Numbers 13 Devotional
by Pastor Mark Hudson
This chapter explains why the Hebrews wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. This chapter is a low point in several low points in Numbers. The Lord is bringing the enslaved Hebrews out of Egypt into the Promised Land so they could serve God. God, the all-powerful, not only directs their departure, but He also judges Egypt, the Jews get spoil from the Egyptians, they cross the Red Sea, fed miraculously by manna from heaven, protected through the months so far, and they are given the gift of land. God’s purpose is to bring them into a land that He is giving them. Yet, what is their response?
Let’s look at verses 1-16, where the leaders of the tribes (chief among them) are named. Imagine being named in the Bible as a reason why the Jews wandered around for 40 years. Then in vs. 17-20, Moses gives specific directions. This was for intel for Moses, a type of spying, reconnaissance prior to arrival and conquest. This was not about whether they would go into the promised land but pure intel. The decision to take the promise land was a given. So, in verses 21-24, the 12 spies visit a few cities, view the people, and brought grapes, pomegranates and figs to Moses and the people.
In vs. 25-29, the report was a ‘bad report’ according to Moses’ account in v. 32. The 10 speak to “Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the people of Israel.” Only their first sentence was good. In verse 28, the downward spiral begins, “However, the people . . . are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large.” Then their lack-of-faith eyes could see giants but not the God that brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
So, in v. 30 Caleb reminds them, “we are well able to overcome it” knowing God is bigger than the descendants of Anak. But the other 10 spies immediately contradict Caleb, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.” Realize what the 10 spies are saying. They are giving counsel that go directly against God’s will. God has promised, promised, to bring them into the land. What God has done up to this point should give one every confidence in the world that He is able to do anything. What they are advising is not just a wait and see proposal but an absolute refusal to obey God. God asks Moses in 14:11, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me . . . ?”
God is incredibly patient in the face of unbelief. But that does not mean God does not punish unbelief. There were serious consequences to their rejection of God’s purpose. All unbelief is a moral issue not intellectual. For the next 40 years, these Hebrews buried thousands every year because of their unbelief. Their children would live to see the fulfillment of God’s promise as well as witness the death of those who did not believe God. Their aunts and uncle, fathers, and mothers, would die and be buried. Those under 20 years of age would be spared. One wonders how painful it must have been to see so many die off knowing these deaths were God’s judgment on unbelief.
Biblical belief is not believing something that is untrue or anti-intellectual. Belief is accepting what God has said and obeying His Word. If God tells me not to be jealous or bitter and I am, I am rejecting God and His will for me. I am nursing my rejection of God Himself. I am protecting and justifying my rebellion. My unbelief is absolute mutiny. It is a coup against God’s Kingship. Unbelief is not simply, “I don’t believe in Jesus Christ, but I do believe in God. I just don’t think Jesus is the only way.” Just as the Hebrews couldn’t say, “I believe in God I just don’t believe we should kick native people out of their lands. I think we should find some other plan or maybe another place.”
The 10 spies who persuaded the rest of the people saw the Nephilim as big and God as small. The Nephilim were strong, God weak. The job too big for the Jews; God unable to help. After all, did God give us manna? How do we know where it came from? The 10 spies were saying, ‘we saw those people. You didn’t. The land devours people, the cities are more fortified than we have ever seen, the people are giants. Look at us. We are just a bunch of runaway slaves. Do You think we have half a chance against those odds? We could die trying. No thanks. We should not go in. Don’t listen to Caleb and Joshua. If you follow their advice, you will be likely killed as a result.’
Notice in chapter 14 how personally God takes sin.
- 11, “despise me”
- 11, “not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?
- 22, “. . . my glory and my signs that I did . . . put me to the test . . . not obeyed my voice”
- 23 “that I swore to give . . . those who despised me”
- 24 “has followed me fully, I will bring”
- 27 “grumble against me (twice)
- 28 “ you have said in my hearing I will do to you”
- 29 “who have grumbled against me”
- 30 “where I swore that I would make you dwell”
- 31 “I will bring in”
- 34 “you shall know my displeasure”
- 35 “I, the Lord, have spoken. Surely this I will do to all this wicked congregation who are gathered together against me”
- 37 “died by plague before the Lord.
Dear Father, You are giving, supporting, loving, holy, wise, and all-sufficient. We are slowing realizing our sin is not impersonal but personally directed against You. So may our sanctification be growing so actively that our obedience is directed to and for You. May our lives be lived consciously coram deo (before the face of God). May You be a living being to us. Not just a vague belief or some higher power. We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.