Studying the book of Numbers has taught more about God’s grace and power than I had expected.  I love the Old Testament because there is so much history, and reading these texts help one better understand both the context and various meanings found in the New Testament.   One of the things that the young adults’ pastor at my church often reminds us of is the fact that those of the New Testament were living in the Old Testament times and customs.

The story of Caleb, Joshua, and ten other spies of Israel is one I have come to know well.  It tells of days where the Israelites escaped Egypt and were waiting to enter the promise land: Canaan.  God allowed the Israelites to spy out the land, and the Israelites chose one man from each of the the twelve tribes.  In Numbers 13:2 the Lord tells Moses, “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel.”

The Lord was testing them.  He stated that He would give them the land, and He allowed them to examine it beforehand.  Could the Lord have been anymore clear with His words?  He gave them the opportunity to see and to trust Him more, but they failed to do so.  Ten of the spies returned and gave a “bad report” (Numbers 13:32), telling the Israelites that the people of Canaan are “strong, and the cities are fortified” (Numbers 13:28).  The ten spies claimed that Israel could not overtake the city, and, to be fair, they were quite right.  God told them that He would give it to them, not that they could take the land without Him.  “But Caleb quieted the people…and said ‘Let us go up at once and occupy it [Canaan], for we are able to overcome it,’” Numbers 13:30.  Caleb understood what God had promised, and He was ready to take captive God’s plan, but Israel lacked faith.

Once they saw the land He promised, they grew afraid of man.  They displaced their holy fear of God and gave it to their enemies.  They lost sight of their Deliverer and became consumed by their terror.  A Psalmist wrote “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.  What can man do to me?” Psalm 118:6.  Because of their unbelief, God would not allow any from that generation to enter into the promised land, and they had to wander in the desert for forty years.  How heartbreaking.

His words are pure (Psalm 12:6).  God’s words are free from contamination of any kind; unmodified by any mixture.  He has no ulterior motive or deceit against His people.  Why must we fear what He has promised to give us?  Jesus once spoke to his disciples saying “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 8:26).  Jesus calmed the storm that influenced them to fear, and all that the disciples could do was “marvel” at Him (Matthew 8:27).  In Him there is truth and promises beyond what we deserve; we must not fear the people or circumstances that surround us.

For Further Reading:

Psalm 18:30

Isaiah 41:10

II Samuel 22:31

Philippians 4:6-7

Proverb 30:5