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Discussions Torah

How you can rise above giant-sized fear (Numbers 13–15)

How do we see the troubles and difficulties we face each day? From our perspective, limited in knowledge and power, or from the perspective of the One Who made and sustains all things? That can make the difference between living a life paralyzed by fear or moving on courageously, no matter the outcome. This is a key undercurrent of the Torah reading שְׁלַח Shelakh (“send,” Numbers 13–15) and the teachings on faith by Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus).

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Discussions Prophets and Writings Torah

How the 10 spies of the Promised Land reveal the dangers of confirmation bias (Numbers 13–14; Joshua 2; Matthew 10)

It is human nature to engage in confirmation bias. We have certain closely cherished beliefs, and we will give more weight to facts that confirm those beliefs versus facts that contradict those beliefs.

The Torah reading שלח Shelakh (“send,” Numbers 13–15) recounts how 10 “spies” of ancient Israel returned from the Promised Land with an “evil report.” They brought back the same basic facts about the geography, agriculture and social structure of the people currently living there.

The only difference was their interpretation of those facts. They looked at land through the bias of the world, while Joshua and Caleb looked at the same facts and view them through their bias of faith in the power of God. 

In Joshua 2, Rahab of Jericho overlooked her bias to see which deity was truly worth following. And in Matthew 10, Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) sent out His closest students with instructions to not be biased by the opposition they faced.

We easily and often fall into the same trap.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Prophets and Writings Torah

How we can join in on Heaven’s blessings for the world (Joshua 14:6–15; Matthew 10)

The account in the Torah reading ויגש Vayigash (“he approached,” Genesis 44:18–47:27) of Yosef’s (Joseph) accusing his brothers of being “spies” on Mitzraim (Egypt) can seem like ancient geopolitical intrigue or toxic sibling rivalry.

But when compared with parallel passages in Ezekiel 37, Joshua 14 and Matthew 10, we may start to see a pattern: Israel’s role on Earth is as Heaven’s delegate-spy-ambassador to bless and restore humankind. And Yeshua (Jesus) is the quintessential Son of God and Son of David is the ultimate Anointed One sent from Heaven in that role.

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Discussions Torah

Numbers 13–15: 12 Israelites, 2 opinions, 1 very bad decision

This week’s Torah reading שְׁלַח Shelakh (“send,” Numbers 13–15)  is a lesson in hope and human imagination. It is also a difficult lesson about how God often gives us a brief window of opportunity to take possession of what He wants for us. If we shirk away in unbelief (Heb. 10:26–31; Hab. 2:3–4), the opportunity and the blessing that goes with it are lost. God will give that blessing to someone who has the faith to receive them.

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Discussions Torah

Numbers 13–15: Lessons from D-Day and the giants of the Promised Land

Go where the Creator sends us. That’s a lesson from the Torah reading שְׁלַח Shelakh (“send,” Numbers 13–15). Our faith forefathers in Yisrael had to learn trust after the LORD freed them from Mitsraim (Egypt) then told them to conquer seemingly unvanquishable foes in the Promised Land.

And that’s the kind of faith Yeshua the Mashiakh’s sent ones (apostles or shelakhim) had to learn during His earthly ministry and after He returned to Heaven.

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Discussions Torah

Numbers 14: Bad report about Promised Land sparks rebellion

The “bad report” brought by the spies about the land God promised to give Israel was a dishonest report. Yet because the majority of the spies were willing to spread lies, the honest report of the two faithful spies was drowned out. The leaders of Israel believed the false report so completely that they were planning an insurrection to have Moses and Aaron stoned and then appoint a “leader” who would return them to Mitsraim (Egypt).

Numbers 14 is an example of democracy gone wrong. It also shows us God’s great patience with us in our lack of trust. We would not have tolerated the 10 times of grumbling that God tolerated from ancient Israel during the journey from Mitsraim. Yet He had to enact discipline too.

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Discussions Torah

Numbers 13: A bad report, a promise delayed

Instead of facing their fears about the “giants” in the Land, the spies ancient Israel sent into Canaan after the long journey from captivity in Mitsraim (Egypt) cowered and backed away and encouraged most of the people to do likewise. They lost their prize when they refused to walk forward where God told them to walk. The same is true today: We will lose out on many blessings if we don’t move forward when God tells us to.

When the Israelites doubted God’s word and refused to enter the Land, He took the blessing away from the majority of that generation of forever. They never entered into the promise. But for Caleb and Joshua, the promise was delayed to them for 40 years. Joshua and Caleb paid a price for the cowardice and unbelief of their peers.