Send the Spies

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Previously on the Chosen people. 00:00:03 Speaker 2: Your name, my son, Moose, son of none Osheya, my son, you did everything I asked of you. You did well. I'd have you lead the armies from me Oshea. Stand by my side and learn from me. You have an obedient and faithful spirit. With such a spirit, there's no limit to what you can do. On behalf of God and for our people. 00:00:38 Speaker 3: You let us well. My friend with courage far beyond your years or experience, and name's Caleb, son of Jeffany. 00:00:46 Speaker 4: I have seen the affliction of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries and beheld their suffering. I have come to deliver them out of slaver and carry them to a land of promise, a vast and vibrant land heaving with life, a land flowing with milk and honey. 00:01:13 Speaker 2: Tell each man to be equipped for battle. There's no telling what perils will face on the White Decadan. The wilderness is treacherous, the. 00:01:22 Speaker 5: Path is long. 00:01:29 Speaker 6: Twelve spies were sent by God into the Promised Land, but only two were true to God. Shallo my friends from here in the Holy Land. I'm yea el Exstein with International Fellowship of Christians and Jews welcome to the Chosen People. Each day we'll hear a dramatic story inspired by the Bible, stories filled with timeless lessons of faith, love, and the meaning of life. Through Israel story, we'll find this truth that we are all chosen for something great. If this podcast has blessed you in any way, we'd love it if you left us a review. And if you're interested in the countless lives being impacted and biblical prophecy coming to fruition by our work at the Fellowship, you can visit us at IFCJ dot org. That's IFCJ dot org. Now let's begin. Our people stand on the edge of destiny, freed from slavery, led through the wilderness by fire and clouds, sustained by manna. And now they're at the edge of the promised land. But before them lies giants, walled cities unknown. And so they send spies twelve men to scout to see if God's promise is as good as his word. But what happens when fear takes root, when the land of blessing becomes the land of doubt? 00:03:00 Speaker 1: Could feel his heartbeat in his throat, and he fought the urge to wipe his sweaty hands on his cloak. He stood before all of Israel, just outside the courtyard of the Tabernacle. Moses was proclaiming their mandate before the nation, his mandate and the mandate of the eleven other men who stood beside him. 00:03:21 Speaker 2: Shamuas son of Zakur, from the tribe of Reuben, Shaffat, son of Hurri, from the tribe of Simeon, Caleb, son of Jeffuna, from the tribe of Judah, hi Gal, son of Joseph, from the tribe of Isikar, Joshua, son of None, from the tribe of Ephraim Parti, son of Ram Joshua. 00:03:40 Speaker 1: He was Joshua now, though the name still felt foreign, as if it belonged to someone else. Days earlier, Moses had pulled him aside, speaking of the importance of this mission. The people were growing anxious. They had left Hazaroth, mourned those lost to grumbling and the quails black, and now stood at Kaidish, on the border of the wilderness of paren. God's people were on the brink of their promised land. Feeling the eldest pressure, Moses shared with Joshua his decision to send a scouting party ahead. 00:04:16 Speaker 2: The people hold their tongues when I walk by, but they gripe to the elders without abandon, knowing that it will make its way to me. They are cowards, but they of course do not want to be seen as cowards. 00:04:32 Speaker 5: You can't blame them for being afraid, but. 00:04:34 Speaker 2: I can't blame them for their lack of faith, Husha. Faith is everything true. Nevertheless, a good leader listens. That's why I've gathered you and the elders. 00:04:50 Speaker 5: Are you going to send a scouting party? 00:04:52 Speaker 2: I do, Husha? 00:04:55 Speaker 5: Would you go and lead them? Me lead the scouting party? Yes, he seemed surprised. I'd ask you, Moses. You know I will do whatever you ask, but I do not know the way. 00:05:08 Speaker 2: Ha ha, who do not fear, young Hosey. 00:05:12 Speaker 5: I would not send you alone. 00:05:14 Speaker 2: I have men who would prepare you with maps and knowledge of the terrain, roads and cities. 