13:1-2 God has rescued the children of Israel out of Egypt. He has led them into the wilderness, given them instruction at Mount Sinai, helped to organize them and now, He prepares them to enter the promised land. God promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that He would lead their descendants into a fertile land. Despite the complaints and procrastination of the children of Israel, continues continues to persevere in accomplishing His promise.
We must always remember that God is always working progressively toward something grand. To be on His side, a soldier in His army, is to be a sojourner. Somebody constantly pushing forward into new places and new ideas. Learning, changing and growing. The children of Israel are in the middle of the desert, a desolate place, and yet God has made the place and the time fruitful. He has used the space to create opportunity for the children to built their faith. We all have our own, personal wilderness or desert; we must consistently ask ourselves: How am I utilizing this desert? What is it inspiring me to learn? God is always preparing us for a new place, a new season, a new ability, a new idea or purpose.
So God prepares the children of Israel for the promised land. He instructs Moses to send a leader from each tribe (remember, the 12 tribes of Jacob) into Canaan. God wants the children of Israel to approach the new lifestyle with knowledge. God never brings us into a new place without first equipping us with the materials we need. God wants the children of Israel to see what they will be inheriting before they begin the steps of acquiring it.
13:3-16 Each tribe chooses a member to journey in Canaan:
- Tribe of Reuben: Shammua
- Tribe of Simeon: Shaphat
- Tribe of Judah: Caleb
- Tribe of Issachar: Igal
- Tribe of Ephraim: Hoshea
- Tribe of Benjamin: Palti
- Tribe of Zebulun: Gaddiel
- Tribe of Joseph: Gaddi
- Tribe of Dan: Ammiel
- Tribe of Asher: Sethur
- Tribe of Naphtali: Nahbi
- Tribe of Gad: Geuel
13:17-19 Instructed first by God, Moses sends the aforementioned men into Canaan to discover the following: to see what the land is like, whether the inhabitants are militarily strong or weak, few or many, whether or not the land is fertile, urban or rural, rich or poor, and the type of landscape.
Moses encourages the 12 men to be brave and hopeful and to bring back fruit of the land.
13:20-25 After 40 days of exploration, the men of Israel return to the camp with information.
13:26-29 The land is, as God promised, a beautiful and fertile land. They also discover that the inhabitants are strong, their cities are well built and guarded. God has explained to us that the meek shall inherit the earth, Matthew 5:5. If the children of Israel are to inherit this land, it can be understood that the current inhabitants are not meek. In other words, their lifestyle in contradictory to God. God is going to clean out that place, rid it of its corruption and leave only the good. Then, He is going to place His children in it.
Well, that's easy to read about. It's easy to believe in as a reader. The children of Israel were not all so sure. For many of them, discovering that the inhabitants of Canaan were strong meant game-over. As humans, we seem to repeatedly require God to prove His strength and ability to us. He helps us over one hurdle and then we question is ability to do it again. Our doubt in God's capabilities is not only irrational but also unfair. God would never make a promise that He could not deliver.
13:30 Caleb, of the tribe of Judah, does believe. Without any hesitation, Caleb is ready and willing to trust God. Caleb takes his faith further: not only does he trust, but he is also willing to put in the work to accomplish the assignment God has given. For the truth is that God makes promises and upholds His promises; if we are willing to take the action required to receive them, the promises are ours to receive.
13:31 The other men allow fear and untrust to halt (perhaps forever) their journey. They do not believe themselves capable of accomplishing such a massive task... and they are right because without God, the impossible is not made possible. They are without God because they do not trust God.
But let's not judge them. How often are we ourselves thwarted by fear? Before this rescue and journey of the children of Israel even began Moses balked at the idea that he could do the very job he's doing now! How many times do we have some variation of this thought: "God, you want me to do what!?"
Fear is the red stop-light we're parked in front of; and we can idle in front of it for years, decades if we want to. At some point, though (hopefully soon), God is hoping you will let Him press on the gas pedal. He is hoping you will allow Him to take you to a new place. Spiritually. Emotionally. Physically.
He leads you to a new place and builds within you new abilities. In Him, you are constantly becoming something new and more dimensional. In Him, you are never stagnant. You are a river flowing through new places, even deserts. In Him, you can be the river that brings life to desolate places within and outside of yourself.
13:32-33 Out of fear, the men recount all of the challenges that scared them away. How many times do we mentally or even audibly list all of the reasons we cannot do something? Even if our list is logical, it is irrelevant.
We tell God: I can't fly this airplane because there's no landing pad. And if God weren't who He is, that would be a logical argument. It would be reason to stay on the ground. But God IS Who He is and therefore nothing should keep us from flying. God says to us: What do you need a landing pad for? With Me, you're always going to soar. God says to us: If I want you to land, I will clear a space.
God assembled representatives of each of the tribes and invited them to go look at the land they would inherit. He did not assemble the tribes and brainstorm ways in which they could potentially claim the land. He did not say that He would figure out a way because He already has everything figured out! Long before we arrived here! Ephesians 1:4, He chose us in Him before the foundation of the earth. If He had us in mind before the creation of the earth of course He made a place for us! We all have a place designated to us by God. We each have our own personal Canaan. Never let fear let you from walking right on into it as if you own the place (because you do)!
