Numbers 13:2 “’Send out for yourself men so that they may spy out the land of Canaan, which I am going to give to the sons of Israel; you shall send a man from each of their fathers’ tribes, every one a leader among them.’”
WHO?
So, do you remember these names from the Bible? Shammua, Shaphat, Igal, Palti, Gaddiel, Gaddi, Ammiel, Sethur, Nahbi, and Geuel. Of course not. But you do remember Joshua and Caleb. These twelve men were the spies Moses sent into the land of Canaan to explore and bring back a scouting report. You know the story. Joshua and Caleb were ready to go in, but the other 10 men (whom you never hear from again in Scripture) had another opinion.
These 10 men, instead of leading their tribes into the Promised Land, led them into 40 years of wandering in the desert. They became forgotten men. No one shouts their names. No one tells their story. They failed at a time when leadership mattered.
TEACHING MOMENT
Our children must learn that decisions have consequences. Their decisions now can have an impact on the lives of their future generations. Now, I don’t mean their sins are passed down. We know that isn’t the case in Christ. But decisions our children make now can impact their future families.
So, how do we teach them to make the right decisions? Once again, Moms and Dads, you have to be the example. You have to make decisions that honor the Lord every day. They will learn from watching you. Will you give up your desires for the good of your family? Will you let them in on your decision process?
The Lord wants us to trust Him. He wanted those 10 men to trust Him in Canaan. If they had only realized the same God who had divided the waters, led them by cloud and fire, gave them manna and quail, gave them water from a rock and had rescued them from Egyptian bondage would also defeat the giants.
A Moment In Time 