So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath.
The verse describes the twelve spies making a forty-day survey of the whole of the promised land, from its southern boundary northward to the approach to Hamath. Their exploration confirmed its great fertility by the abundant fruit they brought back, while also noting its strong inhabitants, high-walled fortified cities, and the Anakites. Most of the spies then exaggerated its dangers in a discouraging report that spread unbelief and set the people almost frantic with disappointment. Joshua with Caleb alone faithfully reported its richness and attractiveness and urged Israel to go up and possess it in reliance on God and in God's strength. That history is re-enacted now when cowardly complaining, drawing back from risk, and unbelief increase as Christ's second advent nears, calling for men of spiritual nerve and stamina to stand boldly for God and the right as Caleb did.
The Spies' Search
The spies went up and searched the promised land from the wilderness of Zin in the south, its southern boundary, northward to Rehob near the approach to Hamath. Their journey ranged across the broad extent and whole of the land they were sent to examine, from south to north. It was a forty-day survey of the land God had promised Israel.
Their exploration confirmed the land's fertility, for they returned to Moses, Aaron, and the congregation and showed its abundant fruit as evidence that it was good. At the same time they reported on its inhabitants and the obstacles to possessing it. Those obstacles included the strength of the inhabitants, fortified cities with high walls around them, and the presence of the Anakites.
The search began at the people's suggestion and was allowed by God to teach them that following His direction was the only safe course. The episode ended in disaster because the people responded with unbelief and rebellion. Their choice brought God's judgment of forty years in the wilderness. After the people received that judgment, their later attempt to enter the land came too late against prepared enemies and was defeated.
The Canaanite nations still remembered the Hebrew spies' visit about forty years later, which kept them alert to Israel's possible invasion.
Faithfulness and Present Application
The survey itself proved the land fertile, for after forty days the searchers came back with abundant fruit as proof of its goodness, yet most of the men then turned the people from entering by dwelling on its dangers, on the strength of its inhabitants, on cities walled high, and on the Anakites dwelling there. Their reports against going in were exaggerated and discouraging, and they threw the congregation into unbelief and left them almost frantic with disappointment. Such a course exhibits seeing things in a highly colored light, telling matters merely as they appear, and misleading hearers by confident assertions, from lack of faith to take hold of the work and lack of spiritual eyesight to discern spiritual things. That spirit blocks the wheels of God's work and does harm to the cause.
Joshua was one of the twelve who made that search from the wilderness of Zin northward to Rehob toward Hamath, and with Caleb he was one of the two who faithfully declared the richness and attractiveness of the land. They urged Israel to go up and take possession in reliance on God and in God's strength. His share in the search, together with his service as prime minister to Moses, his sight of God's wonderful works wrought by Moses, and his knowledge of the disposition of the people, fitted him to lead Israel into Canaan after Moses' death. To that leadership was joined God's promise to be with him and to make Canaan an easy conquest if he faithfully observed all His commandments.
That history applies to God's people now, for the same cowardly complaining and drawing back from action when risks must be met, and the same unwillingness to heed faithful reports and true counsel seen in the days of Caleb and Joshua, are re-enacted today. Servants of God who bear the burden of His cause in strict self-denial and privation to help His people are seldom better appreciated now than then, ancient Israel having been repeatedly tested and found wanting while few received God's faithful warnings. Darkness and unbelief increase as the second advent of Christ nears, truth becomes less palatable to the carnally minded, hearts are slow to believe and tardy to repent, and though the Lord has long borne with His people, forgiven their wanderings, and waited for room in their hearts, false ideas, jealousy, and distrust have crowded Him out. Few enlightened by divine wisdom dare come boldly forward as Caleb did and stand firmly for God and the right, and because those chosen to conduct His work will not turn from integrity to gratify the selfish and unconsecrated, they become the target for hatred and malicious falsehood. Satan is awake and working warily in these last days, and God calls for men of spiritual nerve and stamina to resist his artifices.
The loud, boisterous rebellion and human prejudice that broke out on the spies' return reappears in modern Israel when council meetings, board meetings, and auditing committees settle accounts with ministers in injustice and prejudice. Such dealing is destitute of the divine nature and of the Spirit and grace of God. Caleb and Joshua supplied the faithful influence that withstood and reproved that evil current, and responsible leaders must do the same rather than encourage evil to swell by silence. Men with no experimental knowledge of ministerial work must never judge ministers, for God is present in all council meetings and auditing of accounts and keeps a record of how every person is dealt with.
