DEEPER LIFE CHURCH SEARCH THE SCRIPTURE BIBLE STUDY FOR JANUARY 28, 2024 : TOPIC – THE SPIES’ REPORT AND ISRAEL’S REBELLION
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YOUTH STS
LESSON 96
THE SPIES’ REPORT AND ISRAEL’S REBELLION
MEMORY VERSE: “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 up the that eateth inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature” (Numbers 13:32).
TEXT: Numbers 13:1-33; 14:1-45
It was time for the children of Israel to make progress in their Journey to Canaan after the delay caused by God’s Judgment on Miriam and Aaron. Spies were to be sent to verify The land. Our text has important lessons for those who desire To get to heaven. One, Israel did not fully believe God to the point of leaving everything in His unfailing hands despite the Miracles they saw and experienced. There is need for Christian youths to believe God’s words and promises Because any decision made in unbelief is disastrous. Two, God respects the power of choice and will not impose His will. A heaven-minded youth should therefore learn to be like Christ in doing the will of God. Today’s lesson, reveals how God commanded Moses to Send spies to Canaan and His divine direction in the selection of the spies. Moses followed God’s direction in the selection of The spies from the tribes of Israel. It is also seen that the spies were commissioned and given specific guidelines for the mission they were mandated to accomplish. However, the ten spies brought evil report. They confessed their inability to possess the Promised Land. They also feared the safety of their young ones and their fear gave their tongue. Young people sometimes allow themselves to be afraid of failure in academics, relationships and spiritual progress. These are things God had already taken care of in the Scriptures “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).
1. GOD’S COMMAND AND GUIDANCE ON SELECTION OF SSPIES
Numbers 13:1-16; Joshua 1:9; 2:1-2,22,23; Deuteronomy 1:21-26; Luke 6:12,13; 9:1,2; 10:1; Exodus40:16; 2 Chronicles 31:21; Mark 6:30; 1 Corinthians 15:58 “And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of lsrael…” (Numbers 13:1,2). Here is a direct command from God to Moses.
Question 1: What can we learn from Moses’ delay in sending spies to Canaan? Moses waited to hear from God because he was not called to please either himself or the people. Also, God had been their guide through their wilderness journey and as such the people could not take any action without Him. The Christian youth should not take actions in life based on his own wall, peer pressure, parental pressure, popular opinion, but on what God says (Psalm 37:7). Spying has been an age-long military strategy. The command to spy the land was not because He (God) did not know the land but to help them believe His Word. This is a Sign of God’s mercy on humanity. He will do everything to help His children have faith in Him in order to enable them receive His blessings. For the youths today, the plan to give us heaven has been concluded in God’s word (Luke 12:32). Therefore, youths must fulfil their part by repenting from their sins, believing in the Lord and living righteously. God guided Moses on the choice of the spies. This portrays Him as a perfect Guide. He told Moses the caliber of men to Send. The choice of these men show that God has nothing to do with mediocrity. He settles for the best because He has Put in everyone potentials for greatness. It is the duty of every Youth to develop what God has put in them. Moses strictly Adhered to God’s command in choosing the spies.
Question 2: Which tribe was omitted from the list of the Spies? What was the reason for this? In the list of the twelve spies, the tribe of Levi was Conspicuously omitted. The tribe of Levi had endeared Themselves to the heart of God by opting to be on the Lord’s Side (Exodus 32:26). The twelve spies received a commission To carry out the task of searching out the land of Canaan. As Spies, the twelve Israelites were given guidelines to follow (Numbers 13:18-20). So also Christian youths are Commanded to be wise as serpent and harmless as dove (Matthew 10:16). They are to “walk circumspectly, not as Fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time” (Ephesians 5:15,17). In the same way, Christian youths as missionaries On earth should walk cautiously not as fools but as wise, Redeeming the tine because the days are evil. The major task of the spies was to make a careful Observation of the environment they were sent to search out. In obedience, the twelve spies set out on their mission and Meticulously followed the guidelines given to them. The unity Of the spies in execution of their task is noteworthy. It is in Unity we can achieve our purpose in life.
