Numbers 16
KingCommentsNumbers 16:1
Miriam and Aaron speak against Moses
The discontent of the people because of the hardships of the wilderness journey is more against God than against Moses. But now Moses has got to pay for it as well. It is not so much the people who are revolting, but the leaders. The evil of discontent among the people also affects the leaders.
Miriam and Aaron are annoyed by the fact that Moses has a Cushite, or Ethiopian, woman. That their brother has taken a wife from the Gentiles is a thorn in their eye. They cannot bear the fact that grace is shown to a heathen.
In the parable of the vineyard that the Lord Jesus later tells, it appears that the same attitude of intolerance toward the proving of grace to the Gentiles dominates the Jews (Luke 20:16). Even later we see that nothing has changed among the people. When Paul speaks about grace going to the Gentiles, the Jews become fierce (Acts 22:21-22).
Aaron as a person again shows his weak character. He gave in to the will of the people and gave them a golden calf (Exodus 32:1-2). Now his sister, who seems to be taking the initiative, whispers something about Moses to him, he submits again and follows her in her revolt against Moses.
The remark of Miriam and Aaron that God did not only speak through Moses is true. Miriam is called “the prophetess” (Exodus 15:20) and Aaron is the high priest. They have both a place as a connection between God and the people. Together with Moses they occupy an important position, which is given to them by God. The prophet Micah later points this out to God’s people: “Indeed, I brought you up from the land of Egypt and ransomed you from the house of slavery, and I sent before you Moses, Aaron and Miriam” (Micah 6:4). But that should not be a reason to rise to that position or to be jealous of what the Lord has given another.
They indicate that they want to be equal to Moses. By having a heathen woman, he has lost his rights, they think, or at least they are on the same level as Moses, they think.
Perhaps Miriam did not say her remarks out loud, but only whispered in Aaron’s ear, but “the LORD heard it”. Our most confidential remarks have a Hearer in heaven.
Numbers 16:2
Miriam and Aaron speak against Moses
The discontent of the people because of the hardships of the wilderness journey is more against God than against Moses. But now Moses has got to pay for it as well. It is not so much the people who are revolting, but the leaders. The evil of discontent among the people also affects the leaders.
Miriam and Aaron are annoyed by the fact that Moses has a Cushite, or Ethiopian, woman. That their brother has taken a wife from the Gentiles is a thorn in their eye. They cannot bear the fact that grace is shown to a heathen.
In the parable of the vineyard that the Lord Jesus later tells, it appears that the same attitude of intolerance toward the proving of grace to the Gentiles dominates the Jews (Luke 20:16). Even later we see that nothing has changed among the people. When Paul speaks about grace going to the Gentiles, the Jews become fierce (Acts 22:21-22).
Aaron as a person again shows his weak character. He gave in to the will of the people and gave them a golden calf (Exodus 32:1-2). Now his sister, who seems to be taking the initiative, whispers something about Moses to him, he submits again and follows her in her revolt against Moses.
The remark of Miriam and Aaron that God did not only speak through Moses is true. Miriam is called “the prophetess” (Exodus 15:20) and Aaron is the high priest. They have both a place as a connection between God and the people. Together with Moses they occupy an important position, which is given to them by God. The prophet Micah later points this out to God’s people: “Indeed, I brought you up from the land of Egypt and ransomed you from the house of slavery, and I sent before you Moses, Aaron and Miriam” (Micah 6:4). But that should not be a reason to rise to that position or to be jealous of what the Lord has given another.
They indicate that they want to be equal to Moses. By having a heathen woman, he has lost his rights, they think, or at least they are on the same level as Moses, they think.
Perhaps Miriam did not say her remarks out loud, but only whispered in Aaron’s ear, but “the LORD heard it”. Our most confidential remarks have a Hearer in heaven.
Numbers 16:3
Moses, the Humblest Man
This testimony that the Spirit of God gives about Moses makes the allegation of Miriam and Aaron all the worse. Someone claiming his rights may evoke jealousy. But the claiming of rights is completely absent from Moses. Moses does not take the law into his own hands. He does not stand up for himself. That does not suit his humility.
The higher a person’s position is among his fellow human beings, the more difficult it is for the natural heart to accept attacks on his person without reaction. Moses’ anger kindles when the glory of God is tarnished. But when it comes to himself, he hands over his case to God. In this he is a picture of the Lord Jesus and an example for us: “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting [Himself] to Him who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:21-23).
Numbers 16:4
The LORD Testifies of Moses
God stands up for Moses. It is striking that the LORD immediately comes into action. He commands the slanderers to go together with Moses to the tent of meeting. That is where the matter has to be looked at. Sin in the midst of the church must also be dealt with in the church.
The LORD comes down and tells what a special prophet Moses is. He is not just a prophet. God speaks of the faithfulness of Moses in His house. He is herein a picture of the Lord Jesus, with a difference. Moses is faithful in God’s house, and he is a servant in it: “Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant” (Hebrews 3:5). However, of the Lord Jesus we read that He is faithful as “as a Son over His house” (Hebrews 3:6). The Holy Spirit indicates here in picture how unique the place of the Lord Jesus is in what is now God’s house: the church.
God speaks directly to Moses (Exodus 33:11a; Deuteronomy 34:10). Moses is connected to God that closely. God does not speak of the weaknesses that a man like Moses also has. God does not do this if He defends a man. We see this later also when He forces Balaam to bless the people, while he wants to curse the people (Numbers 22-24).
Numbers 16:5
The LORD Testifies of Moses
God stands up for Moses. It is striking that the LORD immediately comes into action. He commands the slanderers to go together with Moses to the tent of meeting. That is where the matter has to be looked at. Sin in the midst of the church must also be dealt with in the church.
The LORD comes down and tells what a special prophet Moses is. He is not just a prophet. God speaks of the faithfulness of Moses in His house. He is herein a picture of the Lord Jesus, with a difference. Moses is faithful in God’s house, and he is a servant in it: “Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant” (Hebrews 3:5). However, of the Lord Jesus we read that He is faithful as “as a Son over His house” (Hebrews 3:6). The Holy Spirit indicates here in picture how unique the place of the Lord Jesus is in what is now God’s house: the church.
God speaks directly to Moses (Exodus 33:11a; Deuteronomy 34:10). Moses is connected to God that closely. God does not speak of the weaknesses that a man like Moses also has. God does not do this if He defends a man. We see this later also when He forces Balaam to bless the people, while he wants to curse the people (Numbers 22-24).
Numbers 16:6
The LORD Testifies of Moses
God stands up for Moses. It is striking that the LORD immediately comes into action. He commands the slanderers to go together with Moses to the tent of meeting. That is where the matter has to be looked at. Sin in the midst of the church must also be dealt with in the church.
The LORD comes down and tells what a special prophet Moses is. He is not just a prophet. God speaks of the faithfulness of Moses in His house. He is herein a picture of the Lord Jesus, with a difference. Moses is faithful in God’s house, and he is a servant in it: “Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant” (Hebrews 3:5). However, of the Lord Jesus we read that He is faithful as “as a Son over His house” (Hebrews 3:6). The Holy Spirit indicates here in picture how unique the place of the Lord Jesus is in what is now God’s house: the church.
God speaks directly to Moses (Exodus 33:11a; Deuteronomy 34:10). Moses is connected to God that closely. God does not speak of the weaknesses that a man like Moses also has. God does not do this if He defends a man. We see this later also when He forces Balaam to bless the people, while he wants to curse the people (Numbers 22-24).
Numbers 16:7
The LORD Testifies of Moses
God stands up for Moses. It is striking that the LORD immediately comes into action. He commands the slanderers to go together with Moses to the tent of meeting. That is where the matter has to be looked at. Sin in the midst of the church must also be dealt with in the church.
The LORD comes down and tells what a special prophet Moses is. He is not just a prophet. God speaks of the faithfulness of Moses in His house. He is herein a picture of the Lord Jesus, with a difference. Moses is faithful in God’s house, and he is a servant in it: “Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant” (Hebrews 3:5). However, of the Lord Jesus we read that He is faithful as “as a Son over His house” (Hebrews 3:6). The Holy Spirit indicates here in picture how unique the place of the Lord Jesus is in what is now God’s house: the church.
God speaks directly to Moses (Exodus 33:11a; Deuteronomy 34:10). Moses is connected to God that closely. God does not speak of the weaknesses that a man like Moses also has. God does not do this if He defends a man. We see this later also when He forces Balaam to bless the people, while he wants to curse the people (Numbers 22-24).
Numbers 16:8
The LORD Testifies of Moses
God stands up for Moses. It is striking that the LORD immediately comes into action. He commands the slanderers to go together with Moses to the tent of meeting. That is where the matter has to be looked at. Sin in the midst of the church must also be dealt with in the church.
The LORD comes down and tells what a special prophet Moses is. He is not just a prophet. God speaks of the faithfulness of Moses in His house. He is herein a picture of the Lord Jesus, with a difference. Moses is faithful in God’s house, and he is a servant in it: “Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant” (Hebrews 3:5). However, of the Lord Jesus we read that He is faithful as “as a Son over His house” (Hebrews 3:6). The Holy Spirit indicates here in picture how unique the place of the Lord Jesus is in what is now God’s house: the church.
God speaks directly to Moses (Exodus 33:11a; Deuteronomy 34:10). Moses is connected to God that closely. God does not speak of the weaknesses that a man like Moses also has. God does not do this if He defends a man. We see this later also when He forces Balaam to bless the people, while he wants to curse the people (Numbers 22-24).
Numbers 16:9
The LORD Testifies of Moses
God stands up for Moses. It is striking that the LORD immediately comes into action. He commands the slanderers to go together with Moses to the tent of meeting. That is where the matter has to be looked at. Sin in the midst of the church must also be dealt with in the church.
The LORD comes down and tells what a special prophet Moses is. He is not just a prophet. God speaks of the faithfulness of Moses in His house. He is herein a picture of the Lord Jesus, with a difference. Moses is faithful in God’s house, and he is a servant in it: “Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant” (Hebrews 3:5). However, of the Lord Jesus we read that He is faithful as “as a Son over His house” (Hebrews 3:6). The Holy Spirit indicates here in picture how unique the place of the Lord Jesus is in what is now God’s house: the church.
