The Miracle of Caleb and Joshua – Numbers 14:6-9
When the ten explorers returned from exploring Canaan, they reported back to the people that there were fortified cities with strong people living in them. But Caleb and Joshua were the only ones who urged Moses and the people not to be afraid of the people, but to trust the Lord.
Their words were clear: Israel will not lose if they fight against the people of the land! But when the people began to complain and want a new leader, God intervened. He punished them with divine punishments and eventually they were defeated in the wilderness.
The people wept and complained all night long (Numbers 14:1?10). They wanted a new leader and even threatened to stone Caleb and Joshua. They also wished to go back to Egypt and look for the gods they saw there!
But their faith was unshaken, because they were confident that the Lord would be with them. Their conviction was one of the greatest miracles in the Old Testament and it still binds together the whole people of Israel!
They were convinced that God would bring them into this land, and give it to them. Their faith was not just words, but actions.
This verse reveals two important themes in the story of Israel’s exodus out of Egypt: the importance of obedience to God and the fact that God would not let them enter the land without taking possession of it. These are clearly seen throughout the story.
