For 40 Days – Day 12: The Scouts’ Reports: Content

Key Episode Scripture: Numbers chapters 13-14

 “Go up into the Negeb and go up into the hill country, and see what the land is, and whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many, and whether the land that they dwell in is good or bad, and whether the cities that they dwell in are camps or strongholds, and whether the land is rich or poor, and whether there are trees in it or not. Be of good courage and bring some of the fruit of the land.” (Numbers 13:17-20 ESVUK)

Previously, we considered the context of this episode. Here, we check the content of the forty days. It’s definitely worth reading and listening to chapters 13 and 14 of Numbers. This is not a replacement for that. It is more of a summary of action.

Numbers 13

1-16—God instructs Moses to send representatives from each tribe of Israel to visit the Promised Land. The twelve representatives are named, including one named Hoshea, whom Moses calls Joshua.

17-20 – Moses instructs and encourages the spies on where to go, what to look for, and what to bring back.

21-24 – The spies scout the areas and pick up the fruit.

25-29 – After 40 days of scouting, they return to share the goods and their reports with Moses and Israel. The report confirms what they’re told but highlights the significant opposition from the natives.

30-33 – Caleb encourages the congregation to go and overcome. Most of the other scouts contradict him, saying the opposition is stronger, the land is too much for them, and they’ll be overwhelmed by the odds.

Numbers 14

1-4 – The congregation moan about God, Moses, being set up to die in the wilderness and wondering if they were better off back in Egypt. Then, electing to get another leader to take them back.

5-10 – Moses and Aaron fall before the congregation, while Joshua and Caleb point out that the land is great, with God for them, they can make the most of the land and warn them not to rebel against God. The congregation don’t respond well to this, looking to stone them before God’s glory shows up.

11-12 – God tells Moses that He’s sick of the people despising Him in unbelief despite all He’s done for them, so He’ll wipe them out and make something better from Moses.

13-19 – Moses passionately intercedes on behalf of the people, asking God to forgive them and not follow that plan, as it would send a bad message to the neighbours. Moses also appeals to God’s character.

20-25 – God pardons but then outlines punishment. The entire generation who saw the signs of Egypt – then tested God ten times in faithless disobedience – won’t see the Promised Land. Caleb is the exception because of his spirit. As a result of this, Israel is to turn back to the wilderness.

26-35 – God informs Moses and Aaron to tell Israel that He’s heard the grumbling and will give them what they’ve been grumbling about. All those over 20 years old in the census will die in the wilderness, except for Joshua and Caleb. The children will make it, but they won’t. The wilderness wandering will last 40 years – a year for each day spent scouting. God makes it for sure that it will happen.

36-38 – 10 of the 12 spies who sparked the rebellion with their negative report die by a plague. Joshua and Caleb stay alive.

39-45 – When the people hear what Moses says about them, they mourn and wake up the next day pledging to go for the land. Moses warns them that God isn’t with them. They decide to go for it anyway – presumptuously – without Moses or the ark – and receive a beating from the natives.

Next, we will explore the concepts of this episode, hopefully gaining some noteworthy insights to help us understand what’s going on beyond and beneath the action outlined.

For His Name’s Sake

C. L. J. Dryden

Shalom