Why did Moses send twelve spies into the Promised Land?

Response

Before the Israelites entered Canaan, the Promised Land, they approached Moses with a desire to “send men ahead to spy out the land for us and bring back a report about the route we are to take and the towns we will come to” “And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search out the land, and bring us word again by what way we must go up, and into what cities we shall come.”, (Deuteronomy 1:22). Moses approved of the idea (verse 23), and God confirmed that this was His will, telling Moses, “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them” “Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.”, (Numbers 13:2, ESV). By sending these twelve men into Canaan on a reconnaissance mission, Moses had obviously sought direction from the Lord and was obeying the divine leading.

Moses, in his capacity as a military leader, sought to accomplish several goals in sending the twelve spies into Canaan. He asked the spies to gather intel about the following:

– whether the people who lived there were strong or weak, few or many “and see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many;”, (Numbers 13:18)

– whether the land was good or bad “and what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether inTents, or in strongholds; », (Numbers 13:19)

⁃ whether the cities were like camps or strongholds

⁃ whether the land was rich or poor «and what the land is, whether it be fertile or barren, whether there be trees there, or not. And be courageous, and bring some of the produce of the land. Now the season was the time of the first ripe grapes. », (Numbers 13:20)

⁃ whether or not there were forests there

Finally, Moses wanted some of the fruit of the land brought back to display «and what the land is, whether it be fertile or barren, whether there be trees there, or not. And be courageous, and bring some of the produce of the land. Now the season was the time of the first ripe grapes. », (Numbers 13:20).

The spies did as Moses asked and came back with a report: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit” «And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it flows with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. », (Numbers 13:27). Moses probably smiled when he saw the fruit and heard this good news, knowing that it would encourage the Israelites as they prepared for battle. Unfortunately, the spies weren’t done. They also gave a discouraging report about the people of Canaan being huge and the cities being fortified, making it sound like the Israelites had no chance against them. Only two spies, Caleb and Joshua, trusted that God would enable Israel to take the land (Numbers 14:6-9).

God had commanded Moses to send the twelve spies so

The Israelites were prepared for battle in the land—thus fulfilling Moses’ objectives of learning about the people, the cities, and the landscape. God would ultimately engage in the battles on their behalf, but they needed to play their part, which was to advance in faith. Long before, God had pledged to grant the Israelites the land of Canaan as their own «And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers. », (Exodus 6:4,8) «And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD. », (Exodus 6:4,8). He had assured them of complete victory if they would trust Him: “My angel will go ahead of you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites, and I will wipe them out” «For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off. », (Exodus 23:23).

Even though only two spies returned with a positive report about Canaan, Moses obeyed God by sending the spies. Valuable information about the land was gathered, and the hearts of the Israelite people were revealed.