00:05:19 Speaker 5: That is good. When would you have us go? 00:05:22 Speaker 1: Moses looked at Hoshier for a moment, considering Hoshier stiffened under his gaze. Even after all this time, and though he profoundly admired Moses, he was still an intimidating man. For he could perceive in him, deep under the surface, deep rolling anger, ranging from a righteous anger to an indignant sense of injustice. Joshua supposed it fueled the determination to lead their nation, lending him strength and tenacity. He couldn't sense it now, but he knew it was deep within. He did his best not to shrink under. Moses, steady gaze. 00:06:02 Speaker 2: I do not tell you this enough, but I am grateful for you. I've not known loyalty like yours. 00:06:11 Speaker 1: O Sheer was speechless. He could feel his face turning bright red, and the more he thought about how redd it was growing, the more heat traveled to his cheeks. 00:06:21 Speaker 5: Thank you, Moses. I don't know what to say. You've been like a father to me. It is you I should be thinking. You truly are a kind of salvation your name, O Shea. 00:06:37 Speaker 2: Surely your parents told you of the meaning that I suppose they had hoped that our people would eventually be free from our oppressors. I'm sorry they didn't live to see it, Oh Shea. Your faithfulness to me and to our Lord will be rewarded someday. But until that day, I would offer you a blessing for you depart on this mission for me. 00:07:02 Speaker 1: Hosher was struck silent a blessing from Moses before he could speak. Moses rose and approached him. The prophet, chosen leader of Israel, knelt beside Hosher and rested a gentle hand on his shoulder. 00:07:20 Speaker 2: Hoshea, if you accept, I will give you a new name, A name to give you strength in our promised land, A name to remind you where your true strength lies in the face of whatever comes. I name you Joshua Yahweh is Salvation. Let this name remind you, no matter the danger or uncertainty, that salvation is found only in the Lord. The Lord does not fail, does not falter, and does not abandon his promises. May Our God protect you and guide your steps, granting you wisdom and courage above all else. Joshua, do you accept this new name, your new calling, and this mission? 00:08:09 Speaker 5: I accept. I don't know what else to say. You honor me. 00:08:15 Speaker 1: Joshua blinked, fists clenched to steady himself. If he thought any longer about how profoundly meaningful that moment was to him, he would never recover his composure. Not while standing before all of Israel as Moses delivered their charge to the appointed spies. More than anything, he longed to be worthy of this appointment. 00:08:37 Speaker 2: And in this way I charge you to explore the land. Go with courage in the name of the Lord, and bring back the fruit of the land in your report, so that I may see the truth of the Lord's promises. Go now, with his blessing and his protection. Before you, honor your tribes, for you have each been chosen to represent your people. Await your seat return. 00:09:02 Speaker 1: And with that, the Israelites cheered for their representatives as they waved in acknowledgment at the crowd. Joshua waved awkwardly, but felt better when his friend Caleb gave him a playful ludge and flashed him a friendly smile. Joshua was glad Caleb had been selected for his tribe. He felt woefully out of place in this assortment of decorated lieutenants and statesmen from the other tribes. He didn't know any of them personally, but their reputations preceded them, and besides, most had children who were older than he was. But with Caleb by his side, he knew he would have at least one person to watch his back. Joshua and Caleb snuck through some jagged stones, overlooking the land of Hebrew. The city had jagged buildings hewn from stone, with large pillars of fire illuminating the city streets. Padding close behind was the lieutenant of the tribe, Reuben Shamoa. He was an abrasive and prideful man. 00:10:05 Speaker 7: Remind me again why Hebron is so important. 00:10:09 Speaker 5: Hebron is where most of their forefathers and mothers are buried, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob, and Leah. 00:10:18 Speaker 1: Caleb peered down and pursed his lips. 00:10:21 Speaker 8: It is also the land where my father's ancestors, the Kennesites, lived, long before they assimilated into the tribe of Judah. I have tyes here. 00:10:32 Speaker 7: Will we be met by friends or foes down there? 