From Pyramids to Promised Land

This is the time of year that weather bulletins often interrupt television programming. If you are like me, when a weather broadcast takes the first 10 minutes of the hour then they join programming already in progress, it takes me awhile to figure out who all the characters are and how they fit into the plot.

Today we pick up a story that is already in progress and my goal is to help us catch up with the plot, and Lord willing next week, we will discover the twist that leads to a 40-year desert detour before the Lord gives them a chance at a Do-over.

Here is 600 years in 60 seconds.

· God promised Abraham some property.

· Abraham’s grandson Jacob had 12 sons. 11 sons sold 1 brother into slavery.

· Famine comes into Jacob’s (a.k.a. Israel) territory

· The Son sold into slavery (Joseph) invites the family to move to Egypt.

· In Egypt a new Pharoah rises and Abraham’s descendants become slaves.

· God raises Moses to lead Abraham’s descendants (Hebrews) back to the land promised to Abraham.

· 10 plagues convince Pharaoh to release them. 10 rules are given to maintain order as the tribe journeys.

Here is where I take off the fast-forward and we move at a normal pace.

· The book of Numbers picks up as they are traveling. Just like most family vacations, the kids find many reasons to complain.

· In 11:1-3 the first complaint becomes “Are we there yet? I’m tired of the trip!

· In 11:4-35 the 2nd complaint is aired, “We’re hungry!”

· In ch. 12 the adults get into a tussle because Miriam and Aaron think Moses is making all the decisions.

· In ch. 13 Moses tries to get everybody to put on their happy faces.

Transition: This brings us to today’s text that we will look at a lot slower. The chapter starts with…

God Speaks and Moses Sends (vv.1-3)

Numbers 13:1–3 ESV:2016

1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel. From each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a chief among them.” 3 So Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran, according to the command of the Lord, all of them men who were heads of the people of Israel.

Explanation

1. The word “spy” is an unfortunate translation that we inherited from the King James. Hebrew has 2 words that can be used in this context—1 means “to explore” and the other means “to secretly do reconnaissance”. Later on in Joshua 1 this 2nd word for reconnaissance/spy is used, but here the ideas is to scout out or explore.

2. The adjective “chief” in v.2 is not so much a ruler, but that Moses was to pick out someone who would have influence among the rest of the tribe.

Illustration

I think the idea that God has in mind is like a parent telling his/her children, “Go check out all the presents under the tree that you are going to be able to open on Christmas. See if any of them are for you!”

Application

1. The journey of this life sometimes get hard and sometimes we get a little snippy with those around us.

2. A frequent message of the OT was the “Day of the Lord” it was a reminder that things are going to get better!

3. A very common message of the Gospels is the coming Kingdom. It was a reminder that this world is not all there is to experience, that a kingdom is coming where justice and righteousness rule.

4. Today we look forward to the 2nd coming and the consummation of the age when sin and wickedness will be dealt with and all the negative effects of the Fall will be undone as Jesus brings in a new Heaven and a New Earth.

5. The Lord still says, “check out the place I am giving to my people.”

Transition: The next 13 verses list the influential leaders that Moses chose. God chose to list these names so that we would know they were real people and this is not just a myth, so it is important enough that I’m going to read their names.

Scouts are Selected (vv.4-16)

Numbers 13:4–16 ESV:2016

4 And these were their names: From the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur; 5 from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori; 6 from the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh; 7 from the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph; 8 from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Nun; 9 from the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu; 10 from the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi; 11 from the tribe of Joseph (that is, from the tribe of Manasseh), Gaddi the son of Susi; 12 from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli; 13 from the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael; 14 from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi; 15 from the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi. 16 These were the names of the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun Joshua.

Explanation

1. Different from the tribal leaders listed in 1:5-15.

2. Only 2 of these 12 are mentioned anywhere else in Scripture, Caleb & Joshua.

3. These 10 were probably chosen because they were physically able to complete a 350 mile journey and they had influence within their clans.

4. Hoshea’s name is changed in v.16 from “he delivers” to “Yahweh delivers”

Illustration

Look back at verse 6. What tribe does Caleb belong to? Who else do we know comes from the tribe of Judah? The Lion of Judah?

Interestingly, the name Caleb actually comes from the word Kalev – dog. We will see later that this one with the determination of a dog with a bone, is the one who will receive the hill country of Hebron.

Application

1. You can confirm this yourself by going to Google translate on your phone or computer. Put English next to Hebrew and enter “dog” on the English side.

2. Just a bit of trivia – I just told you that Kalev means “dog”. What is the mascot for our High School?

3. In Hebrew, kalev also has a verb form. If the noun form is dog, what do you think the verb form is? To chase or pursue! And what is the name of our County?

I know that our County was not named after a Hebrew vocabulary lesson. But when you consider the resilience of our people, the mascot of our school and the name of our County, I hope it will be a reminder to us to “doggedly chase” after the will of God.

Transition: To these 12 Scouts…

Moses gives a Strategic Plan (vv.17-20)

Numbers 13:17–20 ESV:2016

17 Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan and said to them, “Go up into the Negeb and go up into the hill country, 18 and see what the land is, and whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many, 19 and whether the land that they dwell in is good or bad, and whether the cities that they dwell in are camps or strongholds, 20 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.” Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes.

Explanation

1. You may recall how Dr. Julius told us that Hebrew uses structure to show the high point. Moses uses this same structure in these verses.

