03- 09- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (Numbers 13:21- 25)
BY FAITH; THEY HAVE RETURNED…
21- “So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath. 22- And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23- And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs. 24- The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence. 25- And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.”
The leadership of Joshua was proven by the way he leads the leaders to the promise land to spy out and to claim it in the Name of God. The Lord was with Joshua when he came in and when comes out of the promise land. Notice verse 21- “So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath.” The Bible said, “So they went up, and searched the land…” It speaks of full obedience to Moses especially to God. It’s just a short phrase but, could be full of suspense, difficulties, heartache, sorrow, pain and miscommunications... But it could be an enjoyable time for the group or a very memorable one for all of them. It could be an experienced they could never forget. And it was not like they all come in one place or stand on the top of the mountain or hills with a telescope or with the most advanced binocular looking for people and what they do or checking on their routine. It was not like they were up in the mountain with 2 way radios, satellite and radar or some kind of a detector. They don’t even have a pen to take note but they know what they were doing. In verse 22- “And they ascended by the south…” Joshua and the appointed leaders were there climbing up and down working day and night gathering some info about the land and its people. In verse 23- “And they came unto the brook of Eshcol…” They took some samples to show to Moses and the Israelites. If you will picture what they saw and what they got as according to verses 23 and 24; it was already a great blessings if I will picture myself being there with them and seeing all the fruits, especially the grapes. Others may have thought of business, wine, farming and opportunities as they see all the great fruits and fruit bearing trees. And in verse 25- “And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.” They did not return to their leader empty. They did not return to Moses without any information and empty handed, they have proofs and they have something to show to Moses and the Israelites. Joshua and the leadership were responsible leaders and they were the people of God who went and came in obedience to Moses’ words which was actually the command of God. The Lord blessed their journey and the Lord used them in their simple quest and service to God and His chosen people. If Apostle Paul was there, he may have encouraged them with these words from (Philippians 3:10- 16) 10- “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11- If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12- Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13- Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14- I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15- Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16- Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
