Chapter 32

Settling On this Side of Jordan

1. THE DESIRE OF TWO TRIBES (Numbers 32:1-5 [1] Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle; [2] The children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spake unto Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and unto the princes of the congregation, saying, [3] Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon, [4] Even the country which the LORD smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and thy servants have cattle: [5] Wherefore, said they, if we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan.
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1. The Basis for the Desire (Numbers 32:1Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle;
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1. Their possessions
2. Their sight
3. Their understanding
2. The Approach of the Leaders (Numbers 32:2-4 [2] The children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spake unto Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and unto the princes of the congregation, saying, [3] Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon, [4] Even the country which the LORD smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and thy servants have cattle:
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1. The two tribes approached Moses, Eleazar and the princes (Numbers 32:2The children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spake unto Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and unto the princes of the congregation, saying,
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2. Nine cities named (Numbers 32:3Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon,
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3. The benefit of the land (Numbers 32:4Even the country which the LORD smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and thy servants have cattle:
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3. The Plea for the Land (Numbers 32:5Wherefore, said they, if we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan.
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1. The plea for grace – “If we have found grace”
2. The plea for allowance – “let this land be given”
3. The plea for dismissal – “bring us not”
2. MOSES’ CONCERN FOR THEIR DECISION (Numbers 32:6-15 [6] And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here? [7] And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD hath given them? [8] Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from Kadeshbarnea to see the land. [9] For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which the LORD had given them. [10] And the LORD's anger was kindled the same time, and he sware, saying, [11] Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me: [12] Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD. [13] And the LORD's anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed. [14] And, behold, ye are risen up in your fathers' stead, an increase of sinful men, to augment yet the fierce anger of the LORD toward Israel. [15] For if ye turn away from after him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness; and ye shall destroy all this people.
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1. The Concern for the War (Numbers 32:6And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?
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1. Shall your brethren go to war?
2. Shall ye sit here?
2. The Concern for Others (Numbers 32:7And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD hath given them?
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1. Why will you discourage the heart of the people?
2. They will not want to go into the land.
3. The Concern from History (Numbers 32:8-13 [8] Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from Kadeshbarnea to see the land. [9] For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which the LORD had given them. [10] And the LORD's anger was kindled the same time, and he sware, saying, [11] Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me: [12] Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD. [13] And the LORD's anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed.
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1. The efforts of the spies (Numbers 32:8-10 [8] Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from Kadeshbarnea to see the land. [9] For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which the LORD had given them. [10] And the LORD's anger was kindled the same time, and he sware, saying,
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2. The anger of the Lord (Numbers 32:11-13 [11] Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me: [12] Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD. [13] And the LORD's anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed.
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4. The Concern of History Repeating Itself (Numbers 32:14-15 [14] And, behold, ye are risen up in your fathers' stead, an increase of sinful men, to augment yet the fierce anger of the LORD toward Israel. [15] For if ye turn away from after him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness; and ye shall destroy all this people.
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1. Taking the place of the fathers (Numbers 32:14And, behold, ye are risen up in your fathers' stead, an increase of sinful men, to augment yet the fierce anger of the LORD toward Israel.
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2. Turning away from Him (Numbers 32:15For if ye turn away from after him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness; and ye shall destroy all this people.
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3. THE COMPROMISE OF THE TWO TRIBES (Numbers 32:16-19 [16] And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones: [17] But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place: and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land. [18] We will not return unto our houses, until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance. [19] For we will not inherit with them on yonder side Jordan, or forward; because our inheritance is fallen to us on this side Jordan eastward.
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1. We Will Build (Numbers 32:16And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:
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1. Sheepfolds for the cattle
2. Cities for our little ones
2. We Will Go (Numbers 32:17But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place: and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land.
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1. Armed before the children of Israel
2. Until we have brought them unto their place
3. Our little ones shall dwell in fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land.
3. We Will Not Return (Numbers 32:18We will not return unto our houses, until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance.