The verse describes the twelve spies making a forty-day survey of the whole of the promised land, from its southern boundary northward to the approach to Hamath. Their exploration confirmed its great fertility by the abundant fruit they brought back, while also noting its strong inhabitants, high-walled fortified cities, and the Anakites. Most of the spies then exaggerated its dangers in a discouraging report that spread unbelief and set the people almost frantic with disappointment. Joshua with Caleb alone faithfully reported its richness and attractiveness and urged Israel to go up and possess it in reliance on God and in God's strength. That history is re-enacted now when cowardly complaining, drawing back from risk, and unbelief increase as Christ's second advent nears, calling for men of spiritual nerve and stamina to stand boldly for God and the right as Caleb did.
The Spies' Search
The spies went up and searched the promised land from the wilderness of Zin in the south, its southern boundary, northward to Rehob near the approach to Hamath. Their journey ranged across the broad extent and whole of the land they were sent to examine, from south to north. It was a forty-day survey of the land God had promised Israel.
Their exploration confirmed the land's fertility, for they returned to Moses, Aaron, and the congregation and showed its abundant fruit as evidence that it was good. At the same time they reported on its inhabitants and the obstacles to possessing it. Those obstacles included the strength of the inhabitants, fortified cities with high walls around them, and the presence of the Anakites.
The search began at the people's suggestion and was allowed by God to teach them that following His direction was the only safe course. The episode ended in disaster because the people responded with unbelief and rebellion. Their choice brought God's judgment of forty years in the wilderness. After the people received that judgment, their later attempt to enter the land came too late against prepared enemies and was defeated.
The Canaanite nations still remembered the Hebrew spies' visit about forty years later, which kept them alert to Israel's possible invasion.
Faithfulness and Present Application
The survey itself proved the land fertile, for after forty days the searchers came back with abundant fruit as proof of its goodness, yet most of the men then turned the people from entering by dwelling on its dangers, on the strength of its inhabitants, on cities walled high, and on the Anakites dwelling there. Their reports against going in were exaggerated and discouraging, and they threw the congregation into unbelief and left them almost frantic with disappointment. Such a course exhibits seeing things in a highly colored light, telling matters merely as they appear, and misleading hearers by confident assertions, from lack of faith to take hold of the work and lack of spiritual eyesight to discern spiritual things. That spirit blocks the wheels of God's work and does harm to the cause.
Joshua was one of the twelve who made that search from the wilderness of Zin northward to Rehob toward Hamath, and with Caleb he was one of the two who faithfully declared the richness and attractiveness of the land. They urged Israel to go up and take possession in reliance on God and in God's strength. His share in the search, together with his service as prime minister to Moses, his sight of God's wonderful works wrought by Moses, and his knowledge of the disposition of the people, fitted him to lead Israel into Canaan after Moses' death. To that leadership was joined God's promise to be with him and to make Canaan an easy conquest if he faithfully observed all His commandments.
That history applies to God's people now, for the same cowardly complaining and drawing back from action when risks must be met, and the same unwillingness to heed faithful reports and true counsel seen in the days of Caleb and Joshua, are re-enacted today. Servants of God who bear the burden of His cause in strict self-denial and privation to help His people are seldom better appreciated now than then, ancient Israel having been repeatedly tested and found wanting while few received God's faithful warnings. Darkness and unbelief increase as the second advent of Christ nears, truth becomes less palatable to the carnally minded, hearts are slow to believe and tardy to repent, and though the Lord has long borne with His people, forgiven their wanderings, and waited for room in their hearts, false ideas, jealousy, and distrust have crowded Him out. Few enlightened by divine wisdom dare come boldly forward as Caleb did and stand firmly for God and the right, and because those chosen to conduct His work will not turn from integrity to gratify the selfish and unconsecrated, they become the target for hatred and malicious falsehood. Satan is awake and working warily in these last days, and God calls for men of spiritual nerve and stamina to resist his artifices.
The loud, boisterous rebellion and human prejudice that broke out on the spies' return reappears in modern Israel when council meetings, board meetings, and auditing committees settle accounts with ministers in injustice and prejudice. Such dealing is destitute of the divine nature and of the Spirit and grace of God. Caleb and Joshua supplied the faithful influence that withstood and reproved that evil current, and responsible leaders must do the same rather than encourage evil to swell by silence. Men with no experimental knowledge of ministerial work must never judge ministers, for God is present in all council meetings and auditing of accounts and keeps a record of how every person is dealt with.