Sermon Tone Analysis

Route of Spies

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)

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)

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)

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)

Explanation (show map)