Numbers 13:26-33 – Caleb
he majority of the spies discourage the people from going into Canaan. God has promised them a land flowing with milk and honey, and the evil spies themselves admit that it is such a land. But they say the conquest of it is completely impractical, and that it is useless to attempt it. Apart from anything else, this attitude is cowardly. But worse than cowardice is the unbelief behind this. It is not any human ability they are required to depend upon, but they have God’s presence with them and His power for them. The Canaanites are stronger than Israel; but are they stronger than the God of Israel? Don’t they have Him in their midst? Doesn’t He go before them? Is anything too hard for Him? They have had tremendous experience of the strength and power of God on their behalf. They have had particular promises made to them of victory and success in their wars against the Canaanites. After all this, for them to say, “We are not able to go up against them”, is in effect to say, “God himself is not able to keep His promises.”
If Joshua had spoken first, he would have been suspected of partiality to Moses, whose helper he is; and so he prudently leaves it to Caleb to speak first, who is of the tribe of Judah, the leading tribe, and therefore the fittest to be heard. Caleb has seen and observed the strength of the inhabitants as much as the others, and he speaks very confidently of success. He does not say, “Let us go up and conquer it;” he looks upon that to be as good as done already; but, “Let us go up and occupy it; there is nothing to be done but to enter, and take the possession which God our great Lord is ready to give us.” Difficulties that lie in the way of salvation dwindle and vanish before a lively active faith in the power and promise of God. All things are possible, if they are promised, to him that believes.
Question
- What do the majority of the spies say?
- What does Caleb say?
Prayer Points
- Pray for the preaching and hearing of God’s Word tomorrow.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.