There seemed to be a lot of attitude problems going on here with the people of Israel, and it is evident that this was the reason that that entire generation had to die out, prior to the people being led into the promised land. What gets me here, is that this particular generation had a “slave” mentality, and this prevented them from going forth and achieving.

I look at the poor and middle classes in this day and age, and I see the same thing. I’m trying to evolve in my thinking from that outdated way of thinking, so this is waking me up more. The criticism that Moses endured that so angered him, had to do with their attitude, lack of gratitude, and their limited sight. They could not see beyond their immediate needs.

They were a generation of instant gratification. When they were hungry, they whined about lack of food; when thirsty, about lack of water. Everything they thought or cared about had to do with gratifying their flesh, and they could not see beyond that. What it makes me see is that it is difficult for people who have been deprived for a long time, to (#1) have vision, and (#2) be motivated to stick with it through completion.

So they (the spies) were “drawn” to the “light bringer,” in the congregation of “God prevails,” in a place of caverns that was holy, and yet, they gave a bad report.

The amazing thing is the number of signs and symbols that was given to them to help them recognize the fact that God would prevail despite the obstacles. People are always asking for a sign, and I think many times, they are right in front of them, and they fail to see them.

Num 13:27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this [is] the fruit of it.
Num 13:28 Nevertheless the people [be] strong that dwell in the land, and the cities [are] walled, [and] very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.
Num 13:29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.

Amalek = “dweller in a valley”
1) son of Eliphaz by his concubine Timnah, grandson of Esau, and progenitor of a tribe of people in southern Canaan.

Hittite = “descendant of Heth”
1) the nation descended from Heth, the 2nd son of Canaan; once inhabitants of central Anatolia (modern Turkey), later in north Lebanon.

Jebusite = “descendants of Jebus”
1) descendants of the 3rd son of Canaan who lived in or around the site of Jebus, the early name for Jerusalem.

Amorite = “a sayer”
1) one of the peoples of east Canaan and beyond the Jordan, dispossessed by the Israelite incursion from Egypt.

Canaanite = see Cana “zealous”
1) descendant of inhabitant of Canaan

The crucial word here is “nevertheless.” They reported all the prosperity in the land, never recognizing the fact that they were already lined up to prevail and take it. Here they were in a holy place (Kadesh-barnea) and they denied the power of God.

Num 13:30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

Caleb, who’s name means “dog,” strikes me as being like a hound dog in the midst of a bunch of pampered pooches that were just going for a walk. Once set on the trail, once given the scent, he’s going to really sniff it out. Joshua, if I were to compare him the same way, was probably similar to a bull dog, so he’d be right there with the hound, ready to go after the prize.

One thing I recognize here. Joshua and Caleb filed the minority report, but they were right. Following the crowd, or having the power of numbers does not make you right.

Sometimes, people know what’s right, but are afraid to say so. Usually, it takes someone (a leader) with some boldness to step up and assert what is right, and then others timidly follow. However, in this case…it didn’t matter that someone asserted their faith. The remaining ten banded together in their “powerlessness pitch” and denied the power of God.

Num 13:31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they [are] stronger than we.
Num 13:32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, [is] a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it [are] men of a great stature.
Num 13:33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, [which come] of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

First of all, this was called an evil report, because they were sent out as emissaries of God. These were called upon to do some research, before embarking on a plan, because you have to have a clear understanding of what it is you are going after, prior to developing a plan on how to take it.

These guys could see nothing but themselves; their flesh. When they gave their first report back in verses 27-29, they told of the strength and fertility of the land. In other words, this is a gold mine! Possessing this place would make us very strong; would fortify us; would increase us, would make us rich! That was the essence of their description on the place itself.

Then they turned around and said the big word of rebellion: “but.” Here’s where the whining came in. “…But it’s got giants of great stature! We look like grasshoppers next to them! It’s impossible!” Instead of being willing to take a risk and try to see or find a way to accomplish this despite the “odds,” they just gave up and said, “We can’t.” Their attitude falls back again to a slave mentality of defeat.