2. Vv. 18 & 20 speak of the land. 18b & 19b speak of the inhabitants (people & cities). Pinnacle of the mission is 19a – Is the land good or bad?

· Land (18a)

o People – number & strength (18b)

Ø Good or Bad (19a)

o Cities – camps or strongholds (19b)

· Land/soil – fertile or barren (20a)

3. 20b – He optimistically answers 20a by telling them to bring back samples!

Illustration

It is like he is sending them to Costco on a Saturday morning. He doesn’t know what will be sampled, but he trusts that there will be lots of samples to choose from.

Application

1. Moses is perfectly aware of the 3 complaints that had been leveraged against him in the previous 2 chapters, but he chose to tell the Scouts to focus on the positive.

When I think of optimists and pessimists I’m reminded of an avid duck hunter who was in the market for a new bird dog. His search ended when he found a dog that could actually walk on water to retrieve a duck. Shocked by his find, he was sure none of his friends would ever believe him. He decided to try to break the news to a friend of his, a pessimist by nature, and invited him to hunt with him and his new dog. As they waited by the shore, a flock of ducks flew by. they fired, and a duck fell. The dog responded and jumped into the water. The dog, however, did not sink but instead walked across the water to retrieve the bird, never getting more than his paws wet. This continued all day long; each time a duck fell, the dog walked across the surface of the water to retrieve it. The pessimist watched carefully, saw everything, but did not say a single word. On the drive home the hunter asked his friend, "Did you notice anything unusual about my new dog?" "I sure did," responded the pessimist. "Your dog can't swim!"

Transition: With the mission clearly in mind…

The Scouts Survey the Land (vv.21-22)

Numbers 13:21–22 ESV:2016

21 So they went up and spied out the land from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob, near Lebo-hamath. 22 They went up into the Negeb and came to Hebron. Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were there. (Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)

Explanation (show map)

Route of Spies

1. Started in the Negev (just across the border from Zin region) and went as far as Lebo-hamath (southern Lebanon).

2. Near Hebron they discovered 3 clans of tall and mighty warriors (who would later fall during Joshua’s conquest)

3. Hebron is significant

a. Would become the home to Caleb

b. Was marked by the Patriarchs (Abraham buried Sarah’s bones here – Gen 23:19, then he was buried there – Gen 49:31 along with his son and grandson).

c. Hebron will be David’s headquarters for 7 years before he moves to Jerusalem.

Application

1. These places are significant because

God created the land and has the right to say how it is used.

God promised this Land to Abraham’s descendants.

This stretch of land is the most contested real estate on the globe!

To this day the UN and some of our own Congressional representatives cannot acknowledge that this land belongs to Israel.

Transition: Remember, The scouts were supposed to inspect land (Negev & Hill Country), people (Anakim and ancient cities like Hebron), but also to inquire “is the land good?”

The Scouts Saw Evidence of God’s Goodness (vv.23-24)

Numbers 13:23–24 ESV:2016

23 And they came to the Valley of Eshcol and cut down from there a branch with a single cluster of grapes, and they carried it on a pole between two of them; they also brought some pomegranates and figs. 24 That place was called the Valley of Eshcol, because of the cluster that the people of Israel cut down from there.

Explanation

1. The saw with their eyes and they sawed with a saw because it was so incredible, they wouldn’t be believed.

2. The grape cluster on a pole was impressive enough, but what else did they bring? Why not wheat or barley that had recently been harvested?

Illustration

1. These 3 fruits carried special meaning in the Ancient Near East world.

2. Eerdman’s Dictionary of the Bible points out that “grapes grow on grapevines which must be pruned and cultivated to ensure abundant fruiting”.

Our own Brendan and Maci Harshman planted a vineyard last year and how many years were you told to wait to expect your first harvest?

3. The Israelites are living as nomads and wandering through the desert, but God promises here is a place where you can settle down and grow family roots. Grapes were symbolic of pleasure and stability.

4. Pomegranates occur most in the Song of Solomon. The luscious red fruit contains an outer husk that can be used as red dye for leather. The fruit can be eaten fresh or prepared into a syrup. The pomegranate symbolized fertility in the ancient world.

5. Figs were the 3rd fruit taken back. Figs were used medicinally (2 Kings 20:7) and were a sign of peace and (because they fruited 3 times a year) also symbolized prosperity.

Application

1. God said, “send out representatives to observe what I am about to give you.”

2. They started in deserts with land that could not be cultivated and ended up in the lush hills hydrated by the winter rains.

3. On their way back they found fruits that indicated God would provide for these nomadic slaves pleasure, stability, fertility, health, peace & prosperity.

4. Indeed, the Promised Land was a good land.

Transition: Too often we take our eyes off the blessings of God and find ourselves grumbling, complaining and rebelling.

Conclusion:

We are just like the Hebrews when we get impatient and whine “Are we there yet? Why is God taking so long?” We mirror the Israelites when we complain about our appetites and the things we think will make us happy. We squabble with each other with the jealousy and back-biting of Miriam and Aaron. And God reminds us, “Better things are in store! Stay the course.

Next week, Lord Willing, we will see the mess that happens when we think we know better than the Lord.

But for now, let’s try to avoid the mistakes that lead to heartache by committing afresh to trust that God’s promises are good.

Song of Response #349..... “Trust and Obey”

Benediction: Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV) — For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

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