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1. We will not return unto our houses.
2. Until the children of Israel have inherited every man his substance
4. We Will Not Inherit (Numbers 32:19For we will not inherit with them on yonder side Jordan, or forward; because our inheritance is fallen to us on this side Jordan eastward.
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1. We will not inherit with them.
2. Our inheritance is on this side Jordan.
4. MOSES ACCEPTS THEIR PLAN (Numbers 32:20-24 [20] And Moses said unto them, If ye will do this thing, if ye will go armed before the LORD to war, [21] And will go all of you armed over Jordan before the LORD, until he hath driven out his enemies from before him, [22] And the land be subdued before the LORD: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the LORD, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD. [23] But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out. [24] Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth.
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1. If You Will Do This Thing (Numbers 32:20-22 [20] And Moses said unto them, If ye will do this thing, if ye will go armed before the LORD to war, [21] And will go all of you armed over Jordan before the LORD, until he hath driven out his enemies from before him, [22] And the land be subdued before the LORD: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the LORD, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD.
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1. Go armed before the Lord (Numbers 32:20And Moses said unto them, If ye will do this thing, if ye will go armed before the LORD to war,
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2. Until the Lord drives out his enemies (Numbers 32:21And will go all of you armed over Jordan before the LORD, until he hath driven out his enemies from before him,
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3. Until the land be subdued before the Lord (Numbers 32:22And the land be subdued before the LORD: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the LORD, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD.
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4. Then you shall return (Numbers 32:22And the land be subdued before the LORD: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the LORD, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD.
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5. You shall be guiltless before the Lord (Numbers 32:22And the land be subdued before the LORD: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the LORD, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD.
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6. You shall be guiltless before Israel (Numbers 32:22And the land be subdued before the LORD: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the LORD, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD.
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7. This land shall be your possession (Numbers 32:22And the land be subdued before the LORD: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the LORD, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD.
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2. If You Will Not Do So (Numbers 32:23But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.
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1. You have sinned against the Lord.
2. Your sin will find you out.
3. Do That Which Hath Proceeded Out of Your Mouth (Numbers 32:24Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth.
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5. THE TWO TRIBES ACCEPT MOSES’ PLAN (Numbers 32:25-27 [25] And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spake unto Moses, saying, Thy servants will do as my lord commandeth. [26] Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our cattle, shall be there in the cities of Gilead: [27] But thy servants will pass over, every man armed for war, before the LORD to battle, as my lord saith.
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1. The Two Tribes Agree To Obey (Numbers 32:25And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spake unto Moses, saying, Thy servants will do as my lord commandeth.
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2. Those Who Will Stay (Numbers 32:26Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our cattle, shall be there in the cities of Gilead:
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1. Our little ones
2. Our wives
3. Our flocks
4. Our cattle
3. Those Who Will Go (Numbers 32:27But thy servants will pass over, every man armed for war, before the LORD to battle, as my lord saith.
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6. THE OFFICIAL AGREEMENT (Numbers 32:28-33 [28] So concerning them Moses commanded Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the chief fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel: [29] And Moses said unto them, If the children of Gad and the children of Reuben will pass with you over Jordan, every man armed to battle, before the LORD, and the land shall be subdued before you; then ye shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession: [30] But if they will not pass over with you armed, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan. [31] And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben answered, saying, As the LORD hath said unto thy servants, so will we do. [32] We will pass over armed before the LORD into the land of Canaan, that the possession of our inheritance on this side Jordan may be ours. [33] And Moses gave unto them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and unto half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land, with the cities thereof in the coasts, even the cities of the country round about.
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1. Moses Presents the Details to the Leaders (Numbers 32:28-30 [28] So concerning them Moses commanded Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the chief fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel: [29] And Moses said unto them, If the children of Gad and the children of Reuben will pass with you over Jordan, every man armed to battle, before the LORD, and the land shall be subdued before you; then ye shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession: [30] But if they will not pass over with you armed, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan.