00:10:35 Speaker 5: No way of knowing until we get a closer look. 00:10:38 Speaker 8: It's too risky for all of us to go in. I'll go, Samuwa can come with me. 00:10:43 Speaker 1: The two men crouched and descended the hill. They crawled through the sparse desert brush, scanning the city. Ahead of the city's entrance, two large figures emerged from the shadows. Their footsteps shook the earth, vibrating Kyla leb and Shamoa's chests. What struck Caleb most was their sheer size. Even from a distance, he could tell these men stood more than a foot taller than he did, and Caleb was no small man. Their broad shoulders, powerful legs, and precise movements marked them as warriors, and their cruel iron weapons and lightweight armor confirmed it. His heart sank. These were likely scouts like them, searching for threats, and the Israelites were undoubtedly that threat. Shamoor shot him an alarmed glance. Echoing Caleb's thoughts, The giants grumbled to each other as they settled into the camp. 00:11:43 Speaker 9: Why'd you got him so quickly? We should have questioned him and learn what he was An Amori? Those greedy dogs only want more land. I didn't want to give him a chance to bark, would turn home to his master's to wine. 00:12:03 Speaker 8: We don't even know if he was a spy. 00:12:07 Speaker 5: Or an Amoright course he was a spy, and did you see his clothes? Even if he wasn't an Amori, who cares he wasn't one of us. Remember when he wet himself? 00:12:24 Speaker 8: Ah? Has he wept like a babe? 00:12:32 Speaker 10: I think I heard him blubbering for his mother when I twisted my blade into his throat. 00:12:39 Speaker 5: Course, it's hard to understand what a man's saying when blood is bubbler out of his mouth. 00:12:45 Speaker 8: Ha coward, coward. 00:12:50 Speaker 1: Caleb and Shamoa exchanged where he looks that recently and brutally murdered Amorite captive could very well have been them if they had been discovered. Caleb and Shamois silently retreated from their cover up the hill and away from the giants. They didn't speak a word to one another as they put a mile between them and the terrifying men. Caleb wondered if Shamoa had noticed the dried blood that was crusted on their weapons and clothes, the splatter telling the bloody and violent tale of their victim's final moments. Caleb's thankfully empty stomach twisted into knots as he wondered if a similar fate should befall them should they encounter the brethren of these giants in the land of Canaan. Back at camp, Caleb and Shamoa shared what they had witnessed. Joshua clenched his fists in frustration. The land was fertile and ripe for their people to thrive, but every mile was filled with adversaries, battle hardened, giant and bloodthirsty adversaries. The spies deliberated about what they were going to report back to Moses and the others. 00:13:57 Speaker 7: There's no way I'm marching into battle against those giants. 00:14:02 Speaker 1: Another one of the spies, Ego from the tribe of Isaka, chimed in. 00:14:07 Speaker 2: There's no doubt the land is fertile, But how on earth will we compete for its resources? We don't stand a chance against him. 00:14:17 Speaker 5: Where's your faith? The Lord has promised us this land. It's ours for the taking if we simply have faith. 00:14:23 Speaker 7: That's easy for you to say, Joshua, you didn't see those giants. 00:14:27 Speaker 1: Caleb stood up and interjected. He stood a head taller than the rest imposing and commanding. 00:14:34 Speaker 3: I saw them, but I still remain convinced that the Lord will grant us victory. 00:14:39 Speaker 5: Fool, coward, Easy men, easy, bigel. You witnessed the parting of the Red Sea just as I did. Where is your faith? 00:14:47 Speaker 2: I've fought by your side, Joshua, Your experience is the same as mine. You and I both know the capabilities of our armies. I don't understand your optimism here. 00:15:02 Speaker 5: This task is foolish. It would only bring us. 00:15:05 Speaker 7: There, and the lands to the east of the Salt Sea are not much better. Adam's reputation of being an unfriendly neighbor does not bode well. And Moab is held by the Amorites. They say their fortresses are even stronger and better fortified than the ones here. Not to mention, the Amorites are a vile people. They sacrifice their own children to the cruel god. 00:15:32 Speaker 2: Molik Shamua is right. We have to warn the people we cannot enter Canaan. 00:15:40 Speaker 3: Brother eat Gal. I can't believe the words I'm hearing, All the more reason we should take the land back. 00:15:47 Speaker 7: Enough, Caleb, if you try and win the people over with a favorable report, then rally them to pursue this madness. I'll call you a trader. We all will. We've talked to length. You're out numbered, Caleb. Even Igal and Gadiol of your eastern unit are against you. 00:16:06 Speaker 1: Joshua's righteous anger burned as the betrayal unfolded. 