God speaks directly to Moses (Exodus 33:11a; Deuteronomy 34:10). Moses is connected to God that closely. God does not speak of the weaknesses that a man like Moses also has. God does not do this if He defends a man. We see this later also when He forces Balaam to bless the people, while he wants to curse the people (Numbers 22-24).
Numbers 16:10
Leprosy – Confession – Intercession
Miriam becomes leprous. Her name is first mentioned in Numbers 12:1. As said, it seems that she is the instigator. Leprosy follows as a prophet and priest rise up and reach out to the place which only belongs to Moses. God wants to be acknowledged in His sovereign grace that He allows those who are not entitled to it to share in the blessings of Christ.
The leprosy of Miriam is a striking picture of God’s judgment on the rebellion of Israel against showing grace to the Gentiles, represented in Moses’ wife. Israel should acknowledge God’s sovereignty. They did not do so and therefore they were struck with leprosy in their character of witnesses or prophets.
The application for the church is that if a man or a ministry assumes the place of Christ, the judgment comes from God. There, too, the principle of grace disappears. When a place that does not belong to him is assumed, leprosy breaks out. Maybe Miriam’s jealousy has been there a long time before it erupts here. The will of the flesh becomes public. God makes clear in His time where leprosy is present.
In the pictures of the Bible, the woman is a picture of a particular state and the man is a picture of practice. The state of Miriam is that of leprosy. Fortunately the practice of confession in Aaron is also there, and this immediately after the leprosy has broken out. Aaron immediately returns to his right place as mediator and speaks to Moses in all humility. His words show a radical confession.
The first words we hear in this history of Moses are those of an intercessor. He becomes a mediator. Herein we see his true greatness. Of any grudge nothing appears.
Numbers 16:11
Leprosy – Confession – Intercession
Miriam becomes leprous. Her name is first mentioned in Numbers 12:1. As said, it seems that she is the instigator. Leprosy follows as a prophet and priest rise up and reach out to the place which only belongs to Moses. God wants to be acknowledged in His sovereign grace that He allows those who are not entitled to it to share in the blessings of Christ.
The leprosy of Miriam is a striking picture of God’s judgment on the rebellion of Israel against showing grace to the Gentiles, represented in Moses’ wife. Israel should acknowledge God’s sovereignty. They did not do so and therefore they were struck with leprosy in their character of witnesses or prophets.
The application for the church is that if a man or a ministry assumes the place of Christ, the judgment comes from God. There, too, the principle of grace disappears. When a place that does not belong to him is assumed, leprosy breaks out. Maybe Miriam’s jealousy has been there a long time before it erupts here. The will of the flesh becomes public. God makes clear in His time where leprosy is present.
In the pictures of the Bible, the woman is a picture of a particular state and the man is a picture of practice. The state of Miriam is that of leprosy. Fortunately the practice of confession in Aaron is also there, and this immediately after the leprosy has broken out. Aaron immediately returns to his right place as mediator and speaks to Moses in all humility. His words show a radical confession.
The first words we hear in this history of Moses are those of an intercessor. He becomes a mediator. Herein we see his true greatness. Of any grudge nothing appears.
Numbers 16:12
Leprosy – Confession – Intercession
Miriam becomes leprous. Her name is first mentioned in Numbers 12:1. As said, it seems that she is the instigator. Leprosy follows as a prophet and priest rise up and reach out to the place which only belongs to Moses. God wants to be acknowledged in His sovereign grace that He allows those who are not entitled to it to share in the blessings of Christ.
The leprosy of Miriam is a striking picture of God’s judgment on the rebellion of Israel against showing grace to the Gentiles, represented in Moses’ wife. Israel should acknowledge God’s sovereignty. They did not do so and therefore they were struck with leprosy in their character of witnesses or prophets.
The application for the church is that if a man or a ministry assumes the place of Christ, the judgment comes from God. There, too, the principle of grace disappears. When a place that does not belong to him is assumed, leprosy breaks out. Maybe Miriam’s jealousy has been there a long time before it erupts here. The will of the flesh becomes public. God makes clear in His time where leprosy is present.
In the pictures of the Bible, the woman is a picture of a particular state and the man is a picture of practice. The state of Miriam is that of leprosy. Fortunately the practice of confession in Aaron is also there, and this immediately after the leprosy has broken out. Aaron immediately returns to his right place as mediator and speaks to Moses in all humility. His words show a radical confession.
The first words we hear in this history of Moses are those of an intercessor. He becomes a mediator. Herein we see his true greatness. Of any grudge nothing appears.
Numbers 16:13
Leprosy – Confession – Intercession
Miriam becomes leprous. Her name is first mentioned in Numbers 12:1. As said, it seems that she is the instigator. Leprosy follows as a prophet and priest rise up and reach out to the place which only belongs to Moses. God wants to be acknowledged in His sovereign grace that He allows those who are not entitled to it to share in the blessings of Christ.
The leprosy of Miriam is a striking picture of God’s judgment on the rebellion of Israel against showing grace to the Gentiles, represented in Moses’ wife. Israel should acknowledge God’s sovereignty. They did not do so and therefore they were struck with leprosy in their character of witnesses or prophets.
The application for the church is that if a man or a ministry assumes the place of Christ, the judgment comes from God. There, too, the principle of grace disappears. When a place that does not belong to him is assumed, leprosy breaks out. Maybe Miriam’s jealousy has been there a long time before it erupts here. The will of the flesh becomes public. God makes clear in His time where leprosy is present.
In the pictures of the Bible, the woman is a picture of a particular state and the man is a picture of practice. The state of Miriam is that of leprosy. Fortunately the practice of confession in Aaron is also there, and this immediately after the leprosy has broken out. Aaron immediately returns to his right place as mediator and speaks to Moses in all humility. His words show a radical confession.
The first words we hear in this history of Moses are those of an intercessor. He becomes a mediator. Herein we see his true greatness. Of any grudge nothing appears.
Numbers 16:14
What to Do with Miriam
The intercession of Moses receives an answer. The LORD uses an example of everyday life to illustrate His statement. When a father spits his daughter in the face, he expresses his dissatisfaction with her actions. This humiliation by her father must convince her of the disgracefulness of her behavior. Seven days she will hide from her family out of shame.
There is no immediate healing after the confession. Miriam first has to stay outside the camp for seven days. A full recovery must take place and a full period, represented by the number seven, is needed for that. Evil can be so serious that the punishment must be imposed, even though forgiveness has already taken place. This will be the case when the public testimony of the Lord has been damaged.
The whole people are involved in the exercise of the punishment. They can’t move on. There is no strength when a certain evil becomes public. The whole church must be exercised and come to purity: “For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter” (2 Corinthians 7:11). A broken spirit is important in the exercise of discipline.
This history shows how seriously God takes it when we speak ill of a brother or sister, especially when it comes to someone who does a service for the Lord (cf. 1 Timothy 5:19). Even when it is about real facts, this kind of speaking is nothing more than a form of jealousy.
Numbers 16:15
What to Do with Miriam
The intercession of Moses receives an answer. The LORD uses an example of everyday life to illustrate His statement. When a father spits his daughter in the face, he expresses his dissatisfaction with her actions. This humiliation by her father must convince her of the disgracefulness of her behavior. Seven days she will hide from her family out of shame.
There is no immediate healing after the confession. Miriam first has to stay outside the camp for seven days. A full recovery must take place and a full period, represented by the number seven, is needed for that. Evil can be so serious that the punishment must be imposed, even though forgiveness has already taken place. This will be the case when the public testimony of the Lord has been damaged.
The whole people are involved in the exercise of the punishment. They can’t move on. There is no strength when a certain evil becomes public. The whole church must be exercised and come to purity: “For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter” (2 Corinthians 7:11). A broken spirit is important in the exercise of discipline.
This history shows how seriously God takes it when we speak ill of a brother or sister, especially when it comes to someone who does a service for the Lord (cf. 1 Timothy 5:19). Even when it is about real facts, this kind of speaking is nothing more than a form of jealousy.
Numbers 16:16
From Hazeroth to the Wilderness of Paran
The people move out when the discipline over Miriam has had its full effect. The following place where they camp is in the wilderness of Paran. They are now close to the land.
Numbers 16:18
Introduction
In Numbers 11 we see a desire in the people of God to return to Egypt. Someone who yearns back to the world – of which Egypt is a picture – proves that he does not know the true character of the world. In Numbers 13 a new problem is emerging: how do the people think about the promised land? It will appear that, just as they do not know Egypt, they do not know the promised land either. They are as unbelieving in the glory that lies before them, that is of the land of Canaan, as they are in respect of Egypt that they have left. The same goes for the wilderness they pass through.
The characteristic of Israel is that they fear the enemies more than they fear the LORD. That is why they only think about the pleasant things of Egypt when they think about that land. To this they contrast the unpleasantness of the wilderness. Therefore they long to go back to Egypt. Now that they stand before the promised land, it is the other way around. They are opposed to the difficulties of conquering the land and do not want to conquer it. So they despise the blessings of it that the LORD has presented to them. They do not see the blessings, they forget them, because they are blinded by the effort it will take to possess them.
The Twelve Spies
In Deuteronomy 1 it says that the people themselves are asking to send spies: “Then all of you approached me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, that they may search out the land for us, and bring back to us word of the way by which we should go up and the cities which we shall enter” (Deuteronomy 1:22). Now God gives them what they want. He knows their desires. They want to spy it out to compare it with their own strengths. God commands them according to their desires, that they may experience the results. It is like appointing a king in Israel. The LORD commands Samuel to appoint a king, but that is because the people want a king (1 Samuel 8:22a).
The name change of Hosea by Moses is significant. Hosea means ‘salvation’, Joshua means ‘Yahweh is salvation’. With this Moses indicates what God will do and that the strength of the people can be found in Him. He will have spoken this change of name loud and clear as an encouragement to the people. This change of name also shows the special bond that exists between Moses and Joshua, between an old man of God and a young man of God.
Numbers 16:19
Introduction
In Numbers 11 we see a desire in the people of God to return to Egypt. Someone who yearns back to the world – of which Egypt is a picture – proves that he does not know the true character of the world. In Numbers 13 a new problem is emerging: how do the people think about the promised land? It will appear that, just as they do not know Egypt, they do not know the promised land either. They are as unbelieving in the glory that lies before them, that is of the land of Canaan, as they are in respect of Egypt that they have left. The same goes for the wilderness they pass through.
