Basic HTML Version
Twelve Spies Survey Canaan
245
them to “go up and fight.” He did not intend them to gain the land
by warfare, but by strict obedience to His commands.
“We have sinned,” they confessed, acknowledging that the fault
was in themselves, not in God, whom they had wickedly charged
with failing to fulfill His promises. Though their confession did not
come from true repentance, it served to confirm the fairness of God.
The Lord still works in a similar way to glorify His name by
bringing people to acknowledge His fairness. God uses opposition
and setbacks to reveal the works of darkness. Although the spirit
that prompted the person to do evil is not radically changed, con-
fessions are made that establish the honor of God and justify His
faithful people who have reproved sin and have been opposed and
misrepresented. This is how it will be when the wrath of God will
be poured out at the end. Every sinner will be brought to see and
acknowledge the justice of being condemned.
How Rebellion Made Their Situation Worse
Regardless of the divine sentence, the Israelites prepared to set
out to conquer Canaan. In their own estimation, they were fully
prepared for conflict. Against the command of God and the solemn
warning of their leaders, they went out to meet the armies of the
enemy.
Moses hurried after them with the warning, “Now why do you
transgress the command of the Lord? For this will not succeed. Do
not go up, lest you be defeated by your enemies, for the Lord is not
among you.”
The Canaanites had heard of the mysterious power that seemed
to be guarding this people, and they now gathered a strong force to
repel the invaders. The attacking army had no leader. No prayer was
offered that God would give them the victory. Though untrained in
war, they hoped by a fierce assault to crush all opposition. Boldly
they challenged the enemy that had not dared to attack them.
The Canaanites had stationed themselves on a rocky plateau
reached only by a steep and dangerous climb. The immense numbers
of the Hebrews could only make their defeat more terrible. Massive
rocks came thundering down, marking their path with the blood
of the slain. Those who reached the summit, exhausted with their
[193]