00:16:12 Speaker 10: How dare you call Caleb a traitor when it is you who are denying the will of our God. 00:16:17 Speaker 1: Before Joshua could blink, Shamoa was on him. He grabbed the collar of Joshua's robes and roughly pulled him up to his face. 00:16:25 Speaker 7: Oh, we didn't forget about you, little pop. You think you're so special because you fetch Moses's wine skin and mend his sandals. Well, listen carefully, little pop, We refuse to let Moses lead us into Canaan. 00:16:43 Speaker 1: Joshua's blood boiled hot. He gripped Shamoa's wrists tightly, ready to strike him. Shamua's eyes widened. Realizing that Joshua was stronger than he looked, he released Joshua, sending him tumbling to the ground. Joshua sprang up to strike, but Caleb stepped forward to stop him. A heavy realization settled in. There was nothing he or Caleb could say to change the other's minds. The silence that followed was thick and tense, as the ten other representatives stood unmoved, united in their decision to defy the will of the Lord. The Spies entered camp triumphantly, greeted by hopeful Israelites gathered around the kdish stream. Moses and Aaron quieted the excited crowd as the twelve spies lined. 00:17:40 Speaker 2: Up, representatives of Israel. You've returned. As you can see, we are eager to hear your report. 00:17:48 Speaker 1: Caleb noted that Moses frowned silently at Joshua and his placement away from the rest of them. Joshua had not looked up from the ground since camp came into view about two hours ago. In contrast Shamois with an oily politicians, Smile stepped forward to give the report on behalf of the twelve spies. 00:18:09 Speaker 7: As a son of the great tribe of Jacob's eldest Reuben, I will give the report on behalf of my companions. 00:18:19 Speaker 1: Caleb fought the urge to roll his eyes at Shamoor's piety. 00:18:24 Speaker 5: It is true. 00:18:25 Speaker 7: Canaan is a land flowing with milk and honey, as you can see from the bounty we brought back. But the people there are strong, their cities large and fortified, defended by forces we could never hope to match. In the Negev, we faced the Amalekites, fierce desert dwellers we know all too well. To the west, from the Salt Sea to the Great Sea, the Canaanites, Hethites, and Jebusites hold their cities with tenacity in the hill country, and toward more oh the Amorites have carved out a kingdom. Their cities are said to be even more fortified than those in the West, and their cruelty is infamous. They sacrificed their children to Molik, and they are but one of the depraved nations we would face. We even saw the Anakites. 00:19:24 Speaker 5: With our own eyes, giants. 00:19:27 Speaker 7: The descendants of the Nephelin themselves. 00:19:31 Speaker 1: The crowd gasped at that. Chamois scare tactics were working, and Caleb's blood was beginning to boil with each word. 00:19:39 Speaker 7: Yes, you remember them from our histories, horrible violent giants, standing almost twice as tall as our warriors. If I hadn't seen them with my own eyes, I would have thought the stories of their foul deeds to be an exaggeration to scare children. But no, they are, and they will surely kill us all if we should ever face them in battle. Listen to me, for I have seen the truth of the land. There is only death in Canaan. 00:20:14 Speaker 1: The crowd erupted in fearful chatter. Moses and Aaron exchanged looks of concern as the crowd began to unravel at Chamois's provocative words meant to stir up fear and rebellion, Kleb's anger pequed, and he found he couldn't stay silent any longer enough. 00:20:34 Speaker 3: I was there too. 00:20:36 Speaker 1: Kleb threw off Egirl's fist, which was now balled on the back of his cloak, and stepped forward to address Chamois and the crowd before him. 00:20:45 Speaker 3: I saw the Anarkites same as you, but I will not let it deter me from taking what has been promised to me. 00:20:52 Speaker 1: The crowd was utterly still at Kleb's words. Shamois was shaking in fury at being contradicted before the more. 00:21:01 Speaker 3: Let's go. Let's go now and take possession of the land, because we can surely conquer it. Where is your faith? Remember the promise and the one who made not. 00:21:13 Speaker 7: No, don't listen to him. I name him Trader. He would lead you to your debts. We can't take this land. The people are too strong, we'd be devoured. The Nephelim are giants. We are like grasshoppers before them. It's hopeless. Ask the other scouts. 00:21:31 Speaker 1: The other scouts rushed forward and added their voices to Chamois's negative report about the land. Joshua stood alone and silent as the crowds started to lament and complain. They even started hurling curses and insults towards Moses and Aaron in their frenzied fear. 00:21:49 Speaker 11: If only we had tied in the land of Egypt or the wildness cost we buried at SINAI. 