Rejected in the Promised Land

By Mary Vee
Numbers 14:4-35

Moses' Thoughts

I saw it coming but I couldn't stop them.  

The twelve spies returned from the Promised Land. Ten reported giants. The news frightened our people.

They saw the large grapes, juicy pomegranates and figs. Still, the news of giant people caused them to rebel. I listened to them yell and weep all night long. Why bother speaking to them before they calmed down? Warm tears dripped down my face. 

Anytime the people quieted, one of the ten scared them more. By early morning the people cried, "Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should be victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?  Let us select a leader and return to Egypt."

"No!" Aaron and I fell on our faces before all the children of Israel. This had gone too far.

Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes. They ran to the front of the crowd and held their hands up to quiet the people. "Listen. The land we passed through as spies is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord is happy with us, He'll bring us into this land and give it to us, 'a land which flows with milk and honey.' Only please, do not rebel against the Lord, or fear the people of the land, their protection has departed from them. But the Lord is with us. Do not fear them."

Their words did no good. The ten spies encouraged the crowd to stone Joshua and Caleb. The children of Israel became wild.

Then, before our eyes, the glory of the Lord appeared. I knew He wouldn't be pleased.

"How long will these people reject Me? How long will they not believe Me with all the miracles which I performed before their eyes. I will strike them down and make a mightier nation with you, Moses." 

I prayed to Him for a long time then said, "Please forgive the sin of this people according to the greatness of Your mercy."

The Lord answered: "I have pardoned according to your word. But because the children of Israel have seen My miracles in Egypt and the wilderness and have put Me to the test, and have not heeded My voice, they certainly shall not see the land of which I promised to their fathers. 

"Only Caleb, Joshua and the little ones, whom the people said would be victims in the Promised land, shall enter the place which I promised to give. Forty years you shall live in the wilderness so you know My rejection for each day the spies were in the land. I the Lord have spoken this. I will surely do so."

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1. Who rejected the Lord?

2. What report did Joshua and Caleb give?

3. Who did the people choose to follow?

4. Where did the people want to go?

5. What punishment did God give them?

A Bad Report

By Mary Vee
Numbers 13: 2-14:3

Joshua's Thoughts

We left our camp nearly forty days ago. Moses sent twelve of us to spy the Promised Land. My wildest dreams couldn't have imagined a land as rich as this.The crops flowed with grains, nuts, and fruits. The cattle feasted on green pastureland. The cities stood strong with traders flowing in and out. 

We'd spied the eastern, northern, western, and southern areas of the land. Caleb and I agreed this land would be a wonderful place to bring our families. Unfortunately, the other ten didn't think the same. They'd complained every night since we saw men as tall as giants walking out of Talmai. 

Caleb and I sat by ourselves around the campfire on the last night before heading back to our camp. He tossed a stick into the flame. "No matter what we say, they won't change their minds."

"I know."

"They'll give this land a bad report." He threw another stick at the fire. "It makes me mad, Joshua.  Why can't they see what the Lord has given us?"

I stared at the flames for a moment. "I don't know."

He grabbed a few more sticks. "Well, I'm going to give a good report. I don't care what they or anyone else says. This is the land God has for us.  I say we take it."

The next morning we all sneaked down to a vineyard, cut a cluster of grapes, picked some figs and pomegranates, and returned to Moses. We strung the grapes on a pole because of the size. 

A few hours later we returned to our people. Moses and Aaron stood in front of the crowd. "Tell us! What did you see?"

Shaphat stepped forward. "The land truly flows with milk and honey and here is the fruit." The people's eyes grew wide and they cheered.

But Shammua pushed forward. "Listen to me. The people who live in the Promised Land are strong, the cities have strong walls and are very large, and we saw sons of Anak there." 

The cheers stopped. Several cried out. "Giants? Giants live there?"

Caleb climbed on a boulder and raised his hands. "My friends. Quiet. Hear my words. Let's go up at once and take the land. We can overcome these problems."

Nahbi raised his fist. "You must be joking, Caleb. We aren't able to go against those giants. They're stronger and bigger. We're nothing more than grasshoppers. Do you want us to die?"

