Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes Sermons
I. THE MANNER OF THE SPEAKERS. "They rent their clothes." This was the symbol of hearts rent with grief and astonishment because of impending disaster. To the Israelites their only hope appeared in retracing their steps. To Caleb and Joshua this was the summary and utter extinction of a great opportunity. The multitude looked on Canaan as worse than the grave, a scene of vain struggles and harassing privations. Caleb and Joshua looked on the multitude as threatening the unutterable folly of drawing back from certain and inestimable blessings when they lay within their reach. Therefore they accompanied their speech with an action that indicated the distress and laceration of their hearts. Truth may do such things naturally in the very vehemence and consistency of its onset. We do not read that the spies who brought up a slander on the land rent their clothes while they were telling their story. Hypocrisy must always be careful in its histrionics not to overdo the thing. II. THE MATTER OF THEIR SPEECH. They give the testimony of experience. They had passed through the land to search it. Although they were only two against ten who told a different story, yet, strong in the consciousness of sincerity and competency, they declared what they had seen with their eyes, looked upon, and handled. Though their testimony would not have been enough for some purposes, yet it was quite enough to throw as a check in the way of revolted Israel. They emphatically assert the goodness of the land. It was a land to be desired, corresponding to all the promises made and the hopes cherished, worth all the struggling and self-denial that might be needed in order to attain it. They show a devout recognition of Jehovah. This alone might make their word, though only two, outweigh the exaggerations of the other ten. The recognition shows itself in two ways. 1. They avow the necessity of his favour. "If the Lord delight in us;" that means, surely, "If we believe in the Lord." That which delights the Lord is to see men walking by faith, and not by sight, stepping forward into the darkness upon his clear command. Caleb and Joshua felt sure, from what they had seen of the fatness and beauty of Canaan, that God wished to delight in his people, if only they would allow it. 2. They avow the necessity of submission to God. Unbelief is not only separation, it is rebellion. This was the real danger of Israel - rebellion against God's appointments and restrictions. By their present conduct they were strengthening the nations of Canaan with more than all their walled cities, giants, and strong men could give them. They show that the Canaanites are really very weak. There is nothing more fallacious than outside show and casual inspection. The spies had brought some fruit, and doubtless tasted much more; but how could they report adequately on defenses which they could not examine in any accurate way? They did not know how all these people were undermined and enervated by their wickedness. The very wealth of the hind became a curse and corrupting influence to the idolaters who dwelt in it. Wicked nations in the midst of all their boasting and revelry are preparing their own destruction. III. THE RESULTS OF THEIR SPEECH. 1. The exasperation, of the people reaches its highest pitch. "All the congregation bade stone them with stones, This was the punishment which God had appointed for serious transgressions (Leviticus 20:2, 27; Leviticus 24:14; Numbers 15:35; Deuteronomy 13:10, &c.). And now the people adopt it, numbering Caleb and Joshua with transgressors against their sovereign will. If we speak the truth, all of it, and at the time when it should be spoken, we must be ready for the consequences. The two faithful witnesses would certainly have been stoned, as Zechariah long after (2 Chronicles 24:21), but - 2. God himself interfered. "The glory of the Lord appeared," &c. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, the rebels were reduced to impotence. One can imagine the uplifted stone dropped, as if it had turned to a blazing coal. Israel may still be sullen and rebellious in heart, but its hand is in the power of God. He can rescue his servants from the power of their enemies, if that be most expedient. Caleb and Joshua still had much work to do. Or, as happened to Stephen, he can turn the unchecked fury of men into the agent, of, a quick, and glorious dismission from the toils and perils of earthly service. In God's house the more manifest the faithfulness of the servant, the more manifest also the faithfulness of the Master. - Y.
