Observations and Interpretation
(1) The repeated word: investigate 窺探=seek out, spy out, explore, and repeated in 13:2, 16, 17, 21, 25, 32(); 14:7, 34, 36, 38. The meaning of investigate was expanded in v.17-20. 17 摩西打發他們去窺探迦南地說：“你們從南地上山地去，
Note, Moses asked them to see if the people who lived there were strong or weak v.18. And then from v.21-29 they gave their report. Upon hearing the first part of the report, the people reacted and probably started to grumble because in v. 30 迦勒在摩西面前安撫百姓說：“我們立刻上去得那地吧！
Then the 10 spies disagreed with Caleb and presented their own views v.31-33. 31 但那些和他同去的人說：“我們不能上去攻擊那民，
The first part of the report was fair and they did what Moses told them to do, that is to investigate. However, the second part of the report from the 10 spies was not an investigation and they did not talked about fact, but perception. Their own interpretation of the facts, how they see the facts.
Caleb thought they could occupy that land even though the strong people lived there because God said, "Send out men to investigate the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. v.2" It was a land God was giving to the Israelites. However, the 10 spies did not walk by faith but by sight.
Application: What was the intention of God to have the spies to go out to investigate the Promised Land, which was a fertile land but occupied now by the strong people? Perhaps, to let them know that, yes, it is a difficult task to occupy the land, but yes, you can do it if you rely on God??
Do we tend to give up if we face difficulties? Do we want to give up to lead a Bible study group if no one else want to come? Or it is a chance for us to trust God who will continue to lead us in trouble time?
(2) Again when facing challenge, Moses was silent and did not defend v.1-4. Then in v.5, "5 Then Moses and Aaron fell down with their faces to the ground before the whole assembled community of the Israelites."
(NET) This action of Moses and Aaron is typical of them in the wilderness with the Israelites. The act shows self-abasement and deference before the sovereign LORD. They are not bowing before the people here, but in front of the people they bow before God. According to Num 17:6–15 this prostration is for the purpose of intercessory prayer. Here it prevents immediate wrath from God.
Even with the encouragement from Joshua v.6-9, the whole community threatened to stone them v.10a. Again, God spoke up for Moses v.10b.
(3) When God was going to kill all the people at once v.12, 15, Moses spoke for them v.17-18.
(NAC)...Moses takes his entreaty to a second level now based upon God’s attributes of long-suffering, faithfulness, loyal love, and forgiveness, while still maintaining the balance with his justice and righteousness. Moses understood that God’s strength could be magnified through the balanced application of his attributes to their current situation.
As a result, God forgave them and did not kill all of them at once v.20, but they still need to bear their consequences and part of them would be killed and part of them would died before they entered the Promised Land. 22 這些人雖看見我的榮耀和我在埃及與曠野所行的神蹟，
Application: God takes His glory seriously. Have we seen His glory and still despise Him and disobeyed Him? In other words, for those who have seen His glory are supposed to obey Him. Do we?
Audrey
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