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?

If We Confess, God Promises to Forgive

by Mary Vee

Genesis 29:25-30
Jacob woke the next morning. He stretched and said, "Good morning" to his new wife, Rachel.

She lifted her veil and said, "Good morning."

His eyes sprang wide, his heart boomed, he began to shake. "Leah! I married Leah?

What...why that Laban...he tricked me!"

Jacob ran out of the house looking for Laban. "Laban! Laban! Where are you? Come out and talk to me."

Laban peaked his head out the living room window of his house then he ducked down.

"Laban. Come out and speak with me, right now!"

Laban slowly opened his front door and stepped out. "Is there a problem, Jacob?"

Jacob squinted his eyes and balled his fist. "What have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you these past seven years? Why then have you deceived me?"

Laban rubbed the back of his neck. "You see, I, ahh, well..It must not be done so in our country. We don't give the younger before the first born is married."

Jacob shook his head I'm so angry, but I need to be respectful since he is Rachel's father. He searched for something nice to say. "You could have told me. Why then did you agree to let me marry Rachel after I served you seven years?"

"I wanted you to stay." Laban sat on a rock nearby. "Your work with the animals brought prosperity to our land. I--I didn't want you to leave."

Jacob huffed. "You only wanted more wealth." He stomped toward his house.

"Wait," Laban called. "Tell you what. Fulfill the wedding week with Leah and then you may also marry Rachel. I, of course, expect you to serve me another seven years to earn the right to marry my second daughter."

Jacob sighed. What can I do? This is the only way I can marry Rachel. "All right. You have my word. I will finish the wedding week, marry Rachel, then serve you another seven years."

Jacob stomped out to the fields to be alone and think. The sun painted the sky with bright morning shades of red and orange. He shook his head and raised his fist. Why did this happen to me? How could my uncle be cruel enough to lie?

Suddenly he remembered his home and his father, mother, and brother. He saw in his mind the whole miserable lie that he told. The day he stood in his father's room with his hands, arms, and neck covered with goat skin and the bowl of goat stew he planned to serve his father. His lying words pretending to be Esau, his brother. Accepting the blessing meant for his brother. And then the kiss on his head from his father, a kiss meant for his brother.

I was as cruel as Laban. He closed his eyes and wept.

After a while, he rubbed the tears from his face and went back home to his wife, Leah. He spent the wedding week with her like he said he would. At the end of the week he married Rachel. He worked hard to serve Laban seven more years like he said he would.

When we choose to sin, God expects us to confess our sins to Him. He promises to forgive us, but this doesn't mean we won't have a consequence. Jacob didn't like being tricked, but he finally understood how Esau felt. God loves you very much. He loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross to pay the price for our sins. He tells us to confess our sins. He promises to forgive us, but that doesn't mean we won't have consequences.

Do you need to ask God to forgive you for something you did wrong? If so, take a minute and ask Him right now. He loves you and He promises to forgive you. Email me at the address on this blog is you have questions.