The characteristic of Israel is that they fear the enemies more than they fear the LORD. That is why they only think about the pleasant things of Egypt when they think about that land. To this they contrast the unpleasantness of the wilderness. Therefore they long to go back to Egypt. Now that they stand before the promised land, it is the other way around. They are opposed to the difficulties of conquering the land and do not want to conquer it. So they despise the blessings of it that the LORD has presented to them. They do not see the blessings, they forget them, because they are blinded by the effort it will take to possess them.
The Twelve Spies
In Deuteronomy 1 it says that the people themselves are asking to send spies: “Then all of you approached me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, that they may search out the land for us, and bring back to us word of the way by which we should go up and the cities which we shall enter” (Deuteronomy 1:22). Now God gives them what they want. He knows their desires. They want to spy it out to compare it with their own strengths. God commands them according to their desires, that they may experience the results. It is like appointing a king in Israel. The LORD commands Samuel to appoint a king, but that is because the people want a king (1 Samuel 8:22a).
The name change of Hosea by Moses is significant. Hosea means ‘salvation’, Joshua means ‘Yahweh is salvation’. With this Moses indicates what God will do and that the strength of the people can be found in Him. He will have spoken this change of name loud and clear as an encouragement to the people. This change of name also shows the special bond that exists between Moses and Joshua, between an old man of God and a young man of God.
Numbers 16:20
Introduction
In Numbers 11 we see a desire in the people of God to return to Egypt. Someone who yearns back to the world – of which Egypt is a picture – proves that he does not know the true character of the world. In Numbers 13 a new problem is emerging: how do the people think about the promised land? It will appear that, just as they do not know Egypt, they do not know the promised land either. They are as unbelieving in the glory that lies before them, that is of the land of Canaan, as they are in respect of Egypt that they have left. The same goes for the wilderness they pass through.
The characteristic of Israel is that they fear the enemies more than they fear the LORD. That is why they only think about the pleasant things of Egypt when they think about that land. To this they contrast the unpleasantness of the wilderness. Therefore they long to go back to Egypt. Now that they stand before the promised land, it is the other way around. They are opposed to the difficulties of conquering the land and do not want to conquer it. So they despise the blessings of it that the LORD has presented to them. They do not see the blessings, they forget them, because they are blinded by the effort it will take to possess them.
The Twelve Spies
In Deuteronomy 1 it says that the people themselves are asking to send spies: “Then all of you approached me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, that they may search out the land for us, and bring back to us word of the way by which we should go up and the cities which we shall enter” (Deuteronomy 1:22). Now God gives them what they want. He knows their desires. They want to spy it out to compare it with their own strengths. God commands them according to their desires, that they may experience the results. It is like appointing a king in Israel. The LORD commands Samuel to appoint a king, but that is because the people want a king (1 Samuel 8:22a).
The name change of Hosea by Moses is significant. Hosea means ‘salvation’, Joshua means ‘Yahweh is salvation’. With this Moses indicates what God will do and that the strength of the people can be found in Him. He will have spoken this change of name loud and clear as an encouragement to the people. This change of name also shows the special bond that exists between Moses and Joshua, between an old man of God and a young man of God.
Numbers 16:21
Introduction
In Numbers 11 we see a desire in the people of God to return to Egypt. Someone who yearns back to the world – of which Egypt is a picture – proves that he does not know the true character of the world. In Numbers 13 a new problem is emerging: how do the people think about the promised land? It will appear that, just as they do not know Egypt, they do not know the promised land either. They are as unbelieving in the glory that lies before them, that is of the land of Canaan, as they are in respect of Egypt that they have left. The same goes for the wilderness they pass through.
The characteristic of Israel is that they fear the enemies more than they fear the LORD. That is why they only think about the pleasant things of Egypt when they think about that land. To this they contrast the unpleasantness of the wilderness. Therefore they long to go back to Egypt. Now that they stand before the promised land, it is the other way around. They are opposed to the difficulties of conquering the land and do not want to conquer it. So they despise the blessings of it that the LORD has presented to them. They do not see the blessings, they forget them, because they are blinded by the effort it will take to possess them.
The Twelve Spies
In Deuteronomy 1 it says that the people themselves are asking to send spies: “Then all of you approached me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, that they may search out the land for us, and bring back to us word of the way by which we should go up and the cities which we shall enter” (Deuteronomy 1:22). Now God gives them what they want. He knows their desires. They want to spy it out to compare it with their own strengths. God commands them according to their desires, that they may experience the results. It is like appointing a king in Israel. The LORD commands Samuel to appoint a king, but that is because the people want a king (1 Samuel 8:22a).
The name change of Hosea by Moses is significant. Hosea means ‘salvation’, Joshua means ‘Yahweh is salvation’. With this Moses indicates what God will do and that the strength of the people can be found in Him. He will have spoken this change of name loud and clear as an encouragement to the people. This change of name also shows the special bond that exists between Moses and Joshua, between an old man of God and a young man of God.
Numbers 16:22
Introduction
In Numbers 11 we see a desire in the people of God to return to Egypt. Someone who yearns back to the world – of which Egypt is a picture – proves that he does not know the true character of the world. In Numbers 13 a new problem is emerging: how do the people think about the promised land? It will appear that, just as they do not know Egypt, they do not know the promised land either. They are as unbelieving in the glory that lies before them, that is of the land of Canaan, as they are in respect of Egypt that they have left. The same goes for the wilderness they pass through.
The characteristic of Israel is that they fear the enemies more than they fear the LORD. That is why they only think about the pleasant things of Egypt when they think about that land. To this they contrast the unpleasantness of the wilderness. Therefore they long to go back to Egypt. Now that they stand before the promised land, it is the other way around. They are opposed to the difficulties of conquering the land and do not want to conquer it. So they despise the blessings of it that the LORD has presented to them. They do not see the blessings, they forget them, because they are blinded by the effort it will take to possess them.
The Twelve Spies
In Deuteronomy 1 it says that the people themselves are asking to send spies: “Then all of you approached me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, that they may search out the land for us, and bring back to us word of the way by which we should go up and the cities which we shall enter” (Deuteronomy 1:22). Now God gives them what they want. He knows their desires. They want to spy it out to compare it with their own strengths. God commands them according to their desires, that they may experience the results. It is like appointing a king in Israel. The LORD commands Samuel to appoint a king, but that is because the people want a king (1 Samuel 8:22a).
The name change of Hosea by Moses is significant. Hosea means ‘salvation’, Joshua means ‘Yahweh is salvation’. With this Moses indicates what God will do and that the strength of the people can be found in Him. He will have spoken this change of name loud and clear as an encouragement to the people. This change of name also shows the special bond that exists between Moses and Joshua, between an old man of God and a young man of God.
Numbers 16:23
Introduction
In Numbers 11 we see a desire in the people of God to return to Egypt. Someone who yearns back to the world – of which Egypt is a picture – proves that he does not know the true character of the world. In Numbers 13 a new problem is emerging: how do the people think about the promised land? It will appear that, just as they do not know Egypt, they do not know the promised land either. They are as unbelieving in the glory that lies before them, that is of the land of Canaan, as they are in respect of Egypt that they have left. The same goes for the wilderness they pass through.
The characteristic of Israel is that they fear the enemies more than they fear the LORD. That is why they only think about the pleasant things of Egypt when they think about that land. To this they contrast the unpleasantness of the wilderness. Therefore they long to go back to Egypt. Now that they stand before the promised land, it is the other way around. They are opposed to the difficulties of conquering the land and do not want to conquer it. So they despise the blessings of it that the LORD has presented to them. They do not see the blessings, they forget them, because they are blinded by the effort it will take to possess them.
The Twelve Spies
In Deuteronomy 1 it says that the people themselves are asking to send spies: “Then all of you approached me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, that they may search out the land for us, and bring back to us word of the way by which we should go up and the cities which we shall enter” (Deuteronomy 1:22). Now God gives them what they want. He knows their desires. They want to spy it out to compare it with their own strengths. God commands them according to their desires, that they may experience the results. It is like appointing a king in Israel. The LORD commands Samuel to appoint a king, but that is because the people want a king (1 Samuel 8:22a).
The name change of Hosea by Moses is significant. Hosea means ‘salvation’, Joshua means ‘Yahweh is salvation’. With this Moses indicates what God will do and that the strength of the people can be found in Him. He will have spoken this change of name loud and clear as an encouragement to the people. This change of name also shows the special bond that exists between Moses and Joshua, between an old man of God and a young man of God.
Numbers 16:24
Introduction
In Numbers 11 we see a desire in the people of God to return to Egypt. Someone who yearns back to the world – of which Egypt is a picture – proves that he does not know the true character of the world. In Numbers 13 a new problem is emerging: how do the people think about the promised land? It will appear that, just as they do not know Egypt, they do not know the promised land either. They are as unbelieving in the glory that lies before them, that is of the land of Canaan, as they are in respect of Egypt that they have left. The same goes for the wilderness they pass through.
The characteristic of Israel is that they fear the enemies more than they fear the LORD. That is why they only think about the pleasant things of Egypt when they think about that land. To this they contrast the unpleasantness of the wilderness. Therefore they long to go back to Egypt. Now that they stand before the promised land, it is the other way around. They are opposed to the difficulties of conquering the land and do not want to conquer it. So they despise the blessings of it that the LORD has presented to them. They do not see the blessings, they forget them, because they are blinded by the effort it will take to possess them.
The Twelve Spies
In Deuteronomy 1 it says that the people themselves are asking to send spies: “Then all of you approached me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, that they may search out the land for us, and bring back to us word of the way by which we should go up and the cities which we shall enter” (Deuteronomy 1:22). Now God gives them what they want. He knows their desires. They want to spy it out to compare it with their own strengths. God commands them according to their desires, that they may experience the results. It is like appointing a king in Israel. The LORD commands Samuel to appoint a king, but that is because the people want a king (1 Samuel 8:22a).
The name change of Hosea by Moses is significant. Hosea means ‘salvation’, Joshua means ‘Yahweh is salvation’. With this Moses indicates what God will do and that the strength of the people can be found in Him. He will have spoken this change of name loud and clear as an encouragement to the people. This change of name also shows the special bond that exists between Moses and Joshua, between an old man of God and a young man of God.
