Israel didn’t realize what a critical time it was for them. Their journey from Egypt was not that long ago. They were on the border of the land God promised them. This was what they risked their lives for; it was what is was all about. All they knew was slavery yet they took the risk. So here they are halted at the border.
Moses picked scouts to check out the land. They were to bring samples of what they found. It would show Israel what was ahead for them. They were so close to what they wanted. It seems that in today’s time the closer we get to the coming of the Lord, the further we see people going away. We’re close to the border of eternity, but we see Christians serve the Lord less. The people stopped at the border to prepare for Canaan. They had a choice to believe or not believe. By all indications we are on the border. We have more at risk than ever. Satan will do and is doing everything in his power to stop us from being ready. Paul said in the last days there would be a falling away and a heeding to seducing spirits. We see it.
Numbers 13:17 And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain: 18 And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; 19 And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds; 20 And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes. 21 So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath. 22 And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23 And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs. 24 The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence. 25 And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. 26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land. 27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. 28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan. 30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. 31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
We have no choice to be in the days we are in. We can’t go back and we can’t speed up the clock. This was not a time for Israel to get sloppy. As they did we must be moving toward Canaan, for theirs is a picture of what ours will hold. We have something better than this life. We await a promise too. Canaan was theirs even in Egypt. It was a short journey to the border. Life is short. Israel’s promise and ours is enough. We have one life. There are no second chances. Eternity comes. In giving our lives to the Lord we are getting closer to the Christian’s Promised Land. Is it worth it? Is the time and labor worth it? Absolutely! Turning back would be the most foolish decision we could make.
The scouts were to take assessment. God wanted them to return and reassure the people. Isn’t it wonderful that God does give assurance to us? We have evidence of it now. The spies were to report on the quality of the land. Verse 19 says to see if it was good or bad. Is our land good or bad? The devil would have us think it’s bad. Through the thinking of the world he’ll try to make us feel bad for taking a stand. Being a Christian is a quality life. The enemy colors our life as being bad, but we know better. IT IS NOT A BAD DECISION TO FOLLOW THE LORD. There is nothing wrong with it and nothing wrong with our Promised Land. Everything about heaven is worth it all.
The spies were to check out the cities. Did the people live in tents or were the cities fortified with walls and houses? Their report would be one of organization and fortification. Israel would not have to lay a block; God would drive out their enemy and give them cities to dwell in. Although the devil would have us believe we have nothing, the walls of heaven will keep us from harm; we’ll never have a tear. It won’t be a continuance of what we know here. There is victory in Jesus. The builder and maker of our city is God.
They were to also check out the people. Were they strong or weak; were they few or many? God wants us to look at the devil and realize he was defeated by the cross. Our enemies are great. We may look like a few. Heaven may look as if there is only a handful there, but the Bible says it’s a multitude no man can number. The city is real. Stay in the word. Stay in church. We get grapes off the cluster by doing so.
What do those grapes tell us? Moses told the people to be of good courage. Be optimistic. Can we? Yes we can! When we take a look at what has been prepared for us, we can’t help but be very optimistic. It’s more than a sample that God has set before us. Are we discouraged now and feel we can’t serve the Lord? Press on a little longer. There is reason to look up. The Bible tells us to look up when we see these things come to pass; our redemption is near.
It was the season for the grapes. It took two men to carry that cluster of grapes back for Israel to see. It was more than one could handle. That’s the way God is. Joshua and Caleb gave a good report on the land. The others agreed with them. It was a good land flowing with milk and honey. Yet the 10 did not focus on the land but on the enemies. Have we put enemies between our focus on God? How big does the devil seem to you? He advertises sin to be more powerful than Christianity. He puts it down and our inability to believe makes the enemy big. The others saw the size of the people and believed that instead of the grapes. They did not focus on what they brought back. Coming back safely should have been proof that the land was theirs and not their enemies.
Our life is the Lord’s not Satan’s. We’re close to the Promised Land. Keep your eyes on the grapes not the enemy. You’ve overcome so far; you can continue. What about it? The grapes may be small because you don’t ask for bigger ones. The Bible says if you seek you’ll find. There will be a blessing so big we cannot receive it.
The Promised Land could have been theirs right at that time. The very fact that the spies were able to infiltrate the land, access it completely, gather an abundant sample of it’s fruits, then return safely, was clear proof that this land belonged to them and them only. Believing the grapes would have saved Israel from 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. Ours is near. One more step. It’s real. This is a fake world. The grapes we taste now will last forever. and my, how big those grapes are!!
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 