# 21 2026 Dev. Numbers.13-14. Faith! Read all of chapters thirteen and fourteen first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Nu.13. Exploring Canaan.
Vs.1-25 “The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites.” Moses picked one person from each tribe, 12 in all to go and spy out the land. They did as Moses instructed them, they stayed for forty days and brought some of the fruit of the land back to Moses.
Vs.26-33 The Report! They reported that the land was flowing with milk and honey “But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large… Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, ‘We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.’”
But ten men of the group went around and stirred up the people against Moses. Caleb and Hoshea (Joshua), only two men out of twelve held onto their faith, they believed that God would do what he had promised! What about us? What about you? We all face difficult times in our lives. Do we believe that God will fulfil His purposes for our lives?
Nu.14 The People Rebel
Vs.1-4 The people said: “Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”
Vs.5-9 “Then Moses and Aaron fell face down in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes” They did everything possible to convince the assembly to trust God! Isn’t that the job of our pastors and church leaders today?
Vs.10-12 God spoke to Moses: “How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them? I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation greater and stronger than they.” Based on all the issues that Moses had deal with the people, what will he chose?
Vs.13-16 Moses, immediately, went into intercessory mode, arguing with God about His promises and about His power and glory. This is an amazing turn of events. As pastors and church leaders do we stand ready to intercede for our people?
Vs.17-19 This is Moses’ final argument; “Now may the Lord’s strength be displayed, just as you have declared: 18 ‘The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’ 19 In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.” This is our God, grace, love, forgiveness but also justice.
Vs.20-25 “The Lord replied, ‘I have forgiven them, as you asked.’” But God sent them back into the desert, God proclaimed not one 20 yr. old person and older will enter the land. God is faithful, true to His promises, but God also calls people to account.
Vs.26-35 “The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites.” God will not allow the present generation to enter the land. Not Moses or Aaron, only the children and Joshua, and Caleb because they believed God. The “rest will wander in the desert forty years, one year for every day they spent investigating the land.
Vs.36-45 The 10 spies who stirred up the people against Moses all died in a plague. Some of the men who had opposed Moses said they repented; “Now we are ready to go up to the land the Lord promised. Surely we have sinned!” Moses warned them not to try to take the land, which was against God’s will, but even so they went up and were defeated. Today, seeking and discerning God’s will can only be done in the power of the Holy Spirit, with humility, repentance and faith!
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Heavenhigh 