THEMES FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT (a) Give an account of the report brought to Moses by the twelve spies he sent to the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:1-33, 14:1-19...

Answer Details

(a) The report brought to Moses by the twelve spies (Numbers 13:1-33; 14:1-19)

At the Lord's command Moses sent twelve men, one leader from each tribe, to spy out the land of Canaan. He told them to see what the land was like, whether the people were strong or weak, few or many, whether the towns were fortified, and to bring back some of the fruit of the land. They went up and searched the land for forty days, from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob. At the Valley of Eshcol they cut down a single cluster of grapes so large that it was carried on a pole between two men, and they also took pomegranates and figs.

On their return they reported to Moses, Aaron and the whole congregation. They agreed that the land truly flowed with milk and honey, and they showed its fruit. But ten of the spies gave a discouraging report: the people who lived there were strong, the cities were fortified and very large, and they had seen the descendants of Anak, the giants. They said, "We seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them," and that the land devoured its inhabitants. Only Caleb (supported by Joshua) quieted the people and said, "Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it."

Because of the bad report the whole congregation wept, murmured against Moses and Aaron, and wished they had died in Egypt or the wilderness. They even proposed to choose a captain and return to Egypt. Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes and pleaded that the Lord would give them the land and that they should not rebel or fear. The congregation threatened to stone them. Then the glory of the Lord appeared, and God was angry; Moses interceded for the people, and God pardoned them but decreed that that faithless generation, except Joshua and Caleb, would not enter the land but would wander forty years in the wilderness.

(b) Three lessons political leaders can learn from the mission of the spies

• Courage and faith are essential in leadership. Like Joshua and Caleb, leaders should inspire hope and confidence rather than spread fear and despair.
• Leaders should give honest and balanced reports. Facts should be presented truthfully and constructively, not exaggerated or twisted to cause panic and division.
• A good leader avoids following the crowd into rebellion. Popular opinion can be wrong; leaders must stand for what is right even when the majority disagrees.