In this daily Bible reading is the account of God being angry with Israel for resisting entry into the promised land. Israel had reached the border of the land that God was going to give them. Moses then dispatched 12 men: one from each tribe, to enter the land and assess the situation. Where the people numerous? Were the cities fortified? Was the land good? The men spent 40 days spying out the land. They discovered that the cities were fortified and well defended. The people were large and powerful. However, the land was good land with abundant crops.
When the 12 men returned, they gave the report. 10 of the men said that Israel would not be able to overcome the people in the land. However, two of the men, Joshua and Caleb, said that with God’s help Israel could defeat the people of the land and occupy it.
Israel was in great despair and wanted to return to Egypt. They were going to replace Moses with another leader to take them back. God then appeared and told Moses that none of the people over the age of 20 would be able to enter the land except for Joshua and Caleb who were faithful to God.
God would make Israel wander for 40 more years until that unfaithful and resistant generation died. Only their children would be allowed to enter the land. This account demonstrates the value God places on Faith. The Bible says, “Without Faith, it is impossible to please God.”
