Numbers 13:1-2 – “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.”  NKJV 

This account of the nation of Israel’s process to ‘Possessing the Promise’ and ‘Occupying the Place of Promise’ provides a beautiful lesson.  The apostle Paul declared in Romans 15:4 that “…whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction…”  He said in 1 Corinthians 10 that the things happened to them as an example for us and were written for our instruction.  The word example means ‘stamped as a model or a scar and is permanent’. The word instruction means ‘to place in the mind.’ 

In the Abrahamic Covenant there were some specific and incredible promises made:

• The promise was to your ‘seed’ or ‘descendants’ I will give this land. (Genesis 12:7)
• Those of faith are the Children of Abraham. (Galatians 3:7)
• The promise was made to Abraham and his seed. (Galatians 3:16)
• The covenant was confirmed in Christ and The Law which came 430 years later could not disannul it. (Galatians 3:17-18)
• There is neither Jew nor Greek in God but all are one in Jesus Christ and if we belong to Christ we are Abraham’s Seed and heirs of the Covenant Promise. (Galatians 3:27-29) 

In view of the covenant and promise God instructs Moses on how to possess the promise.  He says, “Go get information…” 

I realize some might think that unnecessary but it is the order God used and has been used by military strategist for generations.  Know your enemy or discern the gates of the city!  Moses gave specific instructions and selected men to become part of the information gathering party.  In verses 17-20 he gave specific instructions as to what they were to look for and where they were to go.  Some key elements were:  The Land, the People, the Cities and the Produce of the Land or Fruit.

God NEVER sends forth an ‘uninformed’ army.  He always equips and prepares us for battle and His ways are not the ways of man.  As this story unfolds they come back with a singular report (v.25) concerning the goodness of the land but with two distinct and diverse mental attitudes.  One group (10) could only see the natural, the problems and potential problems.  The other group (2) could look beyond the natural and see the supernatural.  The report was “The land is good and truly flowing with milk and honey.”  But the (10) saw a people too strong to overcome and cities too fortified to attack.  The (2) saw a strong people but a stronger God.

Throughout scripture we find accounts where people of faith overcame incredible odds to achieve the victory and possess the promises of God.  Daniel overcame the lions, the three Hebrew children overcame the fire and in 2 Kings 6 we find Elisha, the double portion prophet thwarted the entire Syrian army with his ability to ‘see’ and ‘hear’ in the unseen realm.

The Promise of God to Moses:  “This Land is yours.”  The Problem:  “The land was occupied by people who did not desire to give it up.”  Therefore, it was necessary for Moses and Israel to develop a strategy, learn how to fight and move onto the land of promise and possess it.  God gave the promise but the occupants of the land were uncooperative so Israel had to dispossess before they could possess.

I want to pause there and pick back up next time on the Place of Promise and what it means and represents in this story.   God bless you as you go through your day!