Numbers 16:25
Introduction
In Numbers 11 we see a desire in the people of God to return to Egypt. Someone who yearns back to the world – of which Egypt is a picture – proves that he does not know the true character of the world. In Numbers 13 a new problem is emerging: how do the people think about the promised land? It will appear that, just as they do not know Egypt, they do not know the promised land either. They are as unbelieving in the glory that lies before them, that is of the land of Canaan, as they are in respect of Egypt that they have left. The same goes for the wilderness they pass through.
The characteristic of Israel is that they fear the enemies more than they fear the LORD. That is why they only think about the pleasant things of Egypt when they think about that land. To this they contrast the unpleasantness of the wilderness. Therefore they long to go back to Egypt. Now that they stand before the promised land, it is the other way around. They are opposed to the difficulties of conquering the land and do not want to conquer it. So they despise the blessings of it that the LORD has presented to them. They do not see the blessings, they forget them, because they are blinded by the effort it will take to possess them.
The Twelve Spies
In Deuteronomy 1 it says that the people themselves are asking to send spies: “Then all of you approached me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, that they may search out the land for us, and bring back to us word of the way by which we should go up and the cities which we shall enter” (Deuteronomy 1:22). Now God gives them what they want. He knows their desires. They want to spy it out to compare it with their own strengths. God commands them according to their desires, that they may experience the results. It is like appointing a king in Israel. The LORD commands Samuel to appoint a king, but that is because the people want a king (1 Samuel 8:22a).
The name change of Hosea by Moses is significant. Hosea means ‘salvation’, Joshua means ‘Yahweh is salvation’. With this Moses indicates what God will do and that the strength of the people can be found in Him. He will have spoken this change of name loud and clear as an encouragement to the people. This change of name also shows the special bond that exists between Moses and Joshua, between an old man of God and a young man of God.
Numbers 16:26
Introduction
In Numbers 11 we see a desire in the people of God to return to Egypt. Someone who yearns back to the world – of which Egypt is a picture – proves that he does not know the true character of the world. In Numbers 13 a new problem is emerging: how do the people think about the promised land? It will appear that, just as they do not know Egypt, they do not know the promised land either. They are as unbelieving in the glory that lies before them, that is of the land of Canaan, as they are in respect of Egypt that they have left. The same goes for the wilderness they pass through.
The characteristic of Israel is that they fear the enemies more than they fear the LORD. That is why they only think about the pleasant things of Egypt when they think about that land. To this they contrast the unpleasantness of the wilderness. Therefore they long to go back to Egypt. Now that they stand before the promised land, it is the other way around. They are opposed to the difficulties of conquering the land and do not want to conquer it. So they despise the blessings of it that the LORD has presented to them. They do not see the blessings, they forget them, because they are blinded by the effort it will take to possess them.
The Twelve Spies
In Deuteronomy 1 it says that the people themselves are asking to send spies: “Then all of you approached me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, that they may search out the land for us, and bring back to us word of the way by which we should go up and the cities which we shall enter” (Deuteronomy 1:22). Now God gives them what they want. He knows their desires. They want to spy it out to compare it with their own strengths. God commands them according to their desires, that they may experience the results. It is like appointing a king in Israel. The LORD commands Samuel to appoint a king, but that is because the people want a king (1 Samuel 8:22a).
The name change of Hosea by Moses is significant. Hosea means ‘salvation’, Joshua means ‘Yahweh is salvation’. With this Moses indicates what God will do and that the strength of the people can be found in Him. He will have spoken this change of name loud and clear as an encouragement to the people. This change of name also shows the special bond that exists between Moses and Joshua, between an old man of God and a young man of God.
Numbers 16:27
Introduction
In Numbers 11 we see a desire in the people of God to return to Egypt. Someone who yearns back to the world – of which Egypt is a picture – proves that he does not know the true character of the world. In Numbers 13 a new problem is emerging: how do the people think about the promised land? It will appear that, just as they do not know Egypt, they do not know the promised land either. They are as unbelieving in the glory that lies before them, that is of the land of Canaan, as they are in respect of Egypt that they have left. The same goes for the wilderness they pass through.
The characteristic of Israel is that they fear the enemies more than they fear the LORD. That is why they only think about the pleasant things of Egypt when they think about that land. To this they contrast the unpleasantness of the wilderness. Therefore they long to go back to Egypt. Now that they stand before the promised land, it is the other way around. They are opposed to the difficulties of conquering the land and do not want to conquer it. So they despise the blessings of it that the LORD has presented to them. They do not see the blessings, they forget them, because they are blinded by the effort it will take to possess them.
The Twelve Spies
In Deuteronomy 1 it says that the people themselves are asking to send spies: “Then all of you approached me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, that they may search out the land for us, and bring back to us word of the way by which we should go up and the cities which we shall enter” (Deuteronomy 1:22). Now God gives them what they want. He knows their desires. They want to spy it out to compare it with their own strengths. God commands them according to their desires, that they may experience the results. It is like appointing a king in Israel. The LORD commands Samuel to appoint a king, but that is because the people want a king (1 Samuel 8:22a).
The name change of Hosea by Moses is significant. Hosea means ‘salvation’, Joshua means ‘Yahweh is salvation’. With this Moses indicates what God will do and that the strength of the people can be found in Him. He will have spoken this change of name loud and clear as an encouragement to the people. This change of name also shows the special bond that exists between Moses and Joshua, between an old man of God and a young man of God.
Numbers 16:28
Introduction
In Numbers 11 we see a desire in the people of God to return to Egypt. Someone who yearns back to the world – of which Egypt is a picture – proves that he does not know the true character of the world. In Numbers 13 a new problem is emerging: how do the people think about the promised land? It will appear that, just as they do not know Egypt, they do not know the promised land either. They are as unbelieving in the glory that lies before them, that is of the land of Canaan, as they are in respect of Egypt that they have left. The same goes for the wilderness they pass through.
The characteristic of Israel is that they fear the enemies more than they fear the LORD. That is why they only think about the pleasant things of Egypt when they think about that land. To this they contrast the unpleasantness of the wilderness. Therefore they long to go back to Egypt. Now that they stand before the promised land, it is the other way around. They are opposed to the difficulties of conquering the land and do not want to conquer it. So they despise the blessings of it that the LORD has presented to them. They do not see the blessings, they forget them, because they are blinded by the effort it will take to possess them.
The Twelve Spies
In Deuteronomy 1 it says that the people themselves are asking to send spies: “Then all of you approached me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, that they may search out the land for us, and bring back to us word of the way by which we should go up and the cities which we shall enter” (Deuteronomy 1:22). Now God gives them what they want. He knows their desires. They want to spy it out to compare it with their own strengths. God commands them according to their desires, that they may experience the results. It is like appointing a king in Israel. The LORD commands Samuel to appoint a king, but that is because the people want a king (1 Samuel 8:22a).
The name change of Hosea by Moses is significant. Hosea means ‘salvation’, Joshua means ‘Yahweh is salvation’. With this Moses indicates what God will do and that the strength of the people can be found in Him. He will have spoken this change of name loud and clear as an encouragement to the people. This change of name also shows the special bond that exists between Moses and Joshua, between an old man of God and a young man of God.
Numbers 16:29
Introduction
In Numbers 11 we see a desire in the people of God to return to Egypt. Someone who yearns back to the world – of which Egypt is a picture – proves that he does not know the true character of the world. In Numbers 13 a new problem is emerging: how do the people think about the promised land? It will appear that, just as they do not know Egypt, they do not know the promised land either. They are as unbelieving in the glory that lies before them, that is of the land of Canaan, as they are in respect of Egypt that they have left. The same goes for the wilderness they pass through.
The characteristic of Israel is that they fear the enemies more than they fear the LORD. That is why they only think about the pleasant things of Egypt when they think about that land. To this they contrast the unpleasantness of the wilderness. Therefore they long to go back to Egypt. Now that they stand before the promised land, it is the other way around. They are opposed to the difficulties of conquering the land and do not want to conquer it. So they despise the blessings of it that the LORD has presented to them. They do not see the blessings, they forget them, because they are blinded by the effort it will take to possess them.
The Twelve Spies
In Deuteronomy 1 it says that the people themselves are asking to send spies: “Then all of you approached me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, that they may search out the land for us, and bring back to us word of the way by which we should go up and the cities which we shall enter” (Deuteronomy 1:22). Now God gives them what they want. He knows their desires. They want to spy it out to compare it with their own strengths. God commands them according to their desires, that they may experience the results. It is like appointing a king in Israel. The LORD commands Samuel to appoint a king, but that is because the people want a king (1 Samuel 8:22a).
The name change of Hosea by Moses is significant. Hosea means ‘salvation’, Joshua means ‘Yahweh is salvation’. With this Moses indicates what God will do and that the strength of the people can be found in Him. He will have spoken this change of name loud and clear as an encouragement to the people. This change of name also shows the special bond that exists between Moses and Joshua, between an old man of God and a young man of God.
Numbers 16:30
Introduction
In Numbers 11 we see a desire in the people of God to return to Egypt. Someone who yearns back to the world – of which Egypt is a picture – proves that he does not know the true character of the world. In Numbers 13 a new problem is emerging: how do the people think about the promised land? It will appear that, just as they do not know Egypt, they do not know the promised land either. They are as unbelieving in the glory that lies before them, that is of the land of Canaan, as they are in respect of Egypt that they have left. The same goes for the wilderness they pass through.
The characteristic of Israel is that they fear the enemies more than they fear the LORD. That is why they only think about the pleasant things of Egypt when they think about that land. To this they contrast the unpleasantness of the wilderness. Therefore they long to go back to Egypt. Now that they stand before the promised land, it is the other way around. They are opposed to the difficulties of conquering the land and do not want to conquer it. So they despise the blessings of it that the LORD has presented to them. They do not see the blessings, they forget them, because they are blinded by the effort it will take to possess them.
The Twelve Spies
In Deuteronomy 1 it says that the people themselves are asking to send spies: “Then all of you approached me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, that they may search out the land for us, and bring back to us word of the way by which we should go up and the cities which we shall enter” (Deuteronomy 1:22). Now God gives them what they want. He knows their desires. They want to spy it out to compare it with their own strengths. God commands them according to their desires, that they may experience the results. It is like appointing a king in Israel. The LORD commands Samuel to appoint a king, but that is because the people want a king (1 Samuel 8:22a).
The name change of Hosea by Moses is significant. Hosea means ‘salvation’, Joshua means ‘Yahweh is salvation’. With this Moses indicates what God will do and that the strength of the people can be found in Him. He will have spoken this change of name loud and clear as an encouragement to the people. This change of name also shows the special bond that exists between Moses and Joshua, between an old man of God and a young man of God.
