Spies (and Giants) in the Land of Canaan

Caleb and Joshua, part of the spy party sent into Canaan, did not bring back the same report as the others. Why?

As we think about the people we know, we can generally separate them into two categories: optimists and pessimists. You could say, those who look on the bright side and those who look on the dark side; those who see the glass half full and those who see it as half empty.

Sometimes it seems that the world is dominated by people who continually see the glass as half empty. And sometimes you hear them refer to the others as “Pollyannas.” Does misery love company?

Recently a friend forwarded me a thought-provoking article that tied right in with my study of the exodus of Israel. The article is “Calev and Joshua Were Different” by Jonathan Sacks, chief rabbi of England.

Perception

Moses sent 12 spies into the land of Canaan in Numbers 13. They returned with choice samples of produce and a report about the walled cities and the giants. Ten of them related that they felt like grasshoppers in the presence of those giants. They wanted no part of tangling with these powerful people.

However, Caleb and Joshua relayed a much different message: “We are well able to overcome it” (Numbers 13:30).

What gives—why the difference in approach?

Dr. Sacks’ article suggests that the 10 spies were projecting their fear onto the Canaanites. We felt like grasshoppers, so they must have seen us as grasshoppers. Obviously Caleb and Joshua did not make this mistake.

Dr. Sacks explains that we can report how we feel about any given situation, but we cannot accurately assess what the other person feels. The 10 spies may have read into the minds of the people of the land something that was not there.

Reality

What does the Bible tell us about how the Canaanites actually felt about the Israelites?

The song Israel sang after crossing the Red Sea in Exodus 15:15 predicted: “Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling will take hold of them; all the inhabitants of Canaan will melt away.”

This was substantiated years later by Rahab when Joshua sent spies into Jericho. Rahab told the spies:

“I know that the LORD has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.

“And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath” (Joshua 2:9-11).

God repeatedly reminded the Israelites that He was going to fight their battles—that He would give them the land of Canaan, flowing with milk and honey. But the people lacked faith and let fear run rampant in their minds.

Mind-sets

Dr. Sacks’ article talks about mind-sets and refers to a book by Carol Dweck called Mindset. In it she discusses two mind-sets similar to the ones mentioned at the beginning of this blog post—one fixed, the other growth.

A fixed mind-set fears failure and does not take risks. So if the 10 spies had this mind-set, they thought, “We are beat before we start, so why even risk trying?” The other mind-set—growth—does not see failure as an option (see “Accepting Average? Paralyzed by Perfectionism?”)

As Christians, we know the end of the story—that good does indeed triumph over evil—so shouldn’t we adopt the faith-filled attitude that Caleb and Joshua had? With God on our side, why consider the possibility of failure?

Coming out of Egypt involved huge changes in the Israelites’ lives. We, too, are called to come out of Egypt (sin) and that requires change.

So if I have the fixed mind-set, I need to look to God (as Caleb and Joshua did) for the strength to change my mind-set to the growth mind-set of the real giants of the Bible—the spiritual giants of faith listed in Hebrews 11.

These leaders were far-sighted; and even though they had their weak moments as humans, overall their mind was set on God’s purpose and plan for them and mankind. They did what God asked and had faith that God could pull it off. And He did and will!

My next goal for this year is to be aware daily of my mind-set as I encounter the giants of this world and to examine my approach to each issue. Is my approach a godly one? Do I see the glass as half full?

Do I hear Christ’s words in Matthew 19:26: “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible”?

Oh that we might soon be with those giants of Hebrews 11 in God’s Kingdom!

Susan Scott Smith is a third-grade teacher and a member of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, in Texas.