Numbers 13-May 10
Numbers 13 begins the account of one of the most severe mistakes in the history of the nation of Israel. To this point, there have been many hiccups in Israel’s journey across the wilderness to the Promised Land but none of those rebellions compare to the devastating disobedience of God’s people as they spy on their future inheritance.
While we can learn so much from this narrative, the foundational problem that yielded this disastrous event was the people’s focus. In short, the nation of Israel in general, and the majority of its commissioned spies in particular failed to keep their eyes on the power and trustworthiness of God while choosing to focus instead on the worldly obstacles that seemed all the more daunting by the moment.
Chapter 13 begins with an important reminder, the Promised Land that these spies were sent to survey was indeed promised by God to Israel. In fact, God explicitly states as much in verse 2 as He commands the people to send spies to the land that He would be giving them. This is important because it is a clear and definitive reminder of the source of Israel’s confidence. Israel was not a mighty militaristic force, neither was their country comprised of some of the most strategic and brilliant minds of their day. Simply stated, Israel was in the position they were in solely because of God’s power and promises.
God had already fulfilled several promises to His people including freeing them from Egyptian bondage and supplying their daily dietary needs, however those fulfilled promises paled in comparison to His declaration that He would give the Israelites a land to call their own. It was a land that would be flowing with milk and honey, given to them by God Himself.
So, when God commands spies to be sent into the land to scope out the people and resources, He is not sending these men in to assess the viability of a potential conquest. Instead, He is simply sending them in to report to the rest of the people all of the great things they have seen and heard while in their new land.
They were not to be concerned with the obstacles because they were in relationship with the One who could not be overcome. However, as the spies enter into the Promised Land, a strange thing begins to take place in their minds. Instead of rejoicing in God’s goodness and trusting in His power, the spies begin to question whether or not they have the ability to be victorious over these daunting foes. You will notice that in their description of the land beginning in verse 26 that much is made of the potential road blocks and problems facing the Israelites in the Promised Land while there is no mention whatsoever of God.
As the focus of the people shifted from God to their own natural abilities, their confidence in God’s plan and desire to obey His direct commands faded rather quickly. This is instructive for us today as we realize that New Testament believers are often guilty of the same misstep. Just as Peter walked on water until he took his eyes off of Christ and began to be intimidated by the rough conditions on the open water, so you and I begin to sink when we stop reflecting on the strength and trustworthiness of our God in favor of the “practical” concerns and issues of our day. May we stand strong in the promises of God as we face the challenges of our day, always trusting that in Christ we are more than conquerors and that God will be found faithful in all that He promised!