Numbers 13:1-20 – The Spies Sent Out
Joshua is Moses’s helper, but has been employed as general of the forces that are sent out against Amalek. The name by which he is generally called and known in his own tribe is Hoshea, but Moses calls him Joshua, as a sign of his love for him and power over him; and now, it seems, Moses orders others to call him Joshua, and fixes that to be his name henceforward. Hoshea means a prayer for salvation, ‘You Save’; Joshua means a promise of salvation, ‘Jehovah will save’, in answer to that prayer. Prayers result in promises and promises direct and encourage prayers. Joshua is a type of Christ as Israel’s captain, and conqueror of Canaan. Joshua is the saviour of God’s people from the powers of Canaan, but Christ is their Saviour from the powers of Hell.
The spies are sent into the land of Canaan to see whether it is good or bad. All parts of the earth do not share alike in the blessing of fruitfulness; some countries are blessed with a richer soil than others. Moses himself is well satisfied that Canaan is a very good land, but he sends these spies to satisfy the people. The spies are to observe the inhabitants—their number, few or many—their size and stature, whether strong able-bodied men or weak,—their habitations, whether they live in tents or houses, whether in open villages or in walled towns.
Moses dismisses the spies with this charge, Be of good courage, implying, not only that they should be themselves encouraged against the difficulties of this expedition, but that they should bring an encouraging account to the people and make the best of everything. It is not only a great undertaking they are on, but it is a great trust that is in them, which requires that they should be faithful.
Questions
- Whom does Moses rename?
- What does Moses tell the spies to do?
Prayer Points
- Pray that you would be faithful in the job God gives you to do.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.