Isaiah 60

SATURDAY  Reflections

This chapter is another picture of life under the Messiah. God's glory will shine upon His people. The wayward will return to God. The gentiles will be drawn to God, a reminder that God's plan has always been for His salvation to extend beyond the nation of Israel. Reading this chapter gives a heavenly picture of God's coming kingdom and His work even now in drawing people unto him. 

God we are told is our everlasting light. Other lights will fade and grow dim, but God's light will never end. In Him, we will never be in darkness (fear, ignorance, etc.).

Numbers 15 Need a reminder?

Need a reminder?

WEEK  9                                         Numbers 15

FRIDAY  Reflections

Have you ever tied a string around your finger? Placed a sticky note on your desk? Let's get into the 21st century, have you ever set a notification on your phone?

 

Why?

 

To remember, that is why. At the end of this chapter, Moses gives a command for fringes of blue to be placed on their clothes. God knew what we know, we need reminders. Though we don't have to have fringes on our garments as New Testament Christians if God said they were good for Israel perhaps they are good for us. Even people with great habits and good discipline use reminders, so don't be afraid to use them.

 

The church is a great place to get reminders. Messages we have heard before reinforce in us how God wants us to live. They also remind us of our freedom in Christ. If that isn't enough, put a reminder on your phone that says, "Live holy today, it's what God wants you to do."

Num 15:1-41
(1)  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(2)  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land of your habitations, which I give unto you,
(3)  And will make an offering by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, or a sacrifice in performing a vow, or in a freewill offering, or in your solemn feasts, to make a sweet savour unto the LORD, of the herd, or of the flock:
(4)  Then shall he that offereth his offering unto the LORD bring a meat offering of a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of oil.
(5)  And the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering shalt thou prepare with the burnt offering or sacrifice, for one lamb.
(6)  Or for a ram, thou shalt prepare for a meat offering two tenth deals of flour mingled with the third part of an hin of oil.
(7)  And for a drink offering thou shalt offer the third part of an hin of wine, for a sweet savour unto the LORD.
(8)  And when thou preparest a bullock for a burnt offering, or for a sacrifice in performing a vow, or peace offerings unto the LORD:
(9)  Then shall he bring with a bullock a meat offering of three tenth deals of flour mingled with half an hin of oil.
(10)  And thou shalt bring for a drink offering half an hin of wine, for an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
(11)  Thus shall it be done for one bullock, or for one ram, or for a lamb, or a kid.
(12)  According to the number that ye shall prepare, so shall ye do to every one according to their number.
(13)  All that are born of the country shall do these things after this manner, in offering an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
(14)  And if a stranger sojourn with you, or whosoever be among you in your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; as ye do, so he shall do.
(15)  One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance for ever in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD.
(16)  One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you.
(17)  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(18)  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land whither I bring you,
(19)  Then it shall be, that, when ye eat of the bread of the land, ye shall offer up an heave offering unto the LORD.
(20)  Ye shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough for an heave offering: as ye do the heave offering of the threshingfloor, so shall ye heave it.
(21)  Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto the LORD an heave offering in your generations.
(22)  And if ye have erred, and not observed all these commandments, which the LORD hath spoken unto Moses,
(23)  Even all that the LORD hath commanded you by the hand of Moses, from the day that the LORD commanded Moses, and henceforward among your generations;
(24)  Then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt offering, for a sweet savour unto the LORD, with his meat offering, and his drink offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering.
(25)  And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them; for it is ignorance: and they shall bring their offering, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD, and their sin offering before the LORD, for their ignorance:
(26)  And it shall be forgiven all the congregation of the children of Israel, and the stranger that sojourneth among them; seeing all the people were in ignorance.
(27)  And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering.
(28)  And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.
(29)  Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.
(30)  But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
(31)  Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.
(32)  And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.
(33)  And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.
(34)  And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.
(35)  And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.
(36)  And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.
(37)  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(38)  Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue:
(39)  And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:
(40)  That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.
(41)  I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God.

