Caleb and Joshua

There are several instances in the Bible that might lead us to think that God delights in setting up “impossible” situations!  For example David battling Goliath, and Gideon with only 300 men confronting the Midianites who had hundreds of thousands of soldiers.  There were also eleven rather fearful apostles taking on the might of the Roman Empire with the gospel message!

It is often through situations that seem “impossible” that God chooses to change us so that we become more like Christ.  Is it any wonder that we so often struggle against this in our modern society that places high values on security, control, power and achievement through human strength.

Let us consider the situation facing the Israelites as told in the passage we have had read to us tonight. 

Spies had been sent out y Moses into the Promised Land, to explore Cannan, in order to see what it was really like.  They had been given specific things to look out for:

Numbers 13 vv 17-20 When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, "Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees on it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land." (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)

They explored the land for 40 days and then reported back to Moses and the people - and it seemed encouraging. They had brought back with them pomegranates and figs and a branch with a cluster of grapes, which two of the spies had carried back on a pole between them. "We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit.” Just imagine the people’s reaction to seeing rich fruits and ripe grapes, especially after their long journeying through the desert and staple food of Manna!

But that joy was to be short lived “But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there.”

They went on to spread a bad report amongst the people in effect saying that there was no purpose in even attempting a conquest of the land: The Canaanites were described as being stronger than them and the cities were represented as being impregnable fortresses with great walls.  But the thing they emphasised most was the description of the people as being great giants!  “We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”  They were in effect saying that there was so much to be fearful of that another plan of action was necessary, instead of going forward into the Promised Land.

Even from a human perspective they were reacting in a cowardly manner.  Israel was united and would present a formidable army with a wise and brave leader in Moses.  Yes the Cannanites were strong but were dispersed - some in the south and some in the mountains - and would not present a united front.  Sieges could be laid to the cities and as for the giants, there big stature would not necessarily be of advantage - they would be easier targets for a start!

But far worse than their reaction as cowards, was their unbelief.  Wasn’t God with them in their midst? Wasn’t he providing their daily bread? Hadn’t he brought them out the tyranny of the mighty Egypt? Hadn’t God given assurances to Abraham about the Promised Land? 

Psalm 106 v 24 “Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe his promise.” In effect they were questioning God’s plan for his people.”

Caleb spoke out boldly and gave the minority report.  He had seen the same things as the rest of the spies, but had a different perspective. He was from the leading tribe of Judah and deserved to be heard.  He silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." For him the obstacles were insignificant when put alongside the greatness of the God of Israel. He is in effect saying that the people need to act straightaway and take possession of the land - how interesting that he does not talk of the need to conquer - he could see that their great God was ready to give them the Promised Land if only they would take the step to enter it.  He had an active faith in the power and promise of God and tried to encourage the nation to act accordingly.  He was able to let go of sight and sense and fix his attention on the unseen reality of God and his promise

But no the people did not share his faith in the ability of God to make good His promise.  How they fretted!  They wept aloud that night - but what for, the enemy was not nearby - they simply imagined that they were in a desperate situation because they gave credit to the spies report rather than the word of God.  Unbelief is a sin, which is in effect brings its own punishment - if we are not trusting in God then we are continually uneasy!

They grumbled against their leaders Moses and Aaron.  Their discontentment spread like wildfire and they despised those in authority. They even wished they had died in captivity in Egypt or on the journey through the desert - what a groundless despair they had!

Numbers 14 vv 3-4 "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. 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."

They have lost all perspective in their view of God at this point and even suggest he is acting maliciously in bringing them to this place in order that they fall to the sword, including their innocent women and children.  It is if they are saying that all the good things God had done for them in the past were intended only to be a decoy. 

Don’t let us allow our perspective of God to be so distorted - as if he delights in the hardships and sufferings of his people!  Our God is a God of love who longs for sinners to turn to him and be saved, not for them to perish without hope. 

The Israelites came to a desperate resolve - that they should go back to Egypt rather than forward into Canaan!  At first this suggestion was by way of a question:  “Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?" but such was their despair and loss of perspective that this soon turned into a resolution, without any serious debate on the matter. "We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt." Had they so soon forgotten the bondage they had been under - the tyranny of making bricks in the hot sun?  And after all the plagues Egypt had suffered because of them no doubt they would be treated far more harshly were they to go back!

Don’t let us fall into the trap of wishing to go back in our lives.  If we are determined to do so we can look for a reason to be uneasy whatever our current situation is in life, even if it is overall comfortable and stable.  We should not be asking “Wouldn’t it be better to go back to Egypt” but rather “wouldn’t it be better to make the best of what is!”  Heaven is the Canaan set before us.

The leaders tried to still the tumult.  Moses and Aaron couldn’t be heard above the clamour but fell facedown in front of everyone, an act signifying their desire to rely on God.  They showed the concern of their hearts and their desire to still the rebellion.  They showed true leadership qualities in being prepared to prostrate themselves in front of the crowds despite their positions of honour. Caleb and Joshua tore their clothes - they felt they had to do anything they could to still the storm that their spies had raised.  They spoke with great authority and assured the people that the land they had seen was exceedingly good.  They exhorted the people not to rebel against God but to trust in Him and receive the gift of the Promised Land from Him.   They reminded the people that God was with them and that He would not allow the Canaanites to hold out against Gods people.

They explained that the only danger the Israelites were in arose from their discontentment.  It was only they themselves that could exclude them from inheriting what God longed to give them. But the people become more enraged and they moved towards stoning their leaders.  At that point Caleb and Joshua would no doubt have taken to heart the truth that they had just declared to the people, namely that “the Lord is with us”!

And indeed the glory of the Lord appeared, to the terror and confusion of those who were moving to stone them.  Caleb and Joshua were faithfully speaking out the truth of God, but as soon as they were threatened then God intervened directly as he chose to give them his special protection. 

God then spoke to Moses and almost sounds exasperated in the light of all the miracles he has wrought. As a result of the people not wanting to enter the Promised Land God granted them that request as judgement and of that generation of Israelites only Caleb and Joshua entered the Promised Land.

I would encourage you this coming week to spend some time thinking about what the “giants” are that are confronting you in your life?  If you are anything like me that won’t take long and you may in fact be already aware what they are!

I would also encourage you NOT to react to them with a distorted perspective and allow them to hold you back from being the person that God wants you to be.  Learn from Caleb and Joshua who did not allow the problems of the present to overwhelm them.  Make sure that you remind yourself of who God is, and bring back to mind those times in the past when He has met with you in special ways.  Don’t forget that He is indeed with you and you have nothing to fear.

© Jes Branscombe

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