Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Numbers
Book: Numbers
Chapter: 13
Overview:
Twelve men sent to search the land of
Canaan, Their
instructions.
(1-20) Their proceedings.
(21-25) Their account of
the land.
(26-33)
1-20 A memorable and melancholy history is related in this and
the following
Chapter, of the turning back of
Israel from the
borders of
Canaan, and the sentencing them to wander and perish
in the
Wilderness, for their unbelief and
Murmuring. It appears,
De 1:22, that the motion to search out the land came from the
people. They had a better opinion of their own policy than of
God's
Wisdom. Thus we ruin ourselves
By believing the reports
and representations of sense rather than Divine
Revelation. We
walk
By sight not
By Faith.
Moses gave the
Spies this charge, Be
of good courage. It was not only a great undertaking they were
Put upon, which required good management and resolution; but a
great trust was reposed in them, which required that they should
be
Faithful. Courage in such circumstances can only
Spring from
strong
Faith, which
Caleb and
Joshua alone possessed.
21-25 The searchers of the land brought a
Bunch of grapes with
them, and other fruits, as proofs of the
Goodness of the
country; which was to
Israel both the
Earnest and the specimen
of all the fruits of
Canaan. Such are the present comforts we
have in
Communion with
God, foretastes of the
Fulness of joy we
expect in the heavenly
Canaan. We may see
By them what
Heaven
is.
26-33 We may wonder that the people of
Israel staid forty days
for the return of their
Spies, when they were ready to enter
Canaan, under all the assurances of success they could have from
the Divine power, and the miracles that had hitherto attended
them. But they distrusted
God's power and promise. How much we
stand in our own
Light By our unbelief! At length the messengers
returned; but the greater part discouraged the people from going
forward to
Canaan. Justly are the Israelites left to this
Temptation, for putting confidence in the
Judgment of men, when
they had the
Word of God to trust in. Though they had found the
land as good as
God had said, yet they would not believe it to
be as sure as he had said, but despaired of having it, though
Eternal
Truth had engaged it to them. This was the
representation of the evil
Spies.
Caleb, however, encouraged
them to go forward, though seconded
By Joshua only. He does not
say, Let us go up and conquer it; but, Let us go and possess it.
Difficulties that are in the way of
Salvation, dwindle and
vanish before a lively, active
Faith in the power and promise of
God. All things are possible, if they are promised, to him that
believes; but
Carnal sense and
Carnal professors are not to be
trusted. Unbelief overlooks the promises and power of
God,
magnifies every danger and difficulty, and fills the
Heart with
discouragement. May the
Lord help us to believe! we shall then
find all things possible.