Torah Portion: Numbers 13:1-15:41

Shelach (‘Send…’)

“Two men look out through the same bars; one sees the mud, and one the stars” (Rev Frederick Langbridge)¹

The last few months have involved all of us negotiating unforeseen pathways arising from ‘lockdown’. There are no exemptions from this effect of the pandemic. It is the prison ‘bars’ though which we have all been having to look. But what have we seen beyond those ‘bars’?

The media has maintained an incessant bombardment of information, data, opinion, projections, outlooks and possibilities. Social media, in overdrive, has been pushing the boundaries with regard to the causes, effects and outcomes of this crisis. The ‘mud’ and the ‘stars’ could not be more greatly contrasted with each other.

Possibilities

The Children of Israel’s situation as they approached the Promised Land may not have been as complex as our own. But it still presented contrasting possibilities. Having travelled as far as the Desert of Paran, the southeastern point of their destination, 12 men – one from each tribe – were tasked with a mission: to “explore the land of Canaan” (Num 13:1) and provide a report of their findings (Num 13:26).

All of those explorers were looking through the same ‘bars’ at a Land flowing with milk and honey, with fertile soil and trees (Num 13:19). It was also agreed that the inhabitants were powerful, living in large fortified cities. The presence of particular people-groups, by way of the Amalekites, Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites and the descendants of Anak, was confirmed.

Division

However, having viewed and experienced that same scenario, there was then a clear division between those 12 men. Ten of them ‘saw’ themselves as “grasshoppers” in the eyes of those inhabitants (Num 13:32, 33). They concluded: “We can’t attack those people…The land we explored devours those living in it” (Num 13:31-32). But Joshua and Caleb ‘saw’ a different perspective: “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it” (Num 13:30).

The tragic outcome is well-known. “All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron” (Num 14:1), taking up the “bad report” of those ten men. This was despite the pleadings of Joshua and Caleb, reminding them that “the LORD is with us” and that the inhabitants of Canaan were not to be feared (Num 14:9).

Focus

God viewed His people’s adverse reaction as showing Him “contempt” and constituting a refusal to believe in Him, despite the “signs” that He had performed (Num 14:11). He drew attention to this response as being ‘par for the course’: ten times they had adopted a perverse attitude towards Him when facing adversity (Num 14:22). His discipline was clear and severe – that whole generation (except Joshua and Caleb) would perish in the desert over the next 40 years (Num 14:34).

This account shows that perspective is a vital aspect of our walk with God. It illustrates how easily this can be warped so that we are diverted from believing God’s declarations about His care for us and His good purposes for us. Joshua and Caleb did not contest the enormity of the task ahead – or the size of those Canaanites! But they passionately disputed the perceived outcome, going against ‘public opinion’ in so doing.

Maintaining God’s perspective in our lives regarding the days ahead requires effort. Whatever the media’s negativity, we need to keep focused on what God has said and the truth of His promises. What words from God need to shape your attitude this week?

Author: Stephen Bishop

References

1 A Cluster of Quiet Thoughts, 1900.