sh'lach: a lesson about marching orders: numbers 13:1-15:41, joshua 2:1-24; mk.10:1-45

7/28/2019 Sh'lach: A Lesson About Marching Orders: Numbers 13:1-15:41, Joshua 2:1-24; Mk.10:1-45

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Defeated Chiefs, and Problematic Princes

In this week's parsha study the people of Israel pull the princes ofall 12 tribes and elect to search out the land of Canaan. In versetwo of B'midbar (Numbers) chapter 13 we read "Send men toexplore the land of Canan, the land I am giving to Israel"~stop. Ifwe pause just for one brief moment, can you see how self-contradicting this verse actually is? Here is one way we could seeit. Go up and search the land, check it out, get the layout,approximate the population of the people, case the towns andsurrounding villages, look at their livestock and crops and bringback a sample so we can make an accurate determination about

just how difficult it may or may not be to conquer their territory.But didn't God just tell them He was already going to give them

ownership of the land?

My point is not to say we should throw common sense outthe window when making important decisions though. It doesmatter and is good to be able to observe one's surroundingsbecause YHVH gave us eyes to see so we can receive and processinformation to gain insight and understanding. But Yeshua said itbest when He injected supernatural common sense into theconversation declaring, "...with men it is impossible, but not withGod: for with God all things are possible." (Mk.10:27) When thespies went into the land what we find upon their return is anuntrue report. It wasn't entirely untrue. They likely gave accuratedescriptions of the people, the geography, the lay of the land~but more importantly, at the critical moment to give courage theyinstead brought slander. It says in verse 32 that they brought upan evil report of the land.

Maybe you've read this portion a thousand times, maybetwice, there are so many excellent points to discuss in every

parsha, every chapter and verse, but here the point I want toconvey to you friend is these men were no ordinary men~ theywere the heads of the tribes and they were called chiefs andprinces. These men were responsible for their tribes and resolvingconflict, maintaining peace and modeling what "covenant-life"with YHVH looked like. And after regaling the people of Israel withall of the grand mental pictures of the land and the people and


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the bounty and opportunity awaiting them what did all but two ofthem elect to do? They slandered God. It says they brought up anevil report... the operative Hebrew word there being 'dibbah' andit means "speaking evil of another (usually done quietly), quiet

speech, a whisper" (Benner, Ancient Hebrew Lexicon, #1071A(nl). So the question I have for these men is why? I mean, didthey premeditate this course? Was it something they all conspiredto do around the campfire within earshot of the horses? Or was itsomething they chose to do on the spur of the moment when allof Israel was gathered around them? Certainly there are amultitude of opinions, theories and speculation running amok, butthis much is true... they lied. They twisted God's word. There is nogetting around this mishpocha, this is what they did and it painsme to read it because these were special appointed men,

respected men. Have you ever looked at what their names mean?I've compiled a small list below for you to see.

Shammua: RenownedShaphat: JudgeCaleb: The Faithful Blessed HeartIgal: He RedeemsHoshea: SalvationPalti: My deliverance

Gaddiel: God is my fortuneGaddi: My fortuneAmmiel: My kinsman is GodSether: to be hidden carefullyNahbi: to remain hiddenGeuel: The Majesty of God

The Famous law-giver blesses the faithful heart with redemption,salvation and deliverance. He is their fortune and kinsman,hidden carefully among them, remaining to reveal the majesty ofGod in them.

God told them, "it's yours". They came back and said "There justain't no way folks (Spires translation)". Now, first allow me tosimply say.. we are guilty. We are. We are chosen, we are set-apart and called YHVH's royal priesthood. His Royal Priesthood!

This is the undeniable truth beloved. But this is not a hammer.YHVH loves us and continues to extend a hand of love, promise


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and grace. But if you believe His word is true, and it is, and if youreceive it as the living word planted in your heart then you aregoing to be transformed by it. YHVH says "Oh, that they wouldalways have hearts like this (obedient), that they might fear me

and obey all my commands! If they did, they and theirdescendants would prosper forever (Deut. 5:29). Tehillim 19 reads"The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; thetestimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple (vs.7)".

The word in Hebrew used here for converting is Shuwb" and itmeans to return back to a previous place. It brings you back..where? I would humbly submit to you the following. What was itthat God gave Moshe' instructions to? The Tabernacle, that's right.But why? YHVH said, "And let them make me a sanctuary; that Imay dwell among them. (Ex.25:8). Later in the same chapter He

declares "And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark;and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with theefrom above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubimswhich are upon the ark of the testimony" (vss.21-22). Communeas used in this verse is the word "dabar", and it means to speak,declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, and to sing(Strongs #1696).

People, God longs to have a conversation with you. And ifwe will listen to His words of truth He is telling you today that youare His, that you are an overcomer, and that you will succeedtoday, because this is the day that He has made, and He'screated the heavens and the earth to declare His glory. Beloved,do you struggle with negativity? Do you sabotage yourself? Doyou find yourself ever struggling to not speak negatively? So didour forefathers... But God has indeed spoken into your life. He hascalled us to light the lamps, to shine His Holy fire, and thatrequires us to choose. Any given day has numerous choices. Will

we let YHVH lead us into His Promised Land? You have yourmarching orders! Today the choice is yours. Shalom Alecheim.

Will SpiresB'midbar MinistriesPraise and Worship Singer/Songwriter

Torah Student


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sh'lach: a lesson about marching orders: numbers 13:1-15:41, joshua 2:1-24; mk.10:1-45

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