Numbers 13-15

Thoughts

Numbers 13

🎶 10 little spies went out to Canaan 10 were bad and 2 were good 🎶

Numbers 13:1–2 says, “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Send men to spy out the land of Canaan…’”, but Deuteronomy 1:22 reveals that the idea came from the people: “Then all of you came near me and said, ‘Let us send men before us…’

“And Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun, Joshua.” Hoshea means “salvation” and Ya-Hoshea (Joshua) means “God is salvation”

Map below of journey from https://www.preceptaustin.org/sites/default/files/images/spy.jpg

The word used in this chapter for “the spies” is הַתּוּרִים haturim or “the explorers”

The 12 spies were given a set of instructions (or “charges”) by Moses when he sent them to scout the land of Canaan. 

1. What the land is like (Is it good or bad?)
2. Whether the people are strong or weak
3. Whether the people are few or many
4. Whether the land they dwell in is good or bad
5. Whether the cities are camps or strongholds
6. Whether the land is rich or poor
7. Whether there are trees in it or not
8. To be courageous and bring back some of the fruit of the land (It was the season of the first ripe grapes)

The complaints of the 10 spies

• The people in the land are too strong.
• The cities are large and heavily fortified.
• The land is inhabited by many hostile groups (Amalekites, Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, Canaanites).
• We are not strong enough to defeat them.
• The land is dangerous and devours its inhabitants.
• The people living there are giants.
• We felt like grasshoppers compared to them.
• The land may not be as good as promised.
• Entering the land will lead to death for us and our families.
• God has brought us here only to let us fall by the sword.

Only Caleb speaks up in this chapter

The Nephilim return!

Numbers 14

Here we see Caleb AND Joshua speaking up for the land

Israel begins by weeping, then moves to complaining, escalates to rebellion, and ultimately incites violence.

“Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones” what led them to THAT

This is the second major time Moses had to intercede for Israel (after the golden calf)

For Moses complaining about his speech he sure is eloquent

Some say the 10 times Israel rejected God (from verse 22) are the Red Sea complaint, bitter water at Marah, hunger complaint in the Wilderness of Sin, disobedience with manna gathering amounts, attempting to gather manna on the Sabbath, testing God at Rephidim for water, making the golden calf at Sinai, general complaints at Taberah, craving meat and rejecting manna at Kibroth-hattaavah, rejecting the Promised Land after the spies’ report. BUT it could also just be an expression.

EVEN AFTER God’s wrath and punishment they still disobey by trying to go into the land on their own.

Numbers 15

Chapter opens up with instructions for grain, wine, and animal offerings. Applies to both Israelites and foreigners

When they come into Canaan they need to offer up the portion of the first dough to the Lord. This command is called “hafrashat challah” or separating a piece of dough before baking. It’s still practiced in some Jewish homes.

Both native-born and foreigners require sacrifices when the community or individuals sin unintentionally.
However anyone who sins defiantly (with a high hand) is to be cut off

A man caught gathering wood on the Sabbath is stoned (by God’s command) which shows the seriousness of breaking God’s law intentionally

Command to wear tassels (tzitzit) on garments to remember God’s commandments and remain faithful (pic below from https://messianiclight.com/wearing-tzitzit/)

Questions

Why was Ephraim not called tribe of Joseph but Manasseh was?

Why did they have to send the 12 spies? I know God commanded it but why?

God says He would disinherit Israel – wouldn’t that break His covenant?

“your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me” so only those over 20 didn’t see Promised Land?

Application

The big application is “trusting God over fear.” First, Israel demanded to send spies into the land they were already promised by the God of the universe. After God allowed it, they came back with fear, and that fear spread throughout the entire camp. It got to the point where they were ready to stone the ones who actually trusted God. Fear turned into unbelief, and unbelief turned into sin.As an anxious queen, I’m always letting things get to me and suffocate me with fear, instead of trusting in God’s provision. This reminds me how quickly fear can spiral and how important it is to anchor my heart in what God has already promised.