Numbers 16:31
Introduction
In Numbers 11 we see a desire in the people of God to return to Egypt. Someone who yearns back to the world – of which Egypt is a picture – proves that he does not know the true character of the world. In Numbers 13 a new problem is emerging: how do the people think about the promised land? It will appear that, just as they do not know Egypt, they do not know the promised land either. They are as unbelieving in the glory that lies before them, that is of the land of Canaan, as they are in respect of Egypt that they have left. The same goes for the wilderness they pass through.
The characteristic of Israel is that they fear the enemies more than they fear the LORD. That is why they only think about the pleasant things of Egypt when they think about that land. To this they contrast the unpleasantness of the wilderness. Therefore they long to go back to Egypt. Now that they stand before the promised land, it is the other way around. They are opposed to the difficulties of conquering the land and do not want to conquer it. So they despise the blessings of it that the LORD has presented to them. They do not see the blessings, they forget them, because they are blinded by the effort it will take to possess them.
The Twelve Spies
In Deuteronomy 1 it says that the people themselves are asking to send spies: “Then all of you approached me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, that they may search out the land for us, and bring back to us word of the way by which we should go up and the cities which we shall enter” (Deuteronomy 1:22). Now God gives them what they want. He knows their desires. They want to spy it out to compare it with their own strengths. God commands them according to their desires, that they may experience the results. It is like appointing a king in Israel. The LORD commands Samuel to appoint a king, but that is because the people want a king (1 Samuel 8:22a).
The name change of Hosea by Moses is significant. Hosea means ‘salvation’, Joshua means ‘Yahweh is salvation’. With this Moses indicates what God will do and that the strength of the people can be found in Him. He will have spoken this change of name loud and clear as an encouragement to the people. This change of name also shows the special bond that exists between Moses and Joshua, between an old man of God and a young man of God.
Numbers 16:32
Introduction
In Numbers 11 we see a desire in the people of God to return to Egypt. Someone who yearns back to the world – of which Egypt is a picture – proves that he does not know the true character of the world. In Numbers 13 a new problem is emerging: how do the people think about the promised land? It will appear that, just as they do not know Egypt, they do not know the promised land either. They are as unbelieving in the glory that lies before them, that is of the land of Canaan, as they are in respect of Egypt that they have left. The same goes for the wilderness they pass through.
The characteristic of Israel is that they fear the enemies more than they fear the LORD. That is why they only think about the pleasant things of Egypt when they think about that land. To this they contrast the unpleasantness of the wilderness. Therefore they long to go back to Egypt. Now that they stand before the promised land, it is the other way around. They are opposed to the difficulties of conquering the land and do not want to conquer it. So they despise the blessings of it that the LORD has presented to them. They do not see the blessings, they forget them, because they are blinded by the effort it will take to possess them.
The Twelve Spies
In Deuteronomy 1 it says that the people themselves are asking to send spies: “Then all of you approached me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, that they may search out the land for us, and bring back to us word of the way by which we should go up and the cities which we shall enter” (Deuteronomy 1:22). Now God gives them what they want. He knows their desires. They want to spy it out to compare it with their own strengths. God commands them according to their desires, that they may experience the results. It is like appointing a king in Israel. The LORD commands Samuel to appoint a king, but that is because the people want a king (1 Samuel 8:22a).
The name change of Hosea by Moses is significant. Hosea means ‘salvation’, Joshua means ‘Yahweh is salvation’. With this Moses indicates what God will do and that the strength of the people can be found in Him. He will have spoken this change of name loud and clear as an encouragement to the people. This change of name also shows the special bond that exists between Moses and Joshua, between an old man of God and a young man of God.
Numbers 16:33
Introduction
In Numbers 11 we see a desire in the people of God to return to Egypt. Someone who yearns back to the world – of which Egypt is a picture – proves that he does not know the true character of the world. In Numbers 13 a new problem is emerging: how do the people think about the promised land? It will appear that, just as they do not know Egypt, they do not know the promised land either. They are as unbelieving in the glory that lies before them, that is of the land of Canaan, as they are in respect of Egypt that they have left. The same goes for the wilderness they pass through.
The characteristic of Israel is that they fear the enemies more than they fear the LORD. That is why they only think about the pleasant things of Egypt when they think about that land. To this they contrast the unpleasantness of the wilderness. Therefore they long to go back to Egypt. Now that they stand before the promised land, it is the other way around. They are opposed to the difficulties of conquering the land and do not want to conquer it. So they despise the blessings of it that the LORD has presented to them. They do not see the blessings, they forget them, because they are blinded by the effort it will take to possess them.
The Twelve Spies
In Deuteronomy 1 it says that the people themselves are asking to send spies: “Then all of you approached me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, that they may search out the land for us, and bring back to us word of the way by which we should go up and the cities which we shall enter” (Deuteronomy 1:22). Now God gives them what they want. He knows their desires. They want to spy it out to compare it with their own strengths. God commands them according to their desires, that they may experience the results. It is like appointing a king in Israel. The LORD commands Samuel to appoint a king, but that is because the people want a king (1 Samuel 8:22a).
The name change of Hosea by Moses is significant. Hosea means ‘salvation’, Joshua means ‘Yahweh is salvation’. With this Moses indicates what God will do and that the strength of the people can be found in Him. He will have spoken this change of name loud and clear as an encouragement to the people. This change of name also shows the special bond that exists between Moses and Joshua, between an old man of God and a young man of God.
Numbers 16:34
Commission to Spy Out the Land
God has already told them everything, both about the blessing and about the enemies who live there. But they don’t remember that God also said: “I give you the land.” Then there is no need to go and see what kind of land it is, whether it is good or bad, and how strong the enemy is, is it? Nevertheless, courage is needed to spy out the land. After all, it is hostile territory. For the first time in the Bible the exhortation sounds: “Make an effort”, or: “Take courage.”
The inheritance that we Christians will receive together with the Lord Jesus is “all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth” (Ephesians 1:10). That is why we have been saved. There is nothing we could do about this salvation. So it is with the inheritance. We do not need to spy out that inheritance or to be strong enough. We have no strength, as we didn’t have it for salvation. God has redeemed us and gives us the inheritance.
Numbers 16:35
Commission to Spy Out the Land
God has already told them everything, both about the blessing and about the enemies who live there. But they don’t remember that God also said: “I give you the land.” Then there is no need to go and see what kind of land it is, whether it is good or bad, and how strong the enemy is, is it? Nevertheless, courage is needed to spy out the land. After all, it is hostile territory. For the first time in the Bible the exhortation sounds: “Make an effort”, or: “Take courage.”
The inheritance that we Christians will receive together with the Lord Jesus is “all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth” (Ephesians 1:10). That is why we have been saved. There is nothing we could do about this salvation. So it is with the inheritance. We do not need to spy out that inheritance or to be strong enough. We have no strength, as we didn’t have it for salvation. God has redeemed us and gives us the inheritance.
Numbers 16:36
Commission to Spy Out the Land
God has already told them everything, both about the blessing and about the enemies who live there. But they don’t remember that God also said: “I give you the land.” Then there is no need to go and see what kind of land it is, whether it is good or bad, and how strong the enemy is, is it? Nevertheless, courage is needed to spy out the land. After all, it is hostile territory. For the first time in the Bible the exhortation sounds: “Make an effort”, or: “Take courage.”
The inheritance that we Christians will receive together with the Lord Jesus is “all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth” (Ephesians 1:10). That is why we have been saved. There is nothing we could do about this salvation. So it is with the inheritance. We do not need to spy out that inheritance or to be strong enough. We have no strength, as we didn’t have it for salvation. God has redeemed us and gives us the inheritance.
Numbers 16:37
Commission to Spy Out the Land
God has already told them everything, both about the blessing and about the enemies who live there. But they don’t remember that God also said: “I give you the land.” Then there is no need to go and see what kind of land it is, whether it is good or bad, and how strong the enemy is, is it? Nevertheless, courage is needed to spy out the land. After all, it is hostile territory. For the first time in the Bible the exhortation sounds: “Make an effort”, or: “Take courage.”
The inheritance that we Christians will receive together with the Lord Jesus is “all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth” (Ephesians 1:10). That is why we have been saved. There is nothing we could do about this salvation. So it is with the inheritance. We do not need to spy out that inheritance or to be strong enough. We have no strength, as we didn’t have it for salvation. God has redeemed us and gives us the inheritance.
Numbers 16:38
The Land Spied Out
The spies come to Hebron, which means ‘fellowship’, which indicates that the blessing is enjoyed in fellowship with others. In Hebron is also the enemy. He will try to prevent us from enjoying fellowship with others and above all with God and the Lord Jesus.
In the meaning of the names we see the nature of the enemies who want to rob us of the blessing of the land. “Anak” means “long neck”, which indicates pride, haughty. They think only of themselves. Such people know very well how to keep us from our blessings. They will point to the folly of our faith. It is not only others who are like this, we must also be aware that in each of us there is an ‘Anakite’.
In the names of Anak’s three children, the characteristics of pride come to life: 1. “Ahiman” means ‘who is my brother’. We recognize individualism in this, in which thinking about oneself is expressed in a stronger way. 2. “Sheshai” means ‘free’. This indicates that one does not submit to any authority, but feels free to do what oneself thinks is right. 3. “Talmai” means ‘audacious’ or ‘unashamed’. This shows the aspect of posturing.
If we do not eliminate these ‘children’ of pride, but give them the opportunity to assert themselves in our lives, the blessings are lost to us.
The cluster of grapes speaks of joy. Joy is the result of fellowship (1 John 1:3-4). Joy and fellowship belong together. Anyone who is involved with the heavenly blessings, together with others – two men are needed to carry the cluster – will be glad.
Hebron was built seven years earlier than Zoan. This is not just a chronologic remark. There is an important spiritual meaning attached to it. Zoan was at that time the capital of Egypt. There are many sages living there. Zoan stands for everything Egypt represents, both in wisdom and in the enjoyment of sin. Egypt is, as we have seen before, a picture of the world. Do we long for that back? Then let’s remember that Hebron is much older.
Christendom and the things we have received in it are much older than our stay in the world. The blessings of heaven date from before all times (Ephesians 1:4). Compared to that the world is nothing, which only has later and temporary pleasures. Is the choice still difficult when we have to choose between Zoan in Egypt or Hebron in the promised land?
