Numbers 13-15

Numbers 13 begins with a promise and a request of God. He asks Moses to "send in some men to explore the land," and this is His request. Why does He want them to do this? He wants them to see what they are going to get. This is the promise, "which I will give to you (emphasis mine)." They aren't going in to assess the cost or work it will take to get the land. They are supposed to go in and just see it, revel in it, marvel at it, be encouraged by it. Instead, they lose sight of the promise and take the request as the most important thing. This happens a lot. Many of us are called or told to do something, but when we begin to look into it, it looks too big or too tough or too expensive to pull off. We lose sight of the promise for the request.

Moses sends in the 12 spies, and all but Joshua and Caleb lose sight of what God will do. They return from the land with great fruit and with cheerful reports of what riches are in the land. They are not cheerful by what they see. They see great walled cities (like Jericho) and giants (Nephilim, like Goliath). They forget that God told them it was theirs. Instead, in chapter 14, they chose to pick a new leader and desire to return to Egypt. Likely they have forgotten the pain of slavery (although they might desire that instead of the desert at this point). It is possible that they believe that because of what God did in Egypt, pharaoh might treat them differently – although they are neglecting that this God would not be with them. They want to return, and God desires to destroy them. Moses and Aaron appeal on their behalf, and Moses appeals to God for the glory of His name in the earth (what will Egypt think – they will think they have won!). God relents, but kills the 10 spies with a plague and tells everyone over 20 that they will not enter the land. Wow. Imagine how this would feel. I would likely have been one of the guys that tried to go in anyways and was defeated. I often mess up and don't like the consequences – wanting to press on anyways without God's blessing. Pray that I don't do this, and that you don't either.

Numbers 15 is about some more sacrifices and the first stoning of a Sabbath breaker. Can you imagine if church's stoned people for missing church (though this would be a poor understanding of the word "Sabbath")? How crazy would that be? The tassels at the end of chapter 15 is great and interesting (and some have connected it with Christ's ministry – the healing of the bleeding woman). What do you all think?