AN ALTERNATIVE REPORT
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As the people of Israel neared the land that had been promised, Moses sent twelve men to survey the land across the Jordan River. Imagine the excitement of the people when they saw the samples of the produce of the land that these spies brought back with them! After the time they had spent traveling through the wilderness, this truly was a taste of the Promised Land. But the report of ten of these spies was discouraging.
They warned that the land was inhabited by fierce people, some of whom were giants, and all were stronger than the Israelites. “We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes,” they said, “and we looked the same to them” (Numbers 13:33).
The minority report delivered by Joshua and Caleb gave an alternative view. Standing up to the dismay and rebellion simmering among the people, they reported that this was a good land and that if God wanted to give it to them, why should they be afraid? Two groups of men had the same experiences, observed the same land and the same people, and even tasted the same food—yet they delivered contrasting reports. One group responded with fear; Joshua and Caleb responded with faith. Of course, it is easier to get people excited by fear than by faith. But choosing fear has consequences. Had God not intervened, the crowd would have stoned Joshua and Caleb immediately (see Numbers 14:10). Because the people chose fear over faith on the verge of the land God had promised them, He sent them back to wander in the wilderness. The Lord said, “Not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness . . . will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it” (Numbers 14:22, 23).