Numbers 16:39
The Land Spied Out
The spies come to Hebron, which means ‘fellowship’, which indicates that the blessing is enjoyed in fellowship with others. In Hebron is also the enemy. He will try to prevent us from enjoying fellowship with others and above all with God and the Lord Jesus.
In the meaning of the names we see the nature of the enemies who want to rob us of the blessing of the land. “Anak” means “long neck”, which indicates pride, haughty. They think only of themselves. Such people know very well how to keep us from our blessings. They will point to the folly of our faith. It is not only others who are like this, we must also be aware that in each of us there is an ‘Anakite’.
In the names of Anak’s three children, the characteristics of pride come to life: 1. “Ahiman” means ‘who is my brother’. We recognize individualism in this, in which thinking about oneself is expressed in a stronger way. 2. “Sheshai” means ‘free’. This indicates that one does not submit to any authority, but feels free to do what oneself thinks is right. 3. “Talmai” means ‘audacious’ or ‘unashamed’. This shows the aspect of posturing.
If we do not eliminate these ‘children’ of pride, but give them the opportunity to assert themselves in our lives, the blessings are lost to us.
The cluster of grapes speaks of joy. Joy is the result of fellowship (1 John 1:3-4). Joy and fellowship belong together. Anyone who is involved with the heavenly blessings, together with others – two men are needed to carry the cluster – will be glad.
Hebron was built seven years earlier than Zoan. This is not just a chronologic remark. There is an important spiritual meaning attached to it. Zoan was at that time the capital of Egypt. There are many sages living there. Zoan stands for everything Egypt represents, both in wisdom and in the enjoyment of sin. Egypt is, as we have seen before, a picture of the world. Do we long for that back? Then let’s remember that Hebron is much older.
Christendom and the things we have received in it are much older than our stay in the world. The blessings of heaven date from before all times (Ephesians 1:4). Compared to that the world is nothing, which only has later and temporary pleasures. Is the choice still difficult when we have to choose between Zoan in Egypt or Hebron in the promised land?
Numbers 16:40
The Land Spied Out
The spies come to Hebron, which means ‘fellowship’, which indicates that the blessing is enjoyed in fellowship with others. In Hebron is also the enemy. He will try to prevent us from enjoying fellowship with others and above all with God and the Lord Jesus.
In the meaning of the names we see the nature of the enemies who want to rob us of the blessing of the land. “Anak” means “long neck”, which indicates pride, haughty. They think only of themselves. Such people know very well how to keep us from our blessings. They will point to the folly of our faith. It is not only others who are like this, we must also be aware that in each of us there is an ‘Anakite’.
In the names of Anak’s three children, the characteristics of pride come to life: 1. “Ahiman” means ‘who is my brother’. We recognize individualism in this, in which thinking about oneself is expressed in a stronger way. 2. “Sheshai” means ‘free’. This indicates that one does not submit to any authority, but feels free to do what oneself thinks is right. 3. “Talmai” means ‘audacious’ or ‘unashamed’. This shows the aspect of posturing.
If we do not eliminate these ‘children’ of pride, but give them the opportunity to assert themselves in our lives, the blessings are lost to us.
The cluster of grapes speaks of joy. Joy is the result of fellowship (1 John 1:3-4). Joy and fellowship belong together. Anyone who is involved with the heavenly blessings, together with others – two men are needed to carry the cluster – will be glad.
Hebron was built seven years earlier than Zoan. This is not just a chronologic remark. There is an important spiritual meaning attached to it. Zoan was at that time the capital of Egypt. There are many sages living there. Zoan stands for everything Egypt represents, both in wisdom and in the enjoyment of sin. Egypt is, as we have seen before, a picture of the world. Do we long for that back? Then let’s remember that Hebron is much older.
Christendom and the things we have received in it are much older than our stay in the world. The blessings of heaven date from before all times (Ephesians 1:4). Compared to that the world is nothing, which only has later and temporary pleasures. Is the choice still difficult when we have to choose between Zoan in Egypt or Hebron in the promised land?
Numbers 16:41
The Land Spied Out
The spies come to Hebron, which means ‘fellowship’, which indicates that the blessing is enjoyed in fellowship with others. In Hebron is also the enemy. He will try to prevent us from enjoying fellowship with others and above all with God and the Lord Jesus.
In the meaning of the names we see the nature of the enemies who want to rob us of the blessing of the land. “Anak” means “long neck”, which indicates pride, haughty. They think only of themselves. Such people know very well how to keep us from our blessings. They will point to the folly of our faith. It is not only others who are like this, we must also be aware that in each of us there is an ‘Anakite’.
In the names of Anak’s three children, the characteristics of pride come to life: 1. “Ahiman” means ‘who is my brother’. We recognize individualism in this, in which thinking about oneself is expressed in a stronger way. 2. “Sheshai” means ‘free’. This indicates that one does not submit to any authority, but feels free to do what oneself thinks is right. 3. “Talmai” means ‘audacious’ or ‘unashamed’. This shows the aspect of posturing.
If we do not eliminate these ‘children’ of pride, but give them the opportunity to assert themselves in our lives, the blessings are lost to us.
The cluster of grapes speaks of joy. Joy is the result of fellowship (1 John 1:3-4). Joy and fellowship belong together. Anyone who is involved with the heavenly blessings, together with others – two men are needed to carry the cluster – will be glad.
Hebron was built seven years earlier than Zoan. This is not just a chronologic remark. There is an important spiritual meaning attached to it. Zoan was at that time the capital of Egypt. There are many sages living there. Zoan stands for everything Egypt represents, both in wisdom and in the enjoyment of sin. Egypt is, as we have seen before, a picture of the world. Do we long for that back? Then let’s remember that Hebron is much older.
Christendom and the things we have received in it are much older than our stay in the world. The blessings of heaven date from before all times (Ephesians 1:4). Compared to that the world is nothing, which only has later and temporary pleasures. Is the choice still difficult when we have to choose between Zoan in Egypt or Hebron in the promised land?
Numbers 16:42
The Spies Bring Back Word
When the twelve spies leave, there is no difference between them yet to be seen. The difference becomes only clear when they return “at the end of forty days”. The number forty is the number of trial (Genesis 7:17; Exodus 24:18; 1 Samuel 17:16; 1 Kings 19:8; Jona 3:4; Mark 1:13; Acts 1:3). Testing of the faith reveals the state of the faith. The twelve spies show this to be the case. They have all seen the same, but only two have looked with the eyes of God. One of the two is Caleb. The name Caleb means ‘wholeheartedly’. He is worth that name. Caleb has given himself with an undivided, completely dedicated heart to the LORD and His case. For him, the punishment that comes soon is not a setback from entering the land, but a postponement.
The ten other men who have spied out the land have enjoyed the same blessings as Caleb, but have never taken possession of the land. They are like the people of whom is written to have enjoyed the gifts of the heavenly land, but have been lost. “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and [then] have fallen away” (Hebrews 6:4-6). These are people who have never truly, with their heart, been converted to God. Although the ten have an unbelieving heart, they cannot deny that the land flows “with milk and honey”.
Milk is a healthy food we received from our mother as a baby. As believers, we are called to long for the Word, as a baby longs for its mother’s milk (1 Peter 2:2). Honey is a picture of the natural relationships between the members of God’s people and speaks of the sweetness of brotherly love. We find in the milk and honey the blessing of the vertical and horizontal relationships.
The ten spies give a correct description. They have seen no other things than God has said from the beginning (Exodus 3:8). But they let their report follow by a limiting “nevertheless” (Numbers 13:28) and shift the emphasis of the blessings to the enemies. Yet God also told them of those enemies and not only of the blessings.
Already to Abraham He told him that his descendants would go to a land where there are enemies (Genesis 15:18-21). And to Moses He promised – and Moses told the people – that He would drive out the enemies from the land (Exodus 23:27-31). But if a man forgets what God has said, he will see things differently. Thus the ten feel like grasshoppers in their own eyes, because they have lost sight of God.
The impression that unbelief conveys causes turmoil among the people. Caleb knows exactly what the others are talking about. He does not present things differently and does not belittle the dangers. He is not insensitive to the dangers, but he is a man of faith in what God has said. That makes the difference. With a calm confidence in the power of God, he bears witness to the certainty of victory and quietens the people.
Then “the men who had gone up with him” give out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land. They paint in detail the impossibility of taking possession of the land, as if to undertake an effort for this purpose is equivalent to suicide.
This way of reasoning can be applied spiritually. We reason like that, for example, when we say to others that doing Bible study is actually nonsensical, that engaging in the blessing of God’s land is a tiring activity that only causes problems. Then we present the heavenly land as an area where no life is possible. We may well wonder how we talk about living with the Lord and how we take in what He has given us as spiritual blessings.
Numbers 16:43
The Spies Bring Back Word
When the twelve spies leave, there is no difference between them yet to be seen. The difference becomes only clear when they return “at the end of forty days”. The number forty is the number of trial (Genesis 7:17; Exodus 24:18; 1 Samuel 17:16; 1 Kings 19:8; Jona 3:4; Mark 1:13; Acts 1:3). Testing of the faith reveals the state of the faith. The twelve spies show this to be the case. They have all seen the same, but only two have looked with the eyes of God. One of the two is Caleb. The name Caleb means ‘wholeheartedly’. He is worth that name. Caleb has given himself with an undivided, completely dedicated heart to the LORD and His case. For him, the punishment that comes soon is not a setback from entering the land, but a postponement.
The ten other men who have spied out the land have enjoyed the same blessings as Caleb, but have never taken possession of the land. They are like the people of whom is written to have enjoyed the gifts of the heavenly land, but have been lost. “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and [then] have fallen away” (Hebrews 6:4-6). These are people who have never truly, with their heart, been converted to God. Although the ten have an unbelieving heart, they cannot deny that the land flows “with milk and honey”.
Milk is a healthy food we received from our mother as a baby. As believers, we are called to long for the Word, as a baby longs for its mother’s milk (1 Peter 2:2). Honey is a picture of the natural relationships between the members of God’s people and speaks of the sweetness of brotherly love. We find in the milk and honey the blessing of the vertical and horizontal relationships.
The ten spies give a correct description. They have seen no other things than God has said from the beginning (Exodus 3:8). But they let their report follow by a limiting “nevertheless” (Numbers 13:28) and shift the emphasis of the blessings to the enemies. Yet God also told them of those enemies and not only of the blessings.
