Spies to Search the Land
Numbers 13:1-33
INTRODUCTION: God had promised the Israelites that He had reserved a land of milk and honey for them (Ex.3:8; 13:5; Lev.20:24). He had even “espied” the land Himself for them (Ezek.20:5-6). But they had to see for themselves (see Deut.1:22-23). They could not take God’s word that He would give them the land. They had to determine for themselves whether or not they could take it. As a result, God removed His blessings and allowed them to walk in their own counsels (Ps.81:10-12). He let them wander for forty years in the wilderness (Ezek.20:13-17).
I. THE CHOOSING OF THE SPIES (13:1-16)
A. The Commandment of the Lord (v.1-3)
1. The initial request came from the Israelites (Deut.1:22-23); they wanted to see the land and determine their ability to take it.
2. God commanded Moses to give them their request (v.1-2)
a. Sometimes God gives us what we want even when it is contrary to His perfect will. That is why submission to the will of the Lord should always be a part of our prayer life (v.1-2a)
b. God told them how to do it; a man from each tribe (v.2b)
3. Moses carried out the commandment of the Lord (v.3)
a. Man’s request was not enough to put him to action
b. He chose men who were heads of Israel; important men
c. He sent them from the wilderness of Paran where they were located (Num.12:16); This is located in the northeastern section of the Sinai peninsula directly south of Israel
B. The Names of the Men (v.4-16)
1. Caleb of the tribe of Judah (v.6)
2. Oshea (Joshua) of the tribe of Ephraim (v.8)
3. Changing Joshua’s name (v.16)
a. From Oshea (Hoshea) meaning salvation or deliverance
b. To Jehoshua (Joshua) meaning The Lord is salvation or The Lord saves
II. THE COMMISSION OF THE SPIES (13:17-20)
A. His Directions (v.17)
1. Go up by this way southward – they were to go directly north instead of around the Dead Sea as the Israelites eventually enter the land
2. Go up into the mountain
a. What mountain is not determined
b. Probably refers to the entire central mountainous region
c. Could refer to the mountain at Hebron (Josh.14:12) or to the mountain of Isaaac’s sacrifice in the land of Moriah (Gen.22:2; 2Chr.3:1)
B. Their Purpose (v.18-20a)
1. See the land, what it is (v.18)
2. See the people who dwell there (v.18)
3. See the land, whether good or bad (v.19)
4. See the cities, what kind of dwellings they have (v.19)
5. See the land, whether there be wood or not (v.20)
NOTE: Moses obviously emphasized the land and its provision according to the promises of God. Half of God’s promise was that they were coming to a land flowing with milk and honey (Ex.3:8; 13:5; Lev.20:24). If this half was true, then certainly God would fulfill the second half of the promise—that He would give them the land (Ex.6:8; 12:25: Lev.25:38). Only secondarily did Moses send them for strategic information about the people and their dwellings.
C. Final Instructions (v.20b)
1. Be of good courage (Deut.31:6-7; Josh.1:6, 9, 18)
2. Bring the fruit of the land (Deut.1:25)
III. THE SEARCHING OF THE SPIES (13:21-25)
A. Their Journey (v.21-22)
1. Went as far north as Rehob on the way to Hamath (v.21)
a. Hamath was up in Syria
b. Rehob was in Galilee in the north of Israel
2. Spent extra time in the region of Hebron (v.22; see also Josh.14:12-15)
B. The Brook Eshcol (v.23-24)
1. Gathered fruit in the valley (v.23)
a. Grapes
b. Pomegranates
c. Figs
2. Called the brook Eshcol meaning bunch, as in a bunch of grapes
IV. THE REPORT OF THE SPIES (13:26-33)
A. The Land (v.26-27)
1. The fruit of the land (v.26-27)
2. A land flowing with milk and honey (v.27)
3. NOTE: They confirmed that all that God had said about the land was true
B. The People (v.28-29)
1. The people are strong (v.28)
2. The cities are walled (v.28)
3. The giants are there (v.28); the children of Anak are also known as Anakim (Deut.2:10-11, 21; 9:1-2); God would later destroy them (Deut.9:2-3; Josh.11:21-22)
4. The land is filled with strong nations (v.29)
a. Amalekites
b. Hittites
c. Jebusites
d. Amorites
e. Canaanites
C. Caleb’s Confidence (v.30)
1. Let us go at once and possess the land
2. We are well able to overcome it
D. The Evil Report (v.31-33)
1. We are not able to fight these people (v.31)
2. The land eats up its inhabitants (v.32)
3. The giants of the land make us look like grasshoppers (v.33)
APPLICATION: They Failed the Test of Faith
[Check out Daily Portion on Vision of Faith - Hebrews 11:1-12]
A. They Depended on Sight Instead of God’s Word (Deut.1:22-23)
B. They Saw the People Instead of God’s Power (Num.13:28-29)
C. They Focused on the Difficulties and Not the Opportunities (Num.13:31; Ps.106:24-25)
CONCLUSION: God had shown His power and favor to the Israelites many times and in many ways. He had performed miracle after miracle on their behalf. He now expected them to trust in Him to fulfill His promises. They failed the test of faith.
Copyright © 2002
Antioch Baptist Church Knoxville, Tennessee