This fear led them into the wilderness (cf. They were afraid of the wrong things and the wrong ones. So, their cowardice was not only wrong but misplaced. They would rather face bondage alone than Canaan with God. They were content to go back to Egypt (Num. The majority of the spies lacked the courage to act and obey. Why? Hard-hearted disobedience and unbelief (Heb. Instead, they earned a trip into the wilderness. 14:19), cost them the promised land (Num. That very rebellion, called “iniquity” by Moses in his prayer to God (Num. Moses, Aaron, and Joshua warned them, “Only do not rebel (emph. Yet, their reaction was the opposite of obedience. Caleb understood this and argued for the people to proceed on that basis. It involves faith-driven obedience (Num.Because of their negative influence, the people went the wrong direction–into the wilderness and ultimately to their deaths. Obviously, they had sway with the people (14:1). The spies chosen were “leaders” among the 12 tribes (13:2). Return with me for a moment to that fateful event that would forever shape their nation. It might have been different for Israel, and it can be different for us. The whole wilderness analogy is drawn from the events in the book of Numbers, a wandering that went for forty years in the wake of a 40-day scouting trip. It is anecdotal to observe seismic philosophical shifts in the leadership and direction of various congregations, pulled for one reason or another from the place and being the people God wants it to be. Composed of so many dedicated, wonderful people, the church as a whole, nonetheless, is tempted to drift from biblical moorings.
I thought about this question as I meditated today on the state of the church in our nation.
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