Numbers 13-15 - We Are Surely Able

The Spies Sent into Canaan

Num 13:1-2 LSB - [1] Then Yahweh spoke to Moses saying, [2] "Send out for yourself men so that they may spy out the land of Canaan, which I am going to give to the sons of Israel; you shall send a man from each of their fathers' tribes, every one a leader among them."

Num 13:22-23 LSB - [22] And they had gone up into the Negev and came to Hebron where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) [23] Then they came to the valley of Eshcol and from there cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes; and they carried it on a pole between two [men] with some of the pomegranates and the figs.

The Spies Recount What They Saw

Num 13:27 LSB - [27] Thus they recounted to him and said, "We went in to the land where you sent us; and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.

Num 13:30 LSB - [30] Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, "We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we are surely able to overcome it."

Num 13:33 LSB - [33] "There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight."

We Are Well Able

Author: Mrs. Frederick W. Suffield

1. ’Twas the Lord of hosts that led us out of Egypt’s sand;

And He led us through the Red Sea by His mighty hand,

Never halting in the wilderness, but His command

Gave assurance we were able to possess the land.

Refrain

We are able to go up and take the country,

And possess the land from Jordan to the sea;

And, though giants tall be there our way to hinder,

God will surely give the victory.

2. When the spies brought back the message, this is what they said:

Against giants and walled cities, we cannot be led;

But a Caleb and a Joshua said, They’ll be as bread;

We are able to go up, possess the land ahead. [Refrain]

3. When we crossed the river Jordan, in the land we found:

Wine and oil and milk and honey, richest fruits abound;

Sparkling fountains, and the showers come upon the ground;

We are able, Hallelujah! Let God’s praise resound. [Refrain]

4. There’s no thirsting for old Egypt, since we’re in this way,

And we care not what the critics or the ten spies say;

For the land abounds in plenty, and we’re here to stay,

Won’t you come and join us, brother, enter in today? [Refrain]

The People Rebel

Num 14:4 LSB - [4] So they said to one another, "Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt."

Num 14:6-9 LSB - [6] And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; [7] and they spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, "The land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. [8] "If Yahweh is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us--a land which flows with milk and honey. [9] "But as for you, only do not rebel against Yahweh; and do not fear the people of the land, for they are our bread. Their protection has been removed from them, and Yahweh is with us; do not fear them."

Num 14:10 LSB - [10] But all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Then the glory of Yahweh appeared in the tent of meeting to all the sons of Israel.

Moses Prays for the People

Num 14:17-19 LSB - [17] "So now, I pray, let the power of the Lord be great, just as You have declared, [18] 'Yahweh is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He will by no means clear [the guilty], visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth [generations].' [19] "Pardon, I pray, the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness, just as You also have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now."

Evil Complainers

Num 14:20-23 LSB - [20] So Yahweh said, "I have pardoned [them] according to your word; [21] but indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of Yahweh. [22] "Surely all the men who have seen My glory and My signs which I have done in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to My voice, [23] shall by no means see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who spurned Me see it.

Num 14:30-32 LSB - [30] 'Surely you shall not come into the land in which I swore to make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. [31] 'Your little ones, however, who you said would become plunder--I will bring them in, so that they will know the land which you have rejected. [32] 'But as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness.

Israel Struck Down

Num 14:44-45 LSB - [44] But they went up heedlessly to the ridge of the hill country; neither the ark of the covenant of Yahweh nor Moses moved from the camp. [45] Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down, and struck them and beat them down as far as Hormah.

Offerings When Entering Canaan

Num 15:2-3 LSB - [2] "Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'When you enter the land of your places of habitation, which I am going to give you, [3] then make an offering by fire to Yahweh, a burnt offering or a sacrifice to fulfill a special vow, or as a freewill offering or in your appointed times, to make a soothing aroma to Yahweh, from the herd or from the flock.

Statute for the Sojourner

Num 15:27-28 LSB - [27] 'Also if one person sins unintentionally, then he shall bring near a one year old female goat for a sin offering. [28] 'And the priest shall make atonement before Yahweh for the person who goes astray when he sins unintentionally, making atonement for him that he may be pardoned.

Num 15:30 LSB - [30] 'But the person who does [anything] with a high hand, whether he is native or a sojourner, that one is blaspheming Yahweh; and that person shall be cut off from among his people.

A Sabbath-breaker Put to Death

Num 15:38-41 LSB - [38] "Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a cord of blue. [39] "And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of Yahweh, so as to do them and not follow after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you played the harlot, [40] so that you may remember to do all My commandments and be holy to your God. [41] "I am Yahweh your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt to be your God; I am Yahweh your God."