2. GODLY COURAGE OF CONSECRATED SERVANTS Numbers 13:26-29; John 14: 1-6; 14:6-9: Psalm 37:37; Malachi 3:16,17; Matthew 12:37; Proverbs 13:3; 21:23
God had earlier promised the children of Israel that He was going to give them a land which was flowing with milk and honey. However, there was need for some of them to view the land and give reports to the children of Israel. These reports were meant to motivate the children of Israel to persist in their journey to the Promised Land. The spies had positive remarks about the Promised Land. All their comments show that it was a place fit for the children of Israel to dwell in. The land was able to accommodate the agricultural lifestyle of the children of Israel. God did not promise them a land where they will not be fruitful. God knows what is best for us at all times. The spies came back with fruits from the fertile land to show the Israelites.
Question 3: Answer YES or NO: Should obstacles make us accept defeat? Does the presence of obstacles mean that God is not with us? Can we possess God’s promises in the face of difficult barriers?
There is no testimony without a test. Life is full of Challenges and only youths who refuse to give up in the face Of the seemingly impossible task will become conquerors. The Children of Israel had no reason to fear because of the Presence of the strong people in the land which God had Promised them. God said: “Behold, I will do a new thing: Now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even Make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19). When God gives promises, He already have a way to make it come to pass. Good things do not come cheap; So, whenever we are expecting something good, we should be Ready to make sacrifice. After the general report about the land, there were evil Reports from ten of the spies. The ten spies brought reports of Fear and faithlessness. Caleb and Joshua looked at the land Of promise, the barriers which were ahead of them and which Could stop them from possessing the land and compared this With the strength of the Almighty God. To them, as a result of Their faith in God, the barriers became nothing. “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” (Numbers 13:30). Their words were words of faith and Fervency towards possessing the land of promise. Joshua a d Caleb encouraged them to go forward and possess the land.
Question 4: State examples of faithful believers who served the Lord in Bible day.
There are several examples of believers in the Scriptures wh. in spite of barriers, served the Lord. They include Daniel and the three Hebrew children (Daniel 1: 8,15), Ruth (Ruth 1:16 ) Esther (Esther 4:15-17), Joseph (Genesis 39 10-14), (Gideon (Judges 7:2-4,22-25), and Paul the apostle (Acts 20:24). For a youth to be faithful and fervent for God, he must be saved sanctified, Spirit-filled, study the word of God, prayerful preach the gospel to the lost souls, edify the saints by giving time to serve in the school fellowship and in the Youth Home Success Fellowship. Out of the twelve spies, only two brought good reports.
3. GOD’S CONDEMNATION AND GRACIOUSNESS ON HIS SERVANTS Numbers 14:1 -45; 11:1-6, 10; Acts 6:1; 1 Corinthians 10:9-13; Malachi 3: 16-18 The evil reports by the ten spies made the rest of the people to murmur, complain and rebel against God (Numbers 14:1,2). They were ready to return to Egypt. What a level of backsliding! Yet, the true servants of God, Joshua and Caleb, encouraged the people thus: “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. Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is departed from them, and the LORD İs with us: fear them not” (Numbers 14:8,9).
Question 5: What was God’s response to their murmuring? “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?” (Numbers 14:11). The Lord was ready to smite them and raise another generation through Moses. But Moses pleaded with God in prayer and the He pardoned them. Every Sin, disobedience and rebellion has great consequences. They were banned from entering the Canaan land. “Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it” (Numbers 14:23). They all died and perished in the wilderness, only the younger generation made it. As the Lord punished the evil doers, He deals graciously with those who follow and obey Him. He promised Joshua and Caleb as the only people that will possess the land. “Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun” (Numbers 14:30). Today, everyone should decide which camp to belong. It is either we align with those who disobey or those who the Lord. There are rewards or recompense accordingly. obey Sinning youths should decide for Christ today by repenting land forsaking their sins, and it shall be well with them now and in eternity.