WHEN Israel were at Paran, on the borders of the Promised Land, Moses, by divine command, sent twelve men to spy out the country. They were to see what sort of land it was, and what its cities were like, and what kind of people lived in it. This done, they were to return to the camp and report what they had seen. No common men were chosen for this service, but a chief man out of each tribe of Israel, for it was a dangerous task.
So the twelve spies went their way. They were absent forty days, and during that time they visited many places, and saw many cities and mountains and valleys, and the far-off Mediterranean Sea. When they were coming back they stopped at a brook, near which a grand old vine grew, and they cut down a bunch of its grapes, and such a bunch it was that one man could not carry it, so two of them slung it on a pole, and bore it between them on their shoulders. The spies also brought with them from the land of promise specimens of pomegranates and figs.
When they came back to the camp these spies had a tale to tell of the sights they had seen, and also a sight to show, which told a tale of what the land of promise was. We can easily picture to ourselves all the people of Israel gathering round the twelve spies, and listening with the utmost eagerness to their tale, and looking, too, with wondering eyes on the great bunch of grapes and the splendid fruits laid out before them.
So the spies began to tell their story, and the bunch of grapes and the varied fruits would be the text for their sermon as they described the land as it really was, a noble country—" Surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it." (Num. 13:27.) But, added they, the men of it were giants, and they themselves were like grasshoppers, in the sight of these giants, and also in their own sight. The cities, too, said the spies, were strong, and walled up to heaven. And as they thus spoke, with weak hearts and want of faith in God, the people caught the spirit of their words, and began to fear, and then to murmur at the difficulties which lay before them.
So the tidings rolled round the camp that the land of promise was full of giants, and, alas 1 a false and wicked report went also with their unbelieving words, and it was said, The land " eateth up the inhabitants thereof " —that is, it was a hungry land, not good to live in. How strange it was to believe this false report with the grapes of Eshcol before their eyes, and while the very words of the spies about the giants rang in their cars.
In vain did Caleb seek to call back the faith of Israel to Jehovah, in vain did he and Joshua say, He could easily give them the land if He pleased, and in vain did the grapes and pomegranates tell their tale of plenty—unbelief in God and murmuring-against God settled down like a thick dark cloud on the rebellious camp of Israel. And when these two men, with rent clothes and pleadings to trust in the Lord, told Israel the truth, all the congregation bade stone them with stones. (Chapter 14:6-10.)
Now, dear young Christian readers, the story of the Giants and the grapes, with its lessons, is as fresh for us to-day as it was hundreds of years ago for Israel. The land of promise has to be won by the soldiers of Christ. Giants are there, and high walls too, but what are these if God be for us. You are called to go forward where God leads you. The richest blessings God would give you to enjoy are guarded by some giant, as it were, for Satan would stop you getting the sweetness of your God's blessing to your soul, if possible, and it is God's way to test the faith of His people. Then beware of looking at the difficulty when you should be looking alone at God. The unfaithful spies looked first at the giants and then at themselves, and then measured themselves by the giants' view of them, and left God out of the reckoning altogether. Certainly in yourself you have no strength, but God takes delight in you and in your blessing, so be encouraged in Him. The faithful spies looked at God first and then at the giants, and said, "they are bread for us; their defense is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not." A child having God for him is more than a match for the mightiest foe.
It was very happy to see the fruits of the land of promise displayed before the eyes of Israel in the camp, but remember this, if we look first at the blessings and then at the difficulties; first, as it were on the grapes and then at the giants, we shall not gain our end. We have to look to God and go forward trusting Him. If God says, this is the way, walk ye in it, it is ours to obey, and we shall before long come to a brook of Eshcol, where the grapes are growing, and then we shall find in the path of obedience such sweetness to the soul as we never knew before.
It refreshes a longing heart to get a sight, if not a taste, of heavenly blessings, and I think many of you have often been deeply stirred in your desires to live more truly for Christ, when you have heard of the holy life or death of someone about your own age. You have said it would be your deepest joy to live and to die like that. Then came the difficulties, and you know whether you are like the two faithful or the ten unfaithful spies. But do not be discouraged; remember the words of Caleb and Joshua: “the Lord is with us." He never forsakes His people.