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Mark 9

Let's help them reach the sky

WEEK  9                                            Mark 9           

THURSDAY  Reflections

Be like a child not childish. This is the emphasis Matthew points out about Jesus’ message on what it means to be a leader, but in Mark 9:37 the writer points out the willingness to receive a little child. This isn't saying the humility that Matthew emphasized isn't important but he is pointing the importance of reaching out to His little ones.

 

The powerful in Jesus' day ignored the young. They offered nothing for them. There was no reward to help them. There was no immediate gain. Yet, Jesus makes it clear that these are the ones he cares about, those who don't offer gain. In fact, Jesus makes it clear that offending these little ones was something God was going to punish severely.

 

So are you willing to receive those who can promise you nothing in return (young or old)?

Mar 9:1-50
(1)  And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.
(2)  And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.
(3)  And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
(4)  And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.
(5)  And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
(6)  For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.
(7)  And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
(8)  And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.
(9)  And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.
(10)  And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.
(11)  And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?
(12)  And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.
(13)  But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.
(14)  And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.
(15)  And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.
(16)  And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?
(17)  And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
(18)  And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
(19)  He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
(20)  And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
(21)  And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
(22)  And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
(23)  Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
(24)  And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
(25)  When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
(26)  And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.
(27)  But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
(28)  And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?
(29)  And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
(30)  And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.
(31)  For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.
(32)  But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.
(33)  And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?
(34)  But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
(35)  And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
(36)  And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,
(37)  Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.
(38)  And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
(39)  But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.
(40)  For he that is not against us is on our part.
(41)  For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
(42)  And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
(43)  And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
(44)  Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
(45)  And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
(46)  Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
(47)  And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
(48)  Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
(49)  For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
(50)  Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

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Psalm 91

WEEK  10                                          Psalm 91      

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

Moses saw God’s deliverance. He watched as the firstborn of Egypt died and those of Israel live. He watched as plague and judgment fell on the rebellious people in the wilderness wanderings. He watched God save him time after time. Now, this psalm sings the praise of God and the security of those who make God their refuge.

 

The interesting note about this scripture is that Satan quotes verses 11-12 in his temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4, Luke 4). Jesus knows God will protect but knows this does not mean one should be presumptuous about it.

 

This is a reminder, we should never use scripture out of context. We see from scripture and history saints do die from falls, they get sick and they do die prematurely. Jesus warned His followers bad things would happen to them in His Sermon on the Mount. Yet, we are promised everything will work out for our good (Romans 8:28).

 

This scripture is a promise. A promise that God will take care of us, especially when life looks bad. 

Psa 91:1-16
(1)  He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
(2)  I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
(3)  Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
(4)  He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
(5)  Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
(6)  Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
(7)  A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
(8)  Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
(9)  Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
(10)  There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
(11)  For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
(12)  They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
(13)  Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
(14)  Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
(15)  He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
(16)  With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Photo by Martín Berrios on Unsplash

Numbers 14

WEEK  9                                             Numbers 14  

TUESDAY  Reflections

We see here the grace of God and judgment. The people were once again complaining because they thought they couldn’t take the promised land. What we see in the middle of this chapter is an interesting conversation between God and Moses where it appears that Moses is changing God’s mind. How can this be? If God doesn’t change then how come he is changing his mind here? I want to point out that he didn’t.

 

Some may argue my point is speculation. Perhaps it is but I believe it fits into the character of God. God says what is deserved. The Children of Israel deserve to be wiped out and God raise up a better people. I have to interject here, I have wondered myself sometimes: Why didn’t God just forget them. Moses gives the answer, “Because if God can’t work with this group then he must not be great.” I don’t believe that God heard this and thought, “You’re right Moses, I never thought of that.” God knew the reasons but by having Moses argue them in this verse, we are allowed to see why God didn’t hit the reboot button.

 

However, did God wipe out these people? The answer is yes, but he did it slowly. God made them wait in the wilderness. A note here, Joshua and Caleb were faithful, but the disobedience of others cost them 40 years away from the promised land. The actions of evil people affect the lives of good people.