Already to Abraham He told him that his descendants would go to a land where there are enemies (Genesis 15:18-21). And to Moses He promised – and Moses told the people – that He would drive out the enemies from the land (Exodus 23:27-31). But if a man forgets what God has said, he will see things differently. Thus the ten feel like grasshoppers in their own eyes, because they have lost sight of God.
The impression that unbelief conveys causes turmoil among the people. Caleb knows exactly what the others are talking about. He does not present things differently and does not belittle the dangers. He is not insensitive to the dangers, but he is a man of faith in what God has said. That makes the difference. With a calm confidence in the power of God, he bears witness to the certainty of victory and quietens the people.
Then “the men who had gone up with him” give out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land. They paint in detail the impossibility of taking possession of the land, as if to undertake an effort for this purpose is equivalent to suicide.
This way of reasoning can be applied spiritually. We reason like that, for example, when we say to others that doing Bible study is actually nonsensical, that engaging in the blessing of God’s land is a tiring activity that only causes problems. Then we present the heavenly land as an area where no life is possible. We may well wonder how we talk about living with the Lord and how we take in what He has given us as spiritual blessings.
Numbers 16:44
The Spies Bring Back Word
When the twelve spies leave, there is no difference between them yet to be seen. The difference becomes only clear when they return “at the end of forty days”. The number forty is the number of trial (Genesis 7:17; Exodus 24:18; 1 Samuel 17:16; 1 Kings 19:8; Jona 3:4; Mark 1:13; Acts 1:3). Testing of the faith reveals the state of the faith. The twelve spies show this to be the case. They have all seen the same, but only two have looked with the eyes of God. One of the two is Caleb. The name Caleb means ‘wholeheartedly’. He is worth that name. Caleb has given himself with an undivided, completely dedicated heart to the LORD and His case. For him, the punishment that comes soon is not a setback from entering the land, but a postponement.
The ten other men who have spied out the land have enjoyed the same blessings as Caleb, but have never taken possession of the land. They are like the people of whom is written to have enjoyed the gifts of the heavenly land, but have been lost. “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and [then] have fallen away” (Hebrews 6:4-6). These are people who have never truly, with their heart, been converted to God. Although the ten have an unbelieving heart, they cannot deny that the land flows “with milk and honey”.
Milk is a healthy food we received from our mother as a baby. As believers, we are called to long for the Word, as a baby longs for its mother’s milk (1 Peter 2:2). Honey is a picture of the natural relationships between the members of God’s people and speaks of the sweetness of brotherly love. We find in the milk and honey the blessing of the vertical and horizontal relationships.
The ten spies give a correct description. They have seen no other things than God has said from the beginning (Exodus 3:8). But they let their report follow by a limiting “nevertheless” (Numbers 13:28) and shift the emphasis of the blessings to the enemies. Yet God also told them of those enemies and not only of the blessings.
Already to Abraham He told him that his descendants would go to a land where there are enemies (Genesis 15:18-21). And to Moses He promised – and Moses told the people – that He would drive out the enemies from the land (Exodus 23:27-31). But if a man forgets what God has said, he will see things differently. Thus the ten feel like grasshoppers in their own eyes, because they have lost sight of God.
The impression that unbelief conveys causes turmoil among the people. Caleb knows exactly what the others are talking about. He does not present things differently and does not belittle the dangers. He is not insensitive to the dangers, but he is a man of faith in what God has said. That makes the difference. With a calm confidence in the power of God, he bears witness to the certainty of victory and quietens the people.
Then “the men who had gone up with him” give out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land. They paint in detail the impossibility of taking possession of the land, as if to undertake an effort for this purpose is equivalent to suicide.
This way of reasoning can be applied spiritually. We reason like that, for example, when we say to others that doing Bible study is actually nonsensical, that engaging in the blessing of God’s land is a tiring activity that only causes problems. Then we present the heavenly land as an area where no life is possible. We may well wonder how we talk about living with the Lord and how we take in what He has given us as spiritual blessings.
Numbers 16:45
The Spies Bring Back Word
When the twelve spies leave, there is no difference between them yet to be seen. The difference becomes only clear when they return “at the end of forty days”. The number forty is the number of trial (Genesis 7:17; Exodus 24:18; 1 Samuel 17:16; 1 Kings 19:8; Jona 3:4; Mark 1:13; Acts 1:3). Testing of the faith reveals the state of the faith. The twelve spies show this to be the case. They have all seen the same, but only two have looked with the eyes of God. One of the two is Caleb. The name Caleb means ‘wholeheartedly’. He is worth that name. Caleb has given himself with an undivided, completely dedicated heart to the LORD and His case. For him, the punishment that comes soon is not a setback from entering the land, but a postponement.
The ten other men who have spied out the land have enjoyed the same blessings as Caleb, but have never taken possession of the land. They are like the people of whom is written to have enjoyed the gifts of the heavenly land, but have been lost. “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and [then] have fallen away” (Hebrews 6:4-6). These are people who have never truly, with their heart, been converted to God. Although the ten have an unbelieving heart, they cannot deny that the land flows “with milk and honey”.
Milk is a healthy food we received from our mother as a baby. As believers, we are called to long for the Word, as a baby longs for its mother’s milk (1 Peter 2:2). Honey is a picture of the natural relationships between the members of God’s people and speaks of the sweetness of brotherly love. We find in the milk and honey the blessing of the vertical and horizontal relationships.
The ten spies give a correct description. They have seen no other things than God has said from the beginning (Exodus 3:8). But they let their report follow by a limiting “nevertheless” (Numbers 13:28) and shift the emphasis of the blessings to the enemies. Yet God also told them of those enemies and not only of the blessings.
Already to Abraham He told him that his descendants would go to a land where there are enemies (Genesis 15:18-21). And to Moses He promised – and Moses told the people – that He would drive out the enemies from the land (Exodus 23:27-31). But if a man forgets what God has said, he will see things differently. Thus the ten feel like grasshoppers in their own eyes, because they have lost sight of God.
The impression that unbelief conveys causes turmoil among the people. Caleb knows exactly what the others are talking about. He does not present things differently and does not belittle the dangers. He is not insensitive to the dangers, but he is a man of faith in what God has said. That makes the difference. With a calm confidence in the power of God, he bears witness to the certainty of victory and quietens the people.
Then “the men who had gone up with him” give out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land. They paint in detail the impossibility of taking possession of the land, as if to undertake an effort for this purpose is equivalent to suicide.
This way of reasoning can be applied spiritually. We reason like that, for example, when we say to others that doing Bible study is actually nonsensical, that engaging in the blessing of God’s land is a tiring activity that only causes problems. Then we present the heavenly land as an area where no life is possible. We may well wonder how we talk about living with the Lord and how we take in what He has given us as spiritual blessings.
Numbers 16:46
The Spies Bring Back Word
When the twelve spies leave, there is no difference between them yet to be seen. The difference becomes only clear when they return “at the end of forty days”. The number forty is the number of trial (Genesis 7:17; Exodus 24:18; 1 Samuel 17:16; 1 Kings 19:8; Jona 3:4; Mark 1:13; Acts 1:3). Testing of the faith reveals the state of the faith. The twelve spies show this to be the case. They have all seen the same, but only two have looked with the eyes of God. One of the two is Caleb. The name Caleb means ‘wholeheartedly’. He is worth that name. Caleb has given himself with an undivided, completely dedicated heart to the LORD and His case. For him, the punishment that comes soon is not a setback from entering the land, but a postponement.
The ten other men who have spied out the land have enjoyed the same blessings as Caleb, but have never taken possession of the land. They are like the people of whom is written to have enjoyed the gifts of the heavenly land, but have been lost. “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and [then] have fallen away” (Hebrews 6:4-6). These are people who have never truly, with their heart, been converted to God. Although the ten have an unbelieving heart, they cannot deny that the land flows “with milk and honey”.
Milk is a healthy food we received from our mother as a baby. As believers, we are called to long for the Word, as a baby longs for its mother’s milk (1 Peter 2:2). Honey is a picture of the natural relationships between the members of God’s people and speaks of the sweetness of brotherly love. We find in the milk and honey the blessing of the vertical and horizontal relationships.
The ten spies give a correct description. They have seen no other things than God has said from the beginning (Exodus 3:8). But they let their report follow by a limiting “nevertheless” (Numbers 13:28) and shift the emphasis of the blessings to the enemies. Yet God also told them of those enemies and not only of the blessings.
Already to Abraham He told him that his descendants would go to a land where there are enemies (Genesis 15:18-21). And to Moses He promised – and Moses told the people – that He would drive out the enemies from the land (Exodus 23:27-31). But if a man forgets what God has said, he will see things differently. Thus the ten feel like grasshoppers in their own eyes, because they have lost sight of God.
The impression that unbelief conveys causes turmoil among the people. Caleb knows exactly what the others are talking about. He does not present things differently and does not belittle the dangers. He is not insensitive to the dangers, but he is a man of faith in what God has said. That makes the difference. With a calm confidence in the power of God, he bears witness to the certainty of victory and quietens the people.
Then “the men who had gone up with him” give out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land. They paint in detail the impossibility of taking possession of the land, as if to undertake an effort for this purpose is equivalent to suicide.
This way of reasoning can be applied spiritually. We reason like that, for example, when we say to others that doing Bible study is actually nonsensical, that engaging in the blessing of God’s land is a tiring activity that only causes problems. Then we present the heavenly land as an area where no life is possible. We may well wonder how we talk about living with the Lord and how we take in what He has given us as spiritual blessings.
Numbers 16:47
The Spies Bring Back Word
When the twelve spies leave, there is no difference between them yet to be seen. The difference becomes only clear when they return “at the end of forty days”. The number forty is the number of trial (Genesis 7:17; Exodus 24:18; 1 Samuel 17:16; 1 Kings 19:8; Jona 3:4; Mark 1:13; Acts 1:3). Testing of the faith reveals the state of the faith. The twelve spies show this to be the case. They have all seen the same, but only two have looked with the eyes of God. One of the two is Caleb. The name Caleb means ‘wholeheartedly’. He is worth that name. Caleb has given himself with an undivided, completely dedicated heart to the LORD and His case. For him, the punishment that comes soon is not a setback from entering the land, but a postponement.