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1. Moses speaks to the leaders (Numbers 32:28So concerning them Moses commanded Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the chief fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel:
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2. Moses presents the conditions (Numbers 32:29-30 [29] And Moses said unto them, If the children of Gad and the children of Reuben will pass with you over Jordan, every man armed to battle, before the LORD, and the land shall be subdued before you; then ye shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession: [30] But if they will not pass over with you armed, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan.
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2. The Two Tribes Agree to the Details (Numbers 32:31-32 [31] And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben answered, saying, As the LORD hath said unto thy servants, so will we do. [32] We will pass over armed before the LORD into the land of Canaan, that the possession of our inheritance on this side Jordan may be ours.
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3. The Deed to the Land (Numbers 32:33And Moses gave unto them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and unto half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land, with the cities thereof in the coasts, even the cities of the country round about.
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1. The tribes involved
1. The children of Gad
2. The children of Reuben
3. Half the tribe of Manasseh
2. The land involved
1. The kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites
2. The kingdom of Og king of Bashan
7. THE DIVISION OF THE LAND (Numbers 32:34-42 [34] And the children of Gad built Dibon, and Ataroth, and Aroer, [35] And Atroth, Shophan, and Jaazer, and Jogbehah, [36] And Bethnimrah, and Bethharan, fenced cities: and folds for sheep. [37] And the children of Reuben built Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Kirjathaim, [38] And Nebo, and Baalmeon, (their names being changed,) and Shibmah: and gave other names unto the cities which they builded. [39] And the children of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead, and took it, and dispossessed the Amorite which was in it. [40] And Moses gave Gilead unto Machir the son of Manasseh; and he dwelt therein. [41] And Jair the son of Manasseh went and took the small towns thereof, and called them Havothjair. [42] And Nobah went and took Kenath, and the villages thereof, and called it Nobah, after his own name.
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1. The Children of Gad (Numbers 32:34-36 [34] And the children of Gad built Dibon, and Ataroth, and Aroer, [35] And Atroth, Shophan, and Jaazer, and Jogbehah, [36] And Bethnimrah, and Bethharan, fenced cities: and folds for sheep.
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2. The Children of Reuben (Numbers 32:37-38 [37] And the children of Reuben built Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Kirjathaim, [38] And Nebo, and Baalmeon, (their names being changed,) and Shibmah: and gave other names unto the cities which they builded.
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3. The Children of Manasseh (Numbers 32:39-42 [39] And the children of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead, and took it, and dispossessed the Amorite which was in it. [40] And Moses gave Gilead unto Machir the son of Manasseh; and he dwelt therein. [41] And Jair the son of Manasseh went and took the small towns thereof, and called them Havothjair. [42] And Nobah went and took Kenath, and the villages thereof, and called it Nobah, after his own name.
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1. The children of Machir (Numbers 32:39-40 [39] And the children of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead, and took it, and dispossessed the Amorite which was in it. [40] And Moses gave Gilead unto Machir the son of Manasseh; and he dwelt therein.
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2. The children of Jair (Numbers 32:41And Jair the son of Manasseh went and took the small towns thereof, and called them Havothjair.
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3. The children of Nobah (Numbers 32:42And Nobah went and took Kenath, and the villages thereof, and called it Nobah, after his own name.
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8. THE JUDGMENT OF THIS MATTER
1. The Religious Element
1. The use of God’s name
1. LORD is found 18 times.
2. Before the LORD is found 8 times.
3. They want the land the LORD smote (Numbers 32:4Even the country which the LORD smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and thy servants have cattle:
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4. They will obey what the LORD said (Numbers 32:31And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben answered, saying, As the LORD hath said unto thy servants, so will we do.
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5. They are willing to put the well-being of others ahead of themselves (Numbers 32:16-17 [16] And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones: [17] But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place: and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land.