00:21:56 Speaker 2: Are better off. 00:21:58 Speaker 7: I've seen what will happen, and I ask you this, Why would the Lord bring us here only to die at the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder to the enemies. We should go back to Egypt. Yes, we should appoint a new leader, one who will lead us back to Egypt as far away from Canaan as we can get. Moses will lead us to death if we stay with him. 00:22:24 Speaker 1: Caleb watched in helpless horror as the crowd fell into chaos. Moses and Aaron sank to their knees, then lay face down, lightly, crying out to the Lord for guidance. Caleb felt sick, as if trapped in a nightmare. Joshua staggered over and they both fell to their knees, tearing their clothes in grief. Lament was all they had left in the face of Israel's devastating failure. After all they'd endured, would they really turn their backs on the god who had rescued them from slavery, returned to the very chains he had broken. It was madness. Tears filled Joshua's eyes, mirroring Caleb's, and Caleb knew they shed the same desperate thought. Joshua pleaded with the frenzied crowd. 00:23:16 Speaker 5: Stop to stop. 00:23:17 Speaker 12: Are you even hearing yourselves? This land is incredible. It's better than we imagined. The Lord would not lie to us. He's bringing us to a land of milk and honey. He's not holding out on us. Listen, you fools. 00:23:31 Speaker 3: Don't revel against the Lord. 00:23:34 Speaker 11: Don't be afraid of the people in the land. The Lord has taken their protection, for he is with us. Don't be afraid of them, traders. Why do you want to see us all dead? Why do you hate Israel? 00:23:51 Speaker 1: The crowd had quieted at their words, but it was now muttering and fearful again, despite Caleb and joshuas please, Shamoa on them, a wild manic look in his eye, his fear forgotten for the moment, his wounded pride, seeking vengeance. Instead, Caleb and Joshua undermined him, and Caleb could see that he was now hell bent on turning this crowd against them. 00:24:16 Speaker 7: You are traders to turn against your own people. 00:24:21 Speaker 1: This inflamed the crowd and stoked their fear into rage. Caleb flinched as someone spat in his face. He blinked and wiped it away in time to see someone pick up a stone. He saw Shamois see it too. Shamouis stooped to pick up a stone himself. Caleb was horrified to see that many others in the first few rows of the crowd did the same. He wondered where his wife and children were. Were they about to witness his death. Caleb's heart broke as he turned to look at a pale and terrify Joshua. Loyal to the end, but he had gotten him into the situation. He knew the boy would f him, and now he would follow him into death. 00:25:07 Speaker 8: Joshua. 00:25:08 Speaker 1: Joshua tore his eyes from the looming men with stones to meet Kleb's now steady gaze. I'm sorry, Joshua nodded and then closed his eyes as he turned back to face the mob. Caleb did the same, and a blinding light erupted all around him. 00:25:32 Speaker 6: When my daughter was younger, she asked me if we could add a special prayer to our bedtime routine, a request simple and childlike. She wanted to ask God for snow. Now we live in Israel and snow is very rare, so naturally I hesitated. I started to explain to her that it wasn't in the cards, that the weather forecast showed no signs of snow, and that it just wasn't realistic. But this cute, innocent girl of mine, my daughter, she insisted, And who am I to tell her what God can and can't do? And so together we prayed. We asked the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the same God who parted the Red Sea, rained Mana from heaven and silenced lions to make it snow. And then it hit me, my daughter understood something that I had forgotten, that anything is possible with God. When my daughter prayed for snow against all odds, she wasn't relying on the weather forecast, she wasn't calculating the likelihood of a snowstorm. She trusted that God could do it. Seemed impossible, and isn't that the faith that we all need. In today's episode, we meet the twelve spies scouting the promised land. Ten of them returned with reports that paralyzed the people with fear. The cities were fortified, and there were giants in the land. We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, they said, and we looked the same to them. But Caleb, one of the two spies, who saw things differently, silenced the We should go up and take possession of the land, Caleb declared, for we can certainly do it. There are so many heroes in the Bible, heroes we've already met and those will meet in the year to come. And in this chapter the hero is