Numbers 13:30, commentary and pictures

Caleb spoke at Kadesh after ten of the twelve men sent to examine the promised fruitful land brought back a frightening report of walled cities and giants that threw the congregation into wailing. He quieted the people before Moses with a clear voice to counter that evil influence and urged them to go up without delay and take possession. He did not deny that the cities were fortified and the inhabitants strong, but declared they were fully able to overcome because God had promised the land and His promise outweighed giants, high walls, and iron chariots. Israel refused that test of faith, rebelled and sought to return to Egypt and to kill the two faithful spies, so all above twenty were judged to die in the wilderness while Caleb and Joshua alone entered and Caleb took the giants’ stronghold for his own. His words remain the language of faith against fearful unbelief, calling God’s people to strengthen one another, to move forward at once instead of spreading discouragement, and to press on to the heavenly Canaan God is able to give.

Spies Survey Promised Land

The call belongs to the mission sent out from Kadesh, when one ruler from each tribe was chosen to examine the land, its people, and its produce. The land in view is the good land promised to Israel, a Canaan fruitful and rich, whose fertility even the unfaithful spies had to acknowledge.

Most of the twelve reported fortified and very great walled cities and powerful giant races dwelling there, beside whom Israel seemed like mere pygmies, and they magnified the dangers until discouragement spread through the camp. In many respects that description was correct, for the cities were indeed great and walled and the inhabitants were giants, and the fatal error lay not in the accuracy of the report but in distrusting God's power to overcome them. Those who held that the reports went further teach that the unfaithful spies brought exaggerated, discouraging reports that set the people almost frantic with disappointment.

Caleb with Joshua were the two of the twelve who did not join the discouraging report but gave a truthful report affirming the land's goodness and urging possession in the strength of God. Caleb stilled the people before Moses to counteract the evil influence of his unfaithful fellow spies, distressed at the discouragement that had weakened faith and courage throughout Israel. He pushed to the front with a clear, ringing voice that rose above the clamor and opposed their cowardly views, commanding attention so that complaints were hushed for a moment while he spoke from what he himself had seen in the land he had visited. His quieting of the people and urging to move forward at once encouraged action rather than fear, though such faithful testimony could provoke opposition and was in fact cut short when the unfaithful spies interrupted to declare the opposite.

The call was spoken right after the discouraging report about strong people, walled cities, and giants, when the congregation broke into bitter reproach and wailing. Instead of reasoning that the God who had brought them out of Egyptian bondage, cut a path through the sea, and destroyed Pharaoh's pursuing host would certainly give them the country He had declared to be theirs, they left God out of the question as if taking Jericho, the key to Canaan, depended solely on power of arms. With unsubdued hearts not in harmony with His plans they limited His work, distrusted the hand that had safely guided them, and repeated their former murmuring by blaming Moses and Aaron as deceivers who had brought trouble and led them astray from the high hope of possessing the land they had left Egypt to obtain. It stands shortly before the people fully gave way to fear and unbelief, marking the contrast between God's demonstrated power and the dangers the spies reported.

Caleb's Immediate Call to Conquer

Caleb did not deny or contradict that the cities were fortified and the Canaanites strong, but answered those obstacles with trust in God's promise and a call to courage and action. He saw the difficulties and dangers as plainly as the other spies, yet urged going forward to take possession rather than yielding to fear and complaint. Though he faced companions who threatened to stone him, he still pushed forward to counteract the evil influence of his unfaithful fellow spies.

He urged Israel to go up at once without delay and possess the land, declaring that they were well able to overcome its inhabitants. His confidence rested on the fact that God had promised the land to Israel and would give strength and victory to those who trusted His leading. His words are the language of faith in contrast to the spies' fear and the unbelief that spread through the congregation. He stands as a model of steadfast faith whose clear, confident voice encourages God's people to move forward toward victory, and as the testimony of steadfast older leaders who encourage faith and courage when others lose heart.

His confidence counted God's promise as greater than giants, cities walled up to heaven, and chariots of iron. He knew delay would give the people of the land time to prepare resistance, and therefore urged immediate occupation of Canaan. His answer expressed courageous faith and willingness to accept an unpleasant, God-given responsibility. It shows reliance on God giving courage to stand firmly for God and the right without fear of people, and to support faithful counsel when others complain, draw back, or refuse to heed it.

