Father give us courage. Help us to remember that you have prepared a place for us.
The children of Israel had been traveling around the wilderness for nearly one year when they approached the border of the land. God instructed Moses to send out twelve men, one from each tribe who were heads of the Children of Israel. The purpose of this trip was to show just how good the land was that God had promised. It was also a test.
When Moses sent them he asked them to check if the land was good or bad. Remember that God had already described the land and told them just how good it was. God had also promised that he would drive out the inhabitants. So from the Children of Israel's point of view the land was perfect for them to take. When they got there, they found that the land was so good that it took two men to carry a bunch of grapes (Numbers13:23)
But like all tests there is a possibility of failure (or there's no point in having a test!) And only two out of twelve passed; Hoseah (or Joshua) son of Nun and Caleb.
The other ten saw the cities, or more probably the inhabitants of the land, and where very frightened. After years of warfare the land was not very populated. Archaeological records show 'cities' like Ai where little more than ruins before Joshua entered the land. But the people were bigger than them. They forgot that God would look after them if they obeyed him.
So they brought back word that the land was dangerous. I wonder if they'd seen the ruined cities and instead of being grateful for building materials they were worried that the work required was too much for them. That's one thing I've learned about converting my barn. Quite a lot of people have seen the piles of rubble and old stones and thought that it was too messy, required too much work to move them. To me they're a good source of building stone. I've built a few retaining walls out of them, and repaired quite a lot of the existing stonework. And it's cost me nothing but time and hard work. But think what it would be like without lorries to transport the stone. God had given them a gift, but they chose to criticize it.
Only Joshua and Caleb were faithful to God, and as such where the only ones there who were rewarded.
What can we learn from the above?
God keeps his promises, but that requires faith.
Why did God tell Moses to send twelve men out to view the land?
Why were the Children of Israel so frightened to enter the land?
What did God do to punish them? (Numbers14:33)