Caleb. Even as the twelve spies began their mission, Caleb already had a son, said this was going to be a conflict against Moses and against God. Verse twenty two is really interesting. The New International Version and most English translations of the Bible say about the spies they went up through the Negiv and came to Revron, to Hebron. But that isn't an exact translation of the Hebrew. I'm going to read you the Hebrew words via Aluba Negev VI A Vox Adrevron. The exact translation says this, they went up through the Negev, and he came to Revron. He came to Hebron. In the same verse, they which is how traditionally it's translated, changes to he Ur. Sages noticed this, and they explained the he that this verse is talking about was Caleb. Caleb was deeply troubled by the Brewing conspiracy, and so he himself went to Hebron. He went to Hebron. Why will our sages say to pray at the tomb of the patriarchs who are buried in the cave of Machpelin, which is in Hebron. Caleb, as righteous as he was, knew that he needed God's help to avoid a disaster when the spies issued their report, and so he went to pray at the Holy ground in Hebron. As a reward for his righteousness, Caleb was given the portion of the Promised Land that included the city of Hebron, the burial ground bought by Abraham, which we still visit today here in the Holy Land to offer our most fervent prayers. But there's something else in Hebrew. In this story that I want to point out. In verse thirty one, Caleb forcibly called out, we should go up and take possession of the land, for we certainly can do it. But then the other spies shouted out in return, we can't attack those people. They are stronger than we are. They said that was bad enough, they were not showing faith that God would help them. But then there's more. Jewish tradition notes that the last words in this verse is me menu in Hebrew. That word can have two meanings. The first is then we are, meaning they are stronger than we are, and that's the simple meaning of this verse, that the inhabitants of the land are stronger than we are. But our sages point out that the other meaning of me menu is then he is. In this reading, the spies were saying that the inhabitants of the land were stronger than he is, meaning stronger than God is. This showed their utter lack of faith that God would fulfill his promise of the promised land, a faith that we see only in Joshua and this story's hero Caleb. There's one more teaching that I want to leave you with today, a teaching about one word, actually a word that holds tremendous power. It's the word. But when the spies returned with what the Bible tells us was a bad report, this is what they said. The land does flow with milk and honey, but the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. That little word, but it's so dangerous, isn't it. In Hebrew, the word is fis fs can mean butt, and it can also mean zero. Just one word, and everything, all the beauty, all the hope is reduced to nothing, to zero. The beginning of the verse says that the land is amazing, that it's a land flowing with milk and honey, and they should have just ended there instead, they said, but and then they went on to all the negativity. How often do we use that word in our lives? You did a good job today, But I trust God completely, But I know God is good. But but my friends, let me tell you there's hope, because there's always hope, because there's one time when the word but is powerful in the best possible way. Joshua, the other good spy who stood alongside Caleb, would later compose a prayer that the Jewish people still read today, and it's called fs Zuletto. And what he says is there is nothing but God, nothing but God. When we say there is nothing but God, suddenly all the fear of the doubt, not the obstacles, fade into the background, because anything is possible with God, even the impassable. 00:32:15 Speaker 1: You can listen to The Chosen People with Isle Eckstein ad free by downloading and subscribing to the prey dot Com app today. This Prey dog comproduction is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Gattina, Max Bard, Zach Shellabager and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, Edited by Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Bree Rosalie and Aaron Salvato. Special thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, Robin van Ettin, Kayleb Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller and the team at International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot com productions on the Prey dot com app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, please rate and leave a review.