We move to one of the saddest stories in the Bible: the failure of the Israelites to go into the Promised Land. It starts innocently enough: Moses sends 12 guys in to “spy out the land.”

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel. From each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a chief among them.” So Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran, according to the command of the LORD, all of them men who were heads of the people of Israel. And these were their names: …from the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh; …from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Nun; … (Numbers 13.1 – 15, ESV)

There were 12 men listed: Caleb was #3 on the list, and Hoshea (called Joshua) was #5. There is nothing to indicate that they would be the minority.

The men checked out the land and brought back a “however” report. You know, one of those reports where you can ignore everything that is said before the “but” or “however.”

And they told him, “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there. (Numbers 13.27, 28, ESV)

“It’s a great land, but we can’t take it.” To which Caleb (in chapter 13) and Joshua (in chapter 14) offered a faith-filled minority report:

But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.”… And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, …said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If the LORD delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them.” (Numbers 13.30, 14.6 – 9, ESV)

I say, “minority report” since the final vote was 10 – 2, and the people followed the recommendation of the majority (proving, once again, that democracy is not always what it’s cracked up to be). The Lord was not pleased:

And the LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? (Numbers 14.11, ESV)

The people had experienced some of the greatest visual events in history:

• The 10 Plagues, including Passover
• The Red Sea crossing
• Mt Sinai

Plus, the daily manna, and the miracle of the quail (Numbers 11.31, 32). These people did “not believe…in spite of all the signs…” Bummer. It cost the unbelievers their lives and the nation 40 years.

As I live, declares the LORD, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you: your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me, not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, who you said would become a prey, I will bring in, and they shall know the land that you have rejected. But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness. And your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years and shall suffer for your faithlessness, until the last of your dead bodies lies in the wilderness. (Numbers 14.28 – 33, ESV)

It’s easy (in this country) to go to church and sing the songs. It’s hard to actually step out in faith.

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, this will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. (John 14.12 – 14, LSB)