Israel's Rebellion and Judgment

Israel failed the test of faith at Kadesh by refusing to trust God to overthrow their enemies, forgetting that He had brought them out of Egyptian bondage, cut a path through the waters of the sea, destroyed Pharaoh's pursuing host, and led them safely so far. They left God out of the question and reasoned as if taking Jericho, the key to Canaan, depended solely on power of arms, though He had declared He would give them the country and they should have fully trusted His word. By that distrust they limited His power and His work, revealing unsubdued hearts not in harmony with His plans.

Instead of reasoning from His demonstrated power, the congregation broke into bitter reproach and wailing upon hearing of strong people, walled cities, and giants. They rejected the opportunity set before them and were turned back into the wilderness, rebelling in wild frenzy of passion and unbelief by appointing a captain to lead them back to Egypt. They repeated their former murmuring against Moses and Aaron, blaming their leaders for bringing trouble, deceiving the people, and leading them astray from the high hope of possessing the land they had traveled from Egypt to obtain. In that spirit they declared the conquest an utter impossibility and attempted to put to death the only two of their number who still possessed faith and courage.

For that unbelief judgment was pronounced that all above twenty years of age should die before reaching the promised land, and it was fulfilled in the wilderness before Israel was led the second time to the borders of Canaan. What was held in the heart decided the outcome, so the unbelieving word proved true in inability to go up and in wearing out life in the desert while cowards and rebels perished.

When the opportunity had passed the enemy was prepared, Moses warned that the Lord was not with the people, and their presumptuous advance ended in defeat. Caleb had urged going up at once in part because he knew delay would give the people of the land time to prepare resistance. The capture of Jericho forty years later showed that the city which had terrified the unbelieving spies could have been possessed earlier if Israel had trusted God, whose unbelief instead brought years of wandering. That first failure, when no army opposed progress and the difficulties of obeying were far smaller, became afterward a far more severe test when Israel was commanded to go forward against the violent, skillful, well-equipped armies of Og and Sihon. Thirty-eight years after the first report, the mere memory of giants terrified them, and the prospect of again facing giant inhabitants, great stone-walled cities, and a giant king raised anew the question whether Israel would trust God or bring disaster and defeat by distrusting Him, until God gave them up for a time to the power of their enemies.

Though sharing the forty years' wandering with their brethren, Caleb and Joshua entered the land of promise while the believing word proved true in entering. Caleb remained as courageous as when he left Egypt, asked for and received the stronghold of the giants as his portion and inheritance, drove out the Canaanites in God's strength, and possessed the vineyards and olive groves where his feet had trodden, eating the grapes of Eschol. Joshua had stood with Caleb as one of the two faithful spies among the twelve, giving a true account of the richness of the land and urging the people to go up at once and possess it in the strength of God. That faithfulness, joined with his long service as Moses' prime minister during the wandering, his eyewitness knowledge of God's wonderful works through Moses, and his understanding of the disposition of the people, qualified him to succeed Moses after his death as the leader appointed to conduct Israel into Canaan.

Israel later remembered the spies' report with resentment, and after forty years in the wilderness complained that this delay had been unnecessary, claiming they could have conquered their enemies earlier. That boastful claim reflected self-confidence rather than trust in God.

Faith Against Fearful Unbelief

Caleb's words are the language of faith, set against the fear of the spies and the unbelief that spread through the congregation. Though the inhabitants were formidable and the obstacles real, he urged Israel to act at once in trust that they could possess the land. The cities were indeed great and walled and their inhabitants were giants, yet the fatal mistake was not the accuracy of that report but distrust of God's power alone, and that distrust alone kept them from entering at once. Faith counted God's promise as greater than giants, cities walled up to heaven, and chariots of iron, and urged immediate occupation of Canaan. What is held in the heart decides the outcome, so that the believing word proves true in entering and the unbelieving word proves true in failure.

The unbelieving word proved true in inability to go up and in wearing out life in the desert, while the believing word proved true in entering the land of promise. Though sharing the forty years' wandering with their brethren, Caleb and Joshua entered, Caleb remaining as courageous as when he left Egypt. He asked for and received the stronghold of the giants as his portion, drove out the Canaanites in God's strength, and possessed the vineyards and olive groves where his feet had trodden, eating the grapes of Eschol, while cowards and rebels perished in the wilderness. As God's people approach the heavenly Canaan they are therefore warned not to repeat Israel's failure by magnifying difficulties and discouraging others from following God's word.

