

“Don’t go up” (30-31)

Numbers 13:30–31 (ESV)

30 But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” 31 Then the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.”

Although, “the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large.”, Caleb tells the people that they should go into the Land and be confident to overcome the difficulties.

The others disagree with Caleb. “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.”

Reason for faithlessness. (32-33)

Numbers 13:32–33 (ESV)

32 So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. 33 And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.”

Bad report

“Defaming, evil report, infamy, slander.” (Stigers, Harold G. “396 דָּבַב.” Ed. R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke. Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament 1999: 177. Print.)

“This time their words are dubbed an evil report, that means not simply that they describe the land as evil, but that their accusations about it are untrue (cf. TEV ‘false report’).” (Wenham, Gordon J. Numbers: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 4. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1981. Print. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries.)

Their fears.

“The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and”

The land of Canaan was seen as a land with much war. The location is very fertile and a major trade route between Egypt and the east.

all the people that we saw in it are of great height.

33 And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.”

“The Nephilim of Genesis 6:4 are the “heroes / mighty men of old” during the days when the “sons of God” had married the “daughters of men” (Gen. 6:1–4). Some take the Nephilim there to be the offspring of angels (“sons of God”) and humans (“daughters of men”), so that these Nephilim are superhuman figures. Perhaps the scouts view the Anakites, who are especially tall as a race (v. 32; cf. Deut. 2:10, 21), as demigods descended from the Nephilim of Genesis, invincible to Israelite attacks. How under this view the Nephilim could have survived the flood of Noah is not explained. Alternatively, nepilim may mean “marauders, attackers, violent men,” a class of warriors whose brutal activities help bring on the judgment of the flood. To the scouts, the Anakite warriors seem of the same powerful and violent character as the legendary Nephilim of Genesis.” (Sprinkle, Joe M. Leviticus and Numbers. Ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2015. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.)

The purpose of this report was to discourage the Israelites from going into the Land that God promised. After spying out the Land, they were afraid of the inhabitants and did not trust God to bring them into the land as He promised.

The faithful report of the two (Num. 14:6–10): “The land we explored is a wonderful land! And if the LORD is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us.… Do not rebel against the LORD, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land.… They have no protection, but the LORD is with us!”

Numbers 14:6–10 (ESV)

6 And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” 10 Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. But the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel.

The difference between the 10 spies report and Joshua and Caleb was their trust and believe in God’s promise and faithfulness. They all saw the same things but came to difference conclusions based on their belief and trust in God.

Reactions to the reports. (Numbers 14:1-5; 11-12)

The reaction of the crowd (Num. 14:1–5): Upon hearing the report of the ten scouts, the people become worried and make plans to return to Egypt.

Numbers 14:1–5 (ESV)

1 Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. 2 And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” 5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel.

Peoples response (1-2)

Numbers 14:1–2 (ESV)

1 Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. 2 And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!

“raised a loud cry” , “wept that night” , “grumbled”

The people heard the reports of the 10 spies and are in distress over what they did and why God brought them here to die.

Their response (3-4)

Their Question - Numbers 14.3 “Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?”

Their rebellion - Numbers 14.4 “And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”

Let’s bring us up to speed. God delivered the Israelites out of the slavery of Egypt by His mighty hand after they cried out to Him. God brought them through the red sea and delivered them completely from Pharaoh’s hand. He provided for them in the wilderness and brought them to Mount Sinai. He entered into a covenant relationship with them and they accepted and are in relationship with God. He promised, from the beginning, to bring them into the promise land and drive out the inhabitants before them.

Now because of the report of the 10 spies and fear, they want a new leader to lead them away from God and back to Egypt. Their fear of the people in the land and lack of belief in or trust in God is driving their decision.

Here is the main lesson of this text for us. When we find ourselves in a situation that causes us to fear, do we make decisions based on our fear or our trust in God.

Fear and faith are not opposite to each other. During the Covid pandemic, there were discussion, reports, billboards, etc that fear and faith opposite each other. Either we were in fear or we had faith. Fear is a natural emotion to a persevered danger. Faith is seeking and trusting God to provide and guide us in the midst of the situation.

The Israelites heard from God how he was going to protect and provide for them and have seen and experience God’s power in deliverance and provision. In this situation, their fear has caused them to no longer see God as trustworthy or faithful to his Word and choose to rebel against Him and go back to Egypt.

The reaction of the Lord (Num. 14:11-12):

Numbers 14:11–12 (ESV)

11 And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? 12 I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”

God’s Question. (11)

How Long? - Numbers 14.11 “And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?”

Despise v., to look down on with contempt. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

Believe (trust) v., to have faith; put one’s trust in something. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

Miracle ⇔ sign n., a marvelous event manifesting a supernatural act of a divine agent; often with an emphasis on communicating a message: (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

God’s Judgment (12)

Through the course of conversation between God and Moses, the Lord judges them with 40 years in the wilderness. This generation will not go into the promise land, but their children will.

Read the rest of Numbers 14 to see what God’s judgment is and the Israelites response to it were.

Lessons from the Spies

Their were 2 different messages to the Israelites from the 12 scouts that spied out the Land.

One was based on the fear they felt as they saw the land, cities, and peoples. They concluded that God was not able to bring them into the Land.

Second one, saw the goodness of the Land and believe the promise, power and faithfulness of God to bring them into the land to posses it.

The Israelites believed the 1st message and rebelled against God seeking to return to Egypt. They did not believe or trust in God to fulfill his promise to them.

How do we respond to fearful situations that come into our life?

Do we seek the the Lord for guidance, provision, wisdom and trust in Him during the situation or do we see Him as not reliable because this situation came into our lives?

Seek the Lord in the midst of the situation for the faithful decisions and actions needed.

2 final application statements:

Trust that God can overcome great difficulties.

Don’t be paralyzed by great obstacles to God’s plan, but focus on the greatness of God.

Benediction

Ephesians 3:20-21 - Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.