Scripture Daily

Context No. 3463 of 4322 · Numbers

Context · Reflection

Numbers 13:16-20: in context

16These are the names of the men who Moses sent to spy out the land. Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun Joshua. 17Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, “Go up this way by the South, and go up into the hill country. 18See the land, what it is; and the people who dwell therein, whether they are strong or weak, whether they are few or many; 19and what the land is that they dwell in, whether it is good or bad; and what cities they are that they dwell in, whether in camps, or in strongholds; 20and what the land is, whether it is fertile or poor, whether there is wood therein, or not. Be courageous, and bring some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the time of the first-ripe grapes.

Moses sends the twelve to scout Canaan with careful instructions: see the land, whether it is good or bad, the people strong or weak, the cities fortified or open, and, he adds, be of good courage, and bring back some of the fruit of the land. It was the season of the first ripe grapes.

Two things stand together here. There is a place for honest investigation; Moses wants a clear-eyed report of what lies ahead, not a naive optimism that ignores the difficulties. Faith does not mean pretending the giants and fortified cities are not there. But he also charges them, be of good courage, for the facts were to be weighed in the light of God's promise, not apart from it. The failure, when it came, was not in seeing the giants but in forgetting God while staring at them. And bring back the fruit, he says, a reminder of the goodness of what God had promised, to steady their resolve. Honest assessment and courageous faith are meant to go together.

Do I look honestly at the challenges before me while also holding fast to courage and faith in God's promise, weighing the facts in the light of what he has said?

Sources