Transcript
A (0:00)
Foreign. Hey. Hey. This is Shelby and Scott, and we're walking through the Book of Numbers. We're in chapters 13 through 15 today. So we're midway through the book. I feel like when you're reading the Bible in the year, you got to stop and celebrate often because it's like a daily commitment, you know? So congrats on being midway through the Book of Numbers. Let's walk through these chapters, numbers 13 through 15.
B (0:26)
Yeah.
A (0:26)
All right.
B (0:27)
It's time for my favorite phrase, Shelby, which is can't wait.
A (0:30)
Can I do a drum roll?
B (0:31)
Yeah, please. There's a lot that happens in these chapters, Shelby. Seriously, though, this is a very, very big moment in numbers and really the whole Bible, because this is where you get the Israelites finally approaching the land of Canaan, the land God had promised Abraham so, so long ago. And so, in preparation for the conquest, Moses sends out these spies who return report on what they saw. And there is at least one thing that all the spies can agree on.
A (0:59)
I mean, they agree that it's a good place to live. Like, they want to live there.
B (1:02)
Right? It's a great land. They say, we went to the land you sent us. Indeed, it is flowing with milk and honey. Here's some of its fruit. And then there's a but, which is that the people living there are strong. And then the spies say that we seemed like grasshoppers to them. And this just sets the whole community of Israel off, off. Like, why did God go through all the trouble of leading them here just to die when he could have killed them in Egypt and saved a lot of trouble? And so they decide to choose a new leader and return to Egypt.
A (1:32)
Feels like we were on a high high. Like they're brought to the land and it is everything that God promised it would be. And then we're at the lowest of lows here, where they're ready to literally find a leader other than Moses and return to slavery in Egypt.
B (1:44)
Yes, it's a bleak moment. There are some glimmers of hope, though. One, I think is that Moses again intercedes for the people, which spares them the full brunt of God's wrath. And chapter 15 itself, I think, is one big glimmer of hope, because as the study points out, this chapter can feel kind of like an abrupt shift by suddenly focusing on sacrifices. But notice how the laws start. It says, when you enter the land, I am giving you. And I love that, because while there are some harsh consequences for the people's rebellion, like, they're going to have to wander in the wilderness one year for every day the spies are in the land. So 40 years. And all the people mentioned in the census of number one will die off, but the next generation will enter the lands. And these laws in chapter 15 are laws that they're to abide by when that happens. And so it's a bleak moment, but I think you have this reminder that Israel's sin is not the end of their story. God is merciful, and he will keep fulfilling his promises to them. And then there's Caleb and Joshua. I just, you know, two of the spies. I love their response. You know, they can't believe what they're hearing. To paraphrase it, they're like, the land is amazing. Yeah, the people are strong, but God's with us, so don't fear them. And I love that Caleb and Joshua don't downplay the dangers. They acknowledge they're up against a formidable foe, but rather they just choose to focus on God himself. They say, the Lord is with us, and so their protection has been removed. And I'm just so challenged by that because so often I. I feel the need to downplay trials. And I think we can do this in subtle ways at even church on Sunday mornings. Like, someone's like, hey, how's it going? And you say, good, or when maybe things aren't good. Or you might say, well, yeah, season's tough, but God's good. Just kind of like, offer platitudes when really you're being torn up inside. And I think the question this section confronts me with is, how would the way that I talk about my problems change if instead I focused on God's nearness in the midst of them? Like, maybe instead I would say, yes, what I'm going through is hard. This is the hardest season I've ever walked through. Maybe. But I know God has brought me to this spot. I know he'll lead me through it. However, that looks like.