Some from crowd shouted at Moses. Those who didn't shout wept. They screamed at Moses all night. "Why did you bring us here?" "Why wouldn't you let us die in Egypt?"

I couldn't believe my ears. Didn't they realize this was the land God promised to them? They haven't heard my report, yet.  I've got to do something to change their minds.


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Come back next time to see what Joshua does.


1. What report did the ten spies give about the Promised Land? 
2. What report did Caleb give?
3. Who didn't give his report yet?
4. What do you think he will say?
5. If you stood in the crowd and heard the reports, what would you have decided about the Promised Land?

Spies in the Promised Land

By Mary Vee
Numbers 13:1-22

Caleb's Thoughts

The Lord led us north to the Wilderness of Paran. We had to be near the Promised Land. 

My father had told me Promised Land stories passed down to him and his father from Judah, the leader of our tribe. He said the land give everyone of our people plenty of milk, honey, pastureland, building supplies, and any thing else we'd need to live a great life.

We hadn't camped in the Wilderness long before Moses ask to meet with the family leaders. I joined Shammua, Shaphat, Igal, Joshua, Palti, Gaddiel, Gaddi, Ammiel, Sethur, Nahbi, and Guel at the meeting place.

Moses invited us into the tent. I thought he'd be tired after the journey, but he had a bounce in his step and an adventure look on his face. He leaned forward on his staff. "Men, the Lord has called you to spy out the land known as the Promised Land." 

"Now! We finally get to go?" We raised our fists high in the air and cheered.  Joshua slapped me on the back. "There you see now, my friend, I told you."

"Told me what?" 

He laughed. "I told you we'd go into the Promised Land soon."

"You did not."

Moses raised his hands to quiet us. "Men, you are to go into the South up to the mountains to see

if the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many;

if the land is good or bad; 

whether the cities are like camps or strongholds; 

whether the land is rich or poor; 

and whether there are forests or not.  

Be of good courage and bring some of the fruit of the land."
We are all excited to hear your report.

The next morning we grabbed weapons and enough food to last until we crossed the border; we'd survive off the land afterwords. I couldn't wait to see our new homeland.

We moved up through the South toward the mountains, never seen by the Canaanites.The hills and valley had soft green grass. Wheat and barley crops with healthy plants lined the countryside. Rich cities with strong walls bustled with business.To think, with the Lord's help, this would soon be our land.

Each night the twelve of us talked about what we saw. Ten of the men grumbled more each time. Shammua complained, "We can't conquer these people. They're taller than us."

Shaphat shook his head, "We're like grasshoppers to them. They'll squash us before we raise our weapons." 

They all had complaints.They grumbled louder with every word. I couldn't take it any more. "Look, the Lord will take care of us.  He'll win the battles. You see the vineyards, wheat and barley, and cities, don't you?  We'll grow crops and raise our children in this wonderful place. Don't back out now."

Ammiel rolled his eyes. "We'll never win a battle against these giants. Then what will you do, Caleb? How will you save you family? Go ahead and try to grow your crops with them looking over you, waiting for the right moment to steal your land back and turn your loved ones into slaves." He pushed his hand toward me. "Not me. I'll keep my family safe--far from here."

Joshua leaned forward. "What's the matter with you? How can you say we won't conquer this land.Have you forgotten the plagues in Egypt, and the Red Sea?  Think about it, my brothers. The Lord has given us this land. All we have to do is take it."

Gaddie picked up a stone and tossed it into the fire. "The plagues and the Red Sea are in the past, Joshua. You and Caleb are out to get us all killed. I vote no."

Joshua and I only had a few nights left to convince them.


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Sometimes we become afraid when God gives us difficult things to do. Will Caleb and Joshua convince the ten men to change their minds? Come back next week to see what happens.


1. What did Moses tell the spies to do?
2. Why were these men chosen to be the spies?
3. Why were the ten spies afraid?
4. What did the men see in the Promised Land?
5. What did Caleb and Joshua want to do?