Israel had learned a valuable lesson while Moses was hidden on Mount Sinai for 40 days; don’t give up hope. So when the spies were in the Promised Land for the same amount of time they did not consider them dead or captured. I wonder how many people in Israel dreamed of gardens and pastures and houses during those days of waiting? Did grandpa’s tell stories to their little ones of how God would provide them with houses and fruit? Were the clutches of wives talking about the new meal they could prepare from fresh fruit and vegetables? Did the young men wonder if they would face battles before they married? What was daily life like during those 40 days? The men returned bearing the fruits of the land and a unanimous report; We can’t defeat the people who inherit the land. But the words of Caleb and Joshua added an important footnote; Our God can! Our God will! The second message was drowned in the wails of sorrow and rebellion. While dreaming of an easy life during their 40 day wait the people didn’t grow in their faith in God. They didn’t trust him to provide. They didn’t see him as their provider. They gave up all of their hopes because they couldn’t see how it could happen.
Stuart
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