Tag: Numbers 13

What Can Your God Do?

Job 12:13 for SGL

Old Testament: Numbers 13

Poetry: Job 12

New Testament: Acts 26

What can your God do? Is there anything He can not do? In our Bible readings today we get a glimpse into how a few different people might have answered those questions.

Let’s look at Job 12 first. Job is replying to his friend Zophar who just suggested that since God is great and right and true and since Job is suffering, that must mean that Job is deceitful, evil, or witless (or all three) and is being punished. Job is ready with a quick reply. Do his friends think “wisdom will die with you?” (vs. 1). He certainly still has some spirit left in him.

Most of this chapter Job is giving credit to God for what God can and has and will do:

– giving life and breath to every creature and all mankind (vs 10)

– owning wisdom and power, counsel and understanding (vs 12)

– controlling the waters with drought or flood (vs 15)

– holding strength and victory (vs 16)

– overthrowing men long established – even judges, kings and priests (vs 17-19)

– reveals the deep things of darkness (vs 22)

– makes nations great, and destroys them (vs 23)

– deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason (vs 24) – hmm – interesting

Job is agreeing with his friends on the greatness of God! No one can come anywhere close to comparing to what God is and what He can do. No human wisdom, strength, plans, or power can successfully stand against Him. When God wants to bring them down, He can and He has and He will! He can make them rise. He can make them fall.

Oh, if only the 10 scared spies knew that lesson from Job! How might their lives – and the lives of ALL of the Israelites who listened to them – have been different. In Numbers 13 we see Moses following God’s direction to send out 12 men (one from each tribe) to look over Canaan land which God had promised long ago to Abraham’s descendants. The twelve found the land just as wonderful as God had promised – flowing with milk and honey, huge clusters of grapes, bountiful harvests. It must have looked pretty amazing as they had just spent a couple years in the wilderness mostly surviving on God’s manna and quail – which were also true signs of God’s miraculous provision – but ones they had become accustomed to and now took for granted.

But rather than believing God for the promise and remembering how He had bested the powerful Egyptians, they shrunk back in fear. They knew on their own they were no match for the strength and size of all the people who already lived in the land. But they forgot what God could do. They forgot how God had already gotten them this far. They forgot what was most important to remember! They forgot what their God can do!

-Marcia Railton

Reflection Question

  1. What have you seen God do for others? What have you seen God do for you? What promises do you believe God will indeed accomplish?
  2. When you feel like a grasshopper up against a giant, what can you remember about your God? What can He do?
  3. How does your view of what He can do change what you do?
  4. Who have you told what God can and has and will do? Who else can you tell?
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Be Humble

Old Testament Reading: Numbers 12 & 13

Psalms Reading: Psalm 65

New Testament Reading: 2 Corinthians 2

In the Numbers 12-13 reading today we start with what appears to be some sibling rivalry.  Miriam and Aaron are sharing some negative murmurings about their brother Moses (verses 1 and 2) in what appears to be some pride or opposition to his leadership.  Years after watching him float down the Nile river in a basket to safety to later lead the Hebrews out of bondage in Egypt,  Miriam now sounds envious. But, while she and Aaron are whining for attention, verse 3 indicates quite a contrast in Moses.  Moses was more humble than anyone on the face of the earth!

In this case, the word used for “humble” is a Hebrew word used of Israel itself many times in the OT, suggesting someone who is “poor, lowly, meek, depressed in circumstance, may be oppressed by rich and powerful. “

But, it appears that the LORD, who of course heard everything Miriam and Aaron said and thought, was displeased with what was in their heart. He rebukes their attitudes and speaking against His chosen servant. Miriam ends up with a leprous skin disease, banned from the camp for 7 days, and caused yet another bump along the road of the Israelites’ pursuit of the promised land. But, there was forgiveness and the chance to move forward, and in chapter 13 we find the Israelites starting to explore Canaan.

This story seems an example of  what we see in Proverbs 3:34:

Proverbs 3:34, ESV: Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.

Miriam and Aaron in all their human efforts to be recognized, putting down others along the way, ended up chastised and scorned. Moses was in God’s favor. And while the definition we read of the word humble doesn’t sound all that appealing in some ways, God’s favor certainly does. We know verse 3 commends Moses for his humility, and as we seek to find God’s favor, it seems evident that being humble, lowly, and meek are crucial.

Numbers 13 starts with the exploration of the long-awaited Canaan, and in fact they finally saw the milk, honey, and fruit! But, they also saw the. . . men of great size! Forget that milk and honey! Did you hear about all those “-ites” mentioned in verse 29? And so, they spread some bad reports, show fear, and felt like grasshoppers in comparison.  But, of course the LORD is not a grasshopper, and the LORD had told them where they were going, so we’ll have to keep reading this week to see what happened.  And if you are looking for an interesting topic to study, check out the various thoughts/research available on the Nephilim mentioned in verse 33. Pretty interesting stuff!

-Jennifer Hall

Reflection Questions

  1. Who do you know who could be added to the list of most humble?
  2. How would you rank yourself on the humility/pride meter? What can you do to improve (lower?) your score? What is hardest for you about taking a lowly, meek attitude?
  3. What are God’s views and actions toward the humble and the prideful? What else do you learn about God in your reading today?
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10 Were Bad…

Numbers 13

February 17

I think my favorite song from our children’s worship has got to be the song “Twelve Men Went to Spy on Canaan”. Numbers 13 is that story. Maybe it’s silly to sing a children’s song now. At game night tonight we were listening to our favorite worship songs and “You Say” came on. Now I don’t know about you but Lauren Daigle is by far my favorite singer. We related “You Say” to Numbers 13. The song talks about feeling unworthy but then knowing God is there to help you through.


This can be applied anywhere – but for the 12 men, two thought with God they could do it, they could do anything. The ten on the other hand were stuck in the beginning of the song. Stuck fighting the voices that say they aren’t enough. Numbers 13:31 “But the men who had gone up with him said, ‘We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.’” versus what Lauren sings, “You say I am strong, when I think I am weak.” When you are stuck in a rut and think you can’t do the hard things, think about the twelve men. Do you want to be like the ten or the two?

-Genesis Dylewski

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

  1. When have you felt like a grasshopper? (30:33). When have you believed the voices telling you that you are not enough? How do you do battle against them? What truths would God have you believe?
  2. How can remembering what God has done in the past give you confidence for the battles ahead? List 5 of your favorite victories God provided in the Bible. List 5 instances of God’s power, faithfulness and love in your life or those you have known personally.
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