The Lord is with us: fear them not. I. JOSHUA AND CALEB WERE DEEPLY GRIEVED BY REASON OF THE REBELLION OF THE NATION.II. JOSHUA AND CALEB NOBLY ENDEAVOURED TO ARREST THE REBELLION OF THE NATION. 1. They reassert the excellence of the land. 2. They declare the attainableness of the land. 3. They exhort the people not to violate the conditions of its attainment. (1) (2) III. JOSHUA AND CALEB WERE IN DANGER BY REASON OF THEIR EFFORT TO ARREST THE REBELLION OF THE NATION. "All the congregation bade stone them with stones." See here — 1. The tactics of an excited mob when defeated in argument. 2. The folly of an excited mob. This proposal to stone Joshua and Caleb was insane.(1) Stoning would not disprove the testimony, or take away the wisdom from the counsel of the two brave explorers.(2) Stoning would involve the nation in deeper guilt and disgrace. 3. The perils of faithfulness. IV. JOSHUA AND CALEB RESCUED FROM DANGER BY THE INTERPOSITION OF GOD. (W. Jones.) 1. We might conclude, indeed, that He could not delight in them, when we reflect —(1) On their nothingness and vanity. "Man at His best estate," &c.(2) On their guilt and rebellion. Not one but is a sinner.(3) On their pollution and want of conformity to His likeness.(4) And more especially when we reflect on His greatness, independence and purity. 2. But there are the most satisfactory evidences that He does delight in His people.(1) Observe the names by which He distinguishes them. His "jewels" — "inheritance" — "treasure" — "diadem" — "crown" and "portion." See the very term in the text. And Proverbs 11:20.(2) Observe the declarations He has made respecting them. "He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of Mine eye."(3) Observe what He has done for them. Favoured — sustained — redeemed them — given His Son — Spirit — promises.(4) What He has provided for them. "The Lord God is a sun," &c. "My God shall supply," &c. "Eye hath not seen," &c.(5) Eternal life and unceasing glory. II. AN INFERENCE. "Then He will bring us into this land," &c. Observe here — 1. The land specified. It is "the land afar off." The good land. The heavenly Canaan. The region of immortality. 2. This land is God's gift. Not the result of merit. It is given in promise — given in Christ. 3. To this land God must bring His saints. Difficulties, enemies, and dangers intervene. He will guide to it. Keep — safely conduct, and at length put people into it, as He did Israel. "Fear not, little flock," &c. "Let not your hearts be troubled," &c. (Revelation 2:10, 26; Revelation 3:5, 12). (J. Burns, D. D.) 1. They drew a strong argument from the assurance that the Lord was with them, bat that the defence of the Canaanites had departed from them. They spoke of the country itself as worthy of the contest. 2. They reminded the people of the danger of disobedience, as appeared from their past history; and from the character of God. Sin was the only giant that they had reason to fear. Happy would it have been for the people, had they listened to these arguments. II. How RESOLUTE WAS THEIR SPIRIT! Personally, no doubt, it would have been much more pleasant to remain in the tent; but viewing this as an opportunity of doing good, and glorifying God, they encountered the shame of uttering sentiments which were reprobated; and the danger of advising measures which were disliked. Thus numbers in the present day say, "Religion is all very well in its place"; but they have no idea of glorifying God, and endeavouring to save souls, by acting with the decision that Caleb and Joshua did. We, too, may mourn over sin, but we must do something more; we must use all our influence to put it down, and to lead forward the Israel of God. III. How UNDIVIDED WAS THEIR AIM! Their one desire was to get the land; and therefore if popular opinion coincided with them, well; but if not, they would not be guided by it. They could do without riches, or honour, or life itself; but they could not do without Canaan. (George Breay, B. A.) People Aaron, Amalekites, Caleb, Canaanites, Egyptians, Israelites, Jephunneh, Joshua, Moses, NunPlaces Egypt, Hormah, Kadesh-barnea, Red SeaTopics Caleb, Clothes, Explored, Garments, Giving, Grief, Jephunneh, Jephun'neh, Joshua, Nun, Rent, Searched, Signs, Spied, Spying, ToreOutline 1. The people murmur at the news6. Joshua and Caleb labor to still them 11. God threatens them 13. Moses intercedes with God, and obtains pardon 26. The Murmurers are debarred from entering into the land 36. The men who raised the evil report die by a plague 40. The people that would invade the land against the will of God are smitten Dictionary of Bible Themes Numbers 14:1-9 5064 spirit, emotional Library Moses the Intercessor'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.' --NUM. xiv. 19. See how in this story a divine threat is averted and a divine promise is broken, thus revealing a standing law that these in Scripture are conditional. This striking incident of Moses' intercession suggests to us some thoughts as to I. The ground of the divine forgiveness. The appeal is not based on anything in the people. … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Weighed, and Found Wanting Order and Argument in Prayer The Spies Afraid of Giants Appendix ii. Philo of Alexandria and Rabbinic Theology. The Personality of Power. Exploring Canaan by Faith Trinity Sunday the Doctrine of the Trinity. The Scriptures Ninth Sunday after Trinity Carnal Security and Its vices. Synagogues: their Origin, Structure and Outward Arrangements An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of the Eleventh Thirdly, for Thy Actions. The Earliest Christian Preaching Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners: Numbers Links Numbers 14:6 NIVNumbers 14:6 NLT Numbers 14:6 ESV Numbers 14:6 NASB Numbers 14:6 KJV Numbers 14:6 Bible Apps Numbers 14:6 Parallel Numbers 14:6 Biblia Paralela Numbers 14:6 Chinese Bible Numbers 14:6 French Bible Numbers 14:6 German Bible Numbers 14:6 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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