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2. The building of an altar (Joshua 22:9-34 [9] And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses. [10] And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to. [11] And the children of Israel heard say, Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar over against the land of Canaan, in the borders of Jordan, at the passage of the children of Israel. [12] And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them. [13] And the children of Israel sent unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, [14] And with him ten princes, of each chief house a prince throughout all the tribes of Israel; and each one was an head of the house of their fathers among the thousands of Israel. [15] And they came unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, unto the land of Gilead, and they spake with them, saying, [16] Thus saith the whole congregation of the LORD, What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the LORD? [17] Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the LORD, [18] But that ye must turn away this day from following the LORD? and it will be, seeing ye rebel to day against the LORD, that to morrow he will be wroth with the whole congregation of Israel. [19] Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the LORD, wherein the LORD's tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us: but rebel not against the LORD, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar beside the altar of the LORD our God. [20] Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity. [21] Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel, [22] The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD, (save us not this day,) [23] That we have built us an altar to turn from following the LORD, or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer peace offerings thereon, let the LORD himself require it; [24] And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing, saying, In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with the LORD God of Israel? [25] For the LORD hath made Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no part in the LORD: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD. [26] Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice: [27] But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD. [28] Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say again, Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you. [29] God forbid that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn this day from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the LORD our God that is before his tabernacle. [30] And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel which were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them. [31] And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we perceive that the LORD is among us, because ye have not committed this trespass against the LORD: now ye have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD. [32] And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, unto the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again. [33] And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and did not intend to go up against them in battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt. [34] And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God.
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2. The Betrayal of Their Motives
1. Prayer
1. We hear often of the Lord’s name.
2. We do not see where prayer was offered to God.
2. The presence of God
1. They built an altar so that their children would not be outcasts from the rest of the children of Israel.
2. It was not an altar for sacrifice.
3. It was only a form of what Israel had on the other side of Jordan.
3. Their speech (Matthew 26:73And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.
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1. They mentioned nothing of going to battle ahead of their brethren until Moses brought it up (Numbers 32:5-6 [5] Wherefore, said they, if we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan. [6] And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?
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2. Their separation from their brethren (Numbers 32:17-19 [17] But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place: and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land. [18] We will not return unto our houses, until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance. [19] For we will not inherit with them on yonder side Jordan, or forward; because our inheritance is fallen to us on this side Jordan eastward.
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3. They were willing to pass over Jordan because of what they get (Numbers 32:32We will pass over armed before the LORD into the land of Canaan, that the possession of our inheritance on this side Jordan may be ours.
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4. Their split because of possessions (Genesis 13:1-13 [1] And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. [2] And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. [3] And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai; [4] Unto the place of the altar, which he had make there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD. [5] And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. [6] And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. [7] And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. [8] And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. [9] Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. [10] And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. [11] Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. [12] Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. [13] But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.
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3. God’s Will
1. God’s permissive will
1. God allowed the two-and-a-half tribes to choose the east side of Jordan.
2. The spies that searched Canaan
1. The spies were not God’s idea (Deuteronomy 1:19-26 [19] And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came to Kadeshbarnea. [20] And I said unto you, Ye are come unto the mountain of the Amorites, which the LORD our God doth give unto us. [21] Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged. [22] And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search us out the land, and bring us word again by what way we must go up, and into what cities we shall come. [23] And the saying pleased me well: and I took twelve men of you, one of a tribe: [24] And they turned and went up into the mountain, and came unto the valley of Eshcol, and searched it out. [25] And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought it down unto us, and brought us word again, and said, It is a good land which the LORD our God doth give us. [26] Notwithstanding ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God:
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2. God allowed the spies to search the land (Numbers 13:1-2 [1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [2] Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.
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2. God’s perfect will
1. God’s brought Israel out of Egypt.
2. To bring them into the land of Canaan (Leviticus 25:38I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God.
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