The lesson is to encourage faith in God's leading and to expect victory, rather than to spread discouragement, distrust, and predictions of defeat when facing trials on the way to the heavenly Canaan. God's people should strengthen one another's faith rather than spread doubt and fear when the way forward is difficult, trusting His leading rather than giving way to fear, doubt, and murmuring when obstacles stand in the way of the promised inheritance. The unfaithful spies brought exaggerated, discouraging reports that set the people almost frantic with disappointment. Repeating such discouraging talk harms the cause, misleads hearers by confident assertions, and shows lack of spiritual eyesight to discern spiritual things instead of taking hold of the work in faith.

Caleb's confidence stands against the evil report and expresses trust in God's leading, answering fear and complaint with the call to go up at once and possess the land. His example shows the courage to stand firmly for God and the right, and the need for faithful people who speak up against discouragement and support faithful counsel when others complain, draw back, or refuse to heed it. The people's refusal to follow this counsel became an example of unbelief and rebellion, warning that rejecting God's direction can forfeit the help and victory He offers. His faithful testimony could provoke opposition, but it should still be voiced, standing for courageous leadership and immediate action in God's work in contrast to those who urged retreat out of fear of the people and fortified cities.

Where fear sees only giants and fortified cities, clear sight also recognizes God and His angels ready to give victory to His truth. The giants and fortified cities could appear to promise failure, yet faith sees the divine power pledged to overcome them. It is confidence in God to give victory despite danger. It is the testimony to be heard from old, steadfast leaders who have held fast to the truth in times of peril, when the foundation of the faith of younger men seems swept away and their houses are falling, and who with clear, confident voice encourage God's people to move forward with courage toward victory.

Pressing Toward Heavenly Canaan

The promised land pictures the heavenly Canaan, whose promised inheritance is good, and God's people can press forward to possess it despite trials and opposition. Even when their good report brings hostility, the faithful can press on toward it, giving a faithful report with proof like the grapes brought from the land, though many oppose the testimony and would stone the witness as the congregation sought to stone Caleb and Joshua for their report. Caleb's words are the language of faith in contrast to the spies' fear and the unbelief that spread through the congregation, for despite formidable inhabitants and obstacles he urged Israel to act at once and trust that they could possess the land. His firm trust in God's leading calls for encouraging faith and expecting victory rather than spreading discouragement, distrust, and predictions of defeat, strengthening one another's faith when the way forward is difficult. As they approach the heavenly Canaan, God's people are therefore warned not to repeat Israel's failure by magnifying difficulties and discouraging others from following God's word.

God is leading His people and He can make them fully able to go up and go forward and possess what He has promised. The way may be rough, but there is no time to spend thinking about difficulties. Dwelling on hardships or bemoaning the hardness of the way turns from the path of faith. Disregarding the warnings and instruction God has given is a moral inability that disqualifies from going forward, and that inability is sin which can divert resources needed for His work and dishonor His name.

Caleb's quieting of the people and call to move forward at once stands for courageous leadership and immediate action in bringing saving truth to others, in contrast to the spies who urged retreat out of fear of the people and fortified cities. His faithful testimony could provoke opposition, but it should still be voiced, and God's people should move forward faithfully rather than let fear of difficulties obstruct the work. The verse is applied to the present need for faithful messengers who give a clear message and lead God's people forward, and to the support of city missions. It encourages overcoming the inclination to choose easy work, calls young missionaries to speak up and act with holy zeal, and declares that God's people are able, through God, to do a mighty temperance work.

The Calebs of the last days likewise press to the front, defending and exalting God's law with greater zeal when it is held in contempt and trampled, especially when people are led to trample on the Sabbath. Men in ministry are called to do and dare like him, discerning truth from error and listening closely to the faithful Watcher, while the Spirit of God makes its power felt against corrupt Christianity and a corrupt world facing long-deferred judgments. His words model a decisive Christian testimony of courage and trust in God, urging believers to hold fast to Jesus rather than remain hesitant. He is the model for bold-hearted people who warn the church of its dangers, for the faithful man whose courage and determination carry out the right work, and for one who speaks fearlessly for what is right and is ready to lead the advance carrying the banner of truth into hostile ground.