Introduction
The results of the bad report of the spies.
Questions
1. What do the people say they want to do when they hear the report of the spies?
v 3 and 4 ... Wouldn’t it be better for us to return into Egypt?” They said to one another, “Let’s choose a leader, and let’s return into Egypt.”
2. Why does Moses argue that it's a bad idea for God to strike down all the unfaithful Israelites?
v 15 and 16 ... the nations which have heard the fame of you will speak, saying, “Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which he swore to them, therefore he has slain them in the wilderness.”
3. Why does Moses say they will fail, when the Israelites change their mind, and attempt to go into the land anyway?
v 42 Don’t go up, for the LORD isn’t amongst you; ...
Summary Points
- v 1 to 4 After the bad report of the spies, the people want to go back to Egypt
- v 5 to 10 Two spies (Joshua and Caleb) show their faith and protest that with God’s help they can conquer the land, but their opinion is rejected and the people talk of stoning them
- v 11 to 19 God threatens to destroy the people, but Moses pleads with God not to do so
- v 20 to 35 God agrees not to destroy the nation, but says that the nation will wander for forty years in the wilderness. All those who don't believe that God will help them will die, but their children will go into the land
- v 36 to 38 The ten spies who brought the bad report die by a plague
v 39 to 45 Despite Moses' warnings, the people decide to try and start to conquer the land. They fail in their attempt