As last Sunday was an All Age service, we had a truncated reading (13:26-14:9).  But really, the story stretches through all of Chap.13-14.  Parts of it are fairly well known, but the profound dangers of the issue it exposes can easily be missed in the drama of the moment.

The idea in Chap.13 is that these spiritually responsible leaders (likely from amongst those who had sat with the Lord in Ex.24:9-11) were to bring back a report that would inspire the rest of the Church to pursue God’s vision of their life together.  With their redemption fresh in their minds, with the presence of the Lord in their midst, and with the hope of their God-given future before them, they would be unstoppable!  It’s a matrix that should continue to frame Christian spirituality. When we remember what we have been saved from and how; when we experience the presence of the Lord in our midst, and when we are focussed on the hope set before us, the Church is unstoppable.  This is what shapes Paul’s prayer for the Church in e.g. Eph.1:17-21, and it might be worth stopping as a group and spending some time praying the same for MIE!

Numbers 13 then was all about establishing their hope in the New Creation Inheritance God had promised His people.  There were battles and challenges ahead, but with a clear vision of their future, they would step into them with courage and expectant faith!  The reality of what happened fell somewhat short of that intention.   They were so close, and yet so far.  All twelve of the spies did in fact grasp the glory of the Promised Land: ‘It does flow with milk and honey’ (13:28).  It’s the next word that does all the damage: ‘But...’.  It is so easy to hear everything God says to us, but...  to know what we are called to, but... to realise the incredible privileges and responsibilities the Lord gives us, but...

And which side of that ‘but’ you stand decides a great deal about your life as a Christian.  Caleb and Joshua saw everything the other ten did.  They saw nothing different, but everything differently.  Whereas the ten saw themselves as unable to stand against the obstacles to God’s promises (13:33), Caleb and Joshua saw those obstacles as unable to stand against the Church stepping into God’s promises.  The difference is perspective.  Your perspective on Christ that is.  How you see Him determines how you see everything else.

Questions:

What is Moses trying to establish by asking the spies about the aspects of the land listed in 13:17-20?  Why does he want some fruit brought back?  What achieves the same purpose in our own discipleship?

Why are the congregation of Israel more inclined to listen to the ten, rather than to Caleb (13:30) and Joshua (14:6-9)?  How can we guard ourselves against making the same mistake today?

In Josh.2:8-11, we hear how the Canaanites saw Israel (granted it is 40 years later, but I doubt much has changed).  In the light of Rahab’s speech, what is wrong with the spies’ report in Num.13:27-29, and 13:31-33. 

What accounts for the attitude of the people in 14:2-4?  What does it say about their understanding of the Lord?  How can they still desire Egypt?  Why can they not accurately remember the reality of their experience there?

This isn’t the first time the Church has behaved in this way (see Num.11:1-6; Ex.16:2-3).  Why can they not learn this lesson?  How should we behave if we keep falling into the same pattern of sin?  What do we need from each other, and from our Church?  When is it right to comfort, and when to rebuke?

Are you ever tempted to think that life would be better if you weren’t a Christian?  Do you sometimes find yourself envious of those who don’t follow Jesus?  What is that like?  How do you resist such temptations?

Do you think the Lord’s response to the ten is fair (14:36-38)?  Why does He take it so seriously?  What has been the impact of their unbelief?  Is it fair that the whole Church is treated as it is because of the failure of these ten (see 14:26-35)? 

Do you think the Lord still deals with His people in this way?  What might it look like for a Church today to be similarly disciplined by the Lord?

What difference does your hope in the New Creation make to daily life?  How could you tell whether a Church was rooted in such a hope? 

How does what you believe about the future express itself in your discipleship?