 

There is another judgment coming in this chapter, the removal of God’s protection. At the end of the chapter, we see a number of people who decided they did wrong try to make it right. They attack the promised land. It is what God had told them to do earlier, but now everything had changed. They attacked not out of faith but out of shame and when something is done out of shame it rarely brings about anything of lasting good. What happened? They lost, not really a surprise since they didn't have God with them.

 

One final thought, though God is great at redeeming our lives, there are still consequences which can't be undone. As they say, "You can't just put the cork back in the bottle."

Num 14:1-45
(1)  And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.
(2)  And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!
(3)  And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?
(4)  And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.
(5)  Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.
(6)  And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:
(7)  And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.
(8)  If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
(9)  Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.
(10)  But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.
(11)  And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?
(12)  I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.
(13)  And Moses said unto the LORD, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them;)
(14)  And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou LORD art among this people, that thou LORD art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.
(15)  Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying,
(16)  Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness.
(17)  And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying,
(18)  The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.
(19)  Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.
(20)  And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word:
(21)  But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.
(22)  Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;
(23)  Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:
(24)  But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.
(25)  (Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.) To morrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.
(26)  And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
(27)  How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.
(28)  Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:
(29)  Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me,
(30)  Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.
(31)  But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.
(32)  But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness.
(33)  And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness.
(34)  After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.
(35)  I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.
(36)  And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,
(37)  Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD.
(38)  But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search the land, lived still.
(39)  And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly.
(40)  And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the LORD hath promised: for we have sinned.
(41)  And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD? but it shall not prosper.
(42)  Go not up, for the LORD is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies.
(43)  For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the LORD, therefore the LORD will not be with you.
(44)  But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, departed not out of the camp.
(45)  Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.

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Numbers 13

WEEK  9                                            Numbers 13  

MONDAY  Reflections

In this chapter, we are given the list of men who are preparing to go into the promised land by tribes. This seems to be a very fair and democratic way of doing things but as we will see the majority isn’t always right. The truth is the majority is rarely correct, but that is a subject for another day.

 

What I want to look at is a small note made in verse 16 where we see that Moses had changed Oshea’s name to Joshua or Jehoshua (This longer name is given in the King James Version, though the rest of the book gives the shorter version, Joshua, is used). For many this may seem like a small unimportant issue, Oshea means “help/salvation” where Joshua means “God is my help/salvation.” Both mean help so what is the big deal. However, it does when we consider who is doing the helping.

 

The name Oshea could mean that Oshea is the one doing the work and bringing salvation. Considering how the children of Israel loved to idolize their leaders (as do we), the name would have reaffirmed that it was a man which brought them help and salvation. Oshea being chosen to replace Moses and lead the people into the promised land could have become a larger-than-life hero and superstar. The change in the name reminded everyone that it wasn’t a man who was giving them victory but God. Every time they said the name Joshua it was a reminder of who was really helping them and bring about salvation. This name reminded everyone God was the one to glorify.

 

This also may have been a reminder to Oshea himself, though we see no evidence of pride in Joshua. This name may have been Moses’ idea and I can’t help but believe it was directed by God so I will say this was God’s way to keep Oshea/Joshua humble. We see God using a thorn in the flesh to keep Paul humble so why not a name change for someone who could be easily tempted to become full of himself.

 

At the end of the day, what I see is God finding yet another way to remind people who truly is in charge. I see God finding another way to keep people or a person from going into sin. I see a God that is good.

Num 13:1-33

(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.

(3)  And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel.

(4)  And these were their names: of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur.

(5)  Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori.

(6)  Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.

(7)  Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph.

(8)  Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun.

(9)  Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu.

(10)  Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi.

(11)  Of the tribe of Joseph, namely, of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi.

(12)  Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli.

(13)  Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael.

(14)  Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi.

(15)  Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi.

(16)  These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.

(17)  And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain:

(18)  And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many;

(19)  And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds;

(20)  And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.

(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.

(26)  And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.

(27)  And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.

(28)  Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.

(29)  The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.

(30)  And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

(31)  But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

(32)  And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.

(33)  And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

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