The ten other men who have spied out the land have enjoyed the same blessings as Caleb, but have never taken possession of the land. They are like the people of whom is written to have enjoyed the gifts of the heavenly land, but have been lost. “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and [then] have fallen away” (Hebrews 6:4-6). These are people who have never truly, with their heart, been converted to God. Although the ten have an unbelieving heart, they cannot deny that the land flows “with milk and honey”.
Milk is a healthy food we received from our mother as a baby. As believers, we are called to long for the Word, as a baby longs for its mother’s milk (1 Peter 2:2). Honey is a picture of the natural relationships between the members of God’s people and speaks of the sweetness of brotherly love. We find in the milk and honey the blessing of the vertical and horizontal relationships.
The ten spies give a correct description. They have seen no other things than God has said from the beginning (Exodus 3:8). But they let their report follow by a limiting “nevertheless” (Numbers 13:28) and shift the emphasis of the blessings to the enemies. Yet God also told them of those enemies and not only of the blessings.
Already to Abraham He told him that his descendants would go to a land where there are enemies (Genesis 15:18-21). And to Moses He promised – and Moses told the people – that He would drive out the enemies from the land (Exodus 23:27-31). But if a man forgets what God has said, he will see things differently. Thus the ten feel like grasshoppers in their own eyes, because they have lost sight of God.
The impression that unbelief conveys causes turmoil among the people. Caleb knows exactly what the others are talking about. He does not present things differently and does not belittle the dangers. He is not insensitive to the dangers, but he is a man of faith in what God has said. That makes the difference. With a calm confidence in the power of God, he bears witness to the certainty of victory and quietens the people.
Then “the men who had gone up with him” give out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land. They paint in detail the impossibility of taking possession of the land, as if to undertake an effort for this purpose is equivalent to suicide.
This way of reasoning can be applied spiritually. We reason like that, for example, when we say to others that doing Bible study is actually nonsensical, that engaging in the blessing of God’s land is a tiring activity that only causes problems. Then we present the heavenly land as an area where no life is possible. We may well wonder how we talk about living with the Lord and how we take in what He has given us as spiritual blessings.
Numbers 16:48
The Spies Bring Back Word
When the twelve spies leave, there is no difference between them yet to be seen. The difference becomes only clear when they return “at the end of forty days”. The number forty is the number of trial (Genesis 7:17; Exodus 24:18; 1 Samuel 17:16; 1 Kings 19:8; Jona 3:4; Mark 1:13; Acts 1:3). Testing of the faith reveals the state of the faith. The twelve spies show this to be the case. They have all seen the same, but only two have looked with the eyes of God. One of the two is Caleb. The name Caleb means ‘wholeheartedly’. He is worth that name. Caleb has given himself with an undivided, completely dedicated heart to the LORD and His case. For him, the punishment that comes soon is not a setback from entering the land, but a postponement.
The ten other men who have spied out the land have enjoyed the same blessings as Caleb, but have never taken possession of the land. They are like the people of whom is written to have enjoyed the gifts of the heavenly land, but have been lost. “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and [then] have fallen away” (Hebrews 6:4-6). These are people who have never truly, with their heart, been converted to God. Although the ten have an unbelieving heart, they cannot deny that the land flows “with milk and honey”.
Milk is a healthy food we received from our mother as a baby. As believers, we are called to long for the Word, as a baby longs for its mother’s milk (1 Peter 2:2). Honey is a picture of the natural relationships between the members of God’s people and speaks of the sweetness of brotherly love. We find in the milk and honey the blessing of the vertical and horizontal relationships.
The ten spies give a correct description. They have seen no other things than God has said from the beginning (Exodus 3:8). But they let their report follow by a limiting “nevertheless” (Numbers 13:28) and shift the emphasis of the blessings to the enemies. Yet God also told them of those enemies and not only of the blessings.
Already to Abraham He told him that his descendants would go to a land where there are enemies (Genesis 15:18-21). And to Moses He promised – and Moses told the people – that He would drive out the enemies from the land (Exodus 23:27-31). But if a man forgets what God has said, he will see things differently. Thus the ten feel like grasshoppers in their own eyes, because they have lost sight of God.
The impression that unbelief conveys causes turmoil among the people. Caleb knows exactly what the others are talking about. He does not present things differently and does not belittle the dangers. He is not insensitive to the dangers, but he is a man of faith in what God has said. That makes the difference. With a calm confidence in the power of God, he bears witness to the certainty of victory and quietens the people.
Then “the men who had gone up with him” give out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land. They paint in detail the impossibility of taking possession of the land, as if to undertake an effort for this purpose is equivalent to suicide.
This way of reasoning can be applied spiritually. We reason like that, for example, when we say to others that doing Bible study is actually nonsensical, that engaging in the blessing of God’s land is a tiring activity that only causes problems. Then we present the heavenly land as an area where no life is possible. We may well wonder how we talk about living with the Lord and how we take in what He has given us as spiritual blessings.
Numbers 16:49
The Spies Bring Back Word
When the twelve spies leave, there is no difference between them yet to be seen. The difference becomes only clear when they return “at the end of forty days”. The number forty is the number of trial (Genesis 7:17; Exodus 24:18; 1 Samuel 17:16; 1 Kings 19:8; Jona 3:4; Mark 1:13; Acts 1:3). Testing of the faith reveals the state of the faith. The twelve spies show this to be the case. They have all seen the same, but only two have looked with the eyes of God. One of the two is Caleb. The name Caleb means ‘wholeheartedly’. He is worth that name. Caleb has given himself with an undivided, completely dedicated heart to the LORD and His case. For him, the punishment that comes soon is not a setback from entering the land, but a postponement.
The ten other men who have spied out the land have enjoyed the same blessings as Caleb, but have never taken possession of the land. They are like the people of whom is written to have enjoyed the gifts of the heavenly land, but have been lost. “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and [then] have fallen away” (Hebrews 6:4-6). These are people who have never truly, with their heart, been converted to God. Although the ten have an unbelieving heart, they cannot deny that the land flows “with milk and honey”.
Milk is a healthy food we received from our mother as a baby. As believers, we are called to long for the Word, as a baby longs for its mother’s milk (1 Peter 2:2). Honey is a picture of the natural relationships between the members of God’s people and speaks of the sweetness of brotherly love. We find in the milk and honey the blessing of the vertical and horizontal relationships.
The ten spies give a correct description. They have seen no other things than God has said from the beginning (Exodus 3:8). But they let their report follow by a limiting “nevertheless” (Numbers 13:28) and shift the emphasis of the blessings to the enemies. Yet God also told them of those enemies and not only of the blessings.
Already to Abraham He told him that his descendants would go to a land where there are enemies (Genesis 15:18-21). And to Moses He promised – and Moses told the people – that He would drive out the enemies from the land (Exodus 23:27-31). But if a man forgets what God has said, he will see things differently. Thus the ten feel like grasshoppers in their own eyes, because they have lost sight of God.
The impression that unbelief conveys causes turmoil among the people. Caleb knows exactly what the others are talking about. He does not present things differently and does not belittle the dangers. He is not insensitive to the dangers, but he is a man of faith in what God has said. That makes the difference. With a calm confidence in the power of God, he bears witness to the certainty of victory and quietens the people.
Then “the men who had gone up with him” give out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land. They paint in detail the impossibility of taking possession of the land, as if to undertake an effort for this purpose is equivalent to suicide.
This way of reasoning can be applied spiritually. We reason like that, for example, when we say to others that doing Bible study is actually nonsensical, that engaging in the blessing of God’s land is a tiring activity that only causes problems. Then we present the heavenly land as an area where no life is possible. We may well wonder how we talk about living with the Lord and how we take in what He has given us as spiritual blessings.
Numbers 16:50
The Spies Bring Back Word
When the twelve spies leave, there is no difference between them yet to be seen. The difference becomes only clear when they return “at the end of forty days”. The number forty is the number of trial (Genesis 7:17; Exodus 24:18; 1 Samuel 17:16; 1 Kings 19:8; Jona 3:4; Mark 1:13; Acts 1:3). Testing of the faith reveals the state of the faith. The twelve spies show this to be the case. They have all seen the same, but only two have looked with the eyes of God. One of the two is Caleb. The name Caleb means ‘wholeheartedly’. He is worth that name. Caleb has given himself with an undivided, completely dedicated heart to the LORD and His case. For him, the punishment that comes soon is not a setback from entering the land, but a postponement.
The ten other men who have spied out the land have enjoyed the same blessings as Caleb, but have never taken possession of the land. They are like the people of whom is written to have enjoyed the gifts of the heavenly land, but have been lost. “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and [then] have fallen away” (Hebrews 6:4-6). These are people who have never truly, with their heart, been converted to God. Although the ten have an unbelieving heart, they cannot deny that the land flows “with milk and honey”.
Milk is a healthy food we received from our mother as a baby. As believers, we are called to long for the Word, as a baby longs for its mother’s milk (1 Peter 2:2). Honey is a picture of the natural relationships between the members of God’s people and speaks of the sweetness of brotherly love. We find in the milk and honey the blessing of the vertical and horizontal relationships.
The ten spies give a correct description. They have seen no other things than God has said from the beginning (Exodus 3:8). But they let their report follow by a limiting “nevertheless” (Numbers 13:28) and shift the emphasis of the blessings to the enemies. Yet God also told them of those enemies and not only of the blessings.
Already to Abraham He told him that his descendants would go to a land where there are enemies (Genesis 15:18-21). And to Moses He promised – and Moses told the people – that He would drive out the enemies from the land (Exodus 23:27-31). But if a man forgets what God has said, he will see things differently. Thus the ten feel like grasshoppers in their own eyes, because they have lost sight of God.
The impression that unbelief conveys causes turmoil among the people. Caleb knows exactly what the others are talking about. He does not present things differently and does not belittle the dangers. He is not insensitive to the dangers, but he is a man of faith in what God has said. That makes the difference. With a calm confidence in the power of God, he bears witness to the certainty of victory and quietens the people.
Then “the men who had gone up with him” give out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land. They paint in detail the impossibility of taking possession of the land, as if to undertake an effort for this purpose is equivalent to suicide.
This way of reasoning can be applied spiritually. We reason like that, for example, when we say to others that doing Bible study is actually nonsensical, that engaging in the blessing of God’s land is a tiring activity that only causes problems. Then we present the heavenly land as an area where no life is possible. We may well wonder how we talk about living with the Lord and how we take in what He has given us as spiritual blessings.