have in mind?” He did not look comfortable mounted.
Caleb swung his leg off the donkey. Joshua dismounted and they walked together. “Here is how I see it, Joshua. We need to find out everything we can about Canaanite defenses, and you can’t do that by skirting around a city. You have to go inside and see what war machines they have, if any, how strong their walls are, where the weak points exist.”
“How does a farmer come to know anything about warfare?”
“I don’t know much, my friend, but I have learned to observe everything around me. We listen to the wind and watch the movement of the stars and passing of seasons. I think there may be more than one reason for each command the Lord gives us.”
Joshua tilted his head. “Go on.”
“We know God fights for us. He destroyed Egypt with the plagues and opened a sea to give us safe passage out of Egypt. We know He has promised to give us Canaan. But we continue to test Him. It seems part of our nature to rebel against the Lord. Who knows what tomorrow may bring, Joshua. But there may be more than one reason why God sends us to view the land and people.” Caleb smiled bleakly. “If we fail again, what will God have us do?” Or what would God do to them?
“We won’t fail.”
“I have faith in God, my friend, but little faith in men.”
They camped on the desolate southern edge of the wilderness of Zin. When they reached the dry mountain terrain of the Negev, Caleb thought it wise to split into smaller groups.
“We’re safer together.”
“Two men can move more quickly than twelve, and six groups will see more of Canaan than one.”
“There is that to consider.” Joshua’s face shone bronze in the firelight. “And another. If we come as one, we will draw attention to ourselves, and the Canaanites may view us as a threat. If we travel in pairs, we can melt in, mingle. Take note of everything you see. Join others traveling and listen. We will meet here and make the journey back together.”
Caleb had another idea. “Wherever you go, speak of what happened in Egypt. Spread the news that the Lord God of Israel overcame the gods of Egypt and delivered the Hebrews from slavery.”
The others spoke in protest. “We may be questioned by leaders if we do that.”
“The less we talk about what God did to Egypt the safer for us.”
Even Joshua looked troubled by Caleb’s suggestion. Caleb tried to reason with them. “God called for leaders from among the tribes of Israel. Men of courage! You are all younger than me, but where is the fire of youth? Didn’t you hear what Moses said? The Lord has given us the land already. Canaan is already ours. We are being sent merely to see and report to the people the great gift God has given us.”
“Do you really think we’ll just stroll into Canaan and the inhabitants will flee before us?”
“If they know the God who is with us, yes! With the Lord on our side, who will dare come against us? Let the Canaanites know what has befallen Egypt so that the fear of the Lord will fall upon them. Then they will run from us when Moses leads us into Canaan.”
Shaphat of Simeon stood. “A bold plan, Caleb.”
Shammua of Reuben shook his head. “A little too bold, in my opinion.”
“Should we not be bold? Look to the Lord who . . .”
“Look things over!” Palti of Benjamin said. “That’s what Moses said. That’s all he said.”
They ignored him.
Nahbi of Naphtali gave a grim laugh. “That’s all I plan to do.”
“What good if we get ourselves killed?” Ammiel of Dan wanted to know.
Joshua looked across the fire at Caleb. Caleb gave him a hard stare. Why do you say nothing? You, who have stood beside Moses. You, who have seen closer at hand than any of us the power of the Lord.
The others talked on around them. “No one has to die if we keep out of the cities and stay off the roads.”
“Stay low and listen,” Caleb said in disgust. “Be like a lizard in the dust.”
Shaphat’s
Caleb swung his leg off the donkey. Joshua dismounted and they walked together. “Here is how I see it, Joshua. We need to find out everything we can about Canaanite defenses, and you can’t do that by skirting around a city. You have to go inside and see what war machines they have, if any, how strong their walls are, where the weak points exist.”
“How does a farmer come to know anything about warfare?”
“I don’t know much, my friend, but I have learned to observe everything around me. We listen to the wind and watch the movement of the stars and passing of seasons. I think there may be more than one reason for each command the Lord gives us.”
Joshua tilted his head. “Go on.”
“We know God fights for us. He destroyed Egypt with the plagues and opened a sea to give us safe passage out of Egypt. We know He has promised to give us Canaan. But we continue to test Him. It seems part of our nature to rebel against the Lord. Who knows what tomorrow may bring, Joshua. But there may be more than one reason why God sends us to view the land and people.” Caleb smiled bleakly. “If we fail again, what will God have us do?” Or what would God do to them?
“We won’t fail.”
“I have faith in God, my friend, but little faith in men.”
They camped on the desolate southern edge of the wilderness of Zin. When they reached the dry mountain terrain of the Negev, Caleb thought it wise to split into smaller groups.
“We’re safer together.”
“Two men can move more quickly than twelve, and six groups will see more of Canaan than one.”
“There is that to consider.” Joshua’s face shone bronze in the firelight. “And another. If we come as one, we will draw attention to ourselves, and the Canaanites may view us as a threat. If we travel in pairs, we can melt in, mingle. Take note of everything you see. Join others traveling and listen. We will meet here and make the journey back together.”
Caleb had another idea. “Wherever you go, speak of what happened in Egypt. Spread the news that the Lord God of Israel overcame the gods of Egypt and delivered the Hebrews from slavery.”
The others spoke in protest. “We may be questioned by leaders if we do that.”
“The less we talk about what God did to Egypt the safer for us.”
Even Joshua looked troubled by Caleb’s suggestion. Caleb tried to reason with them. “God called for leaders from among the tribes of Israel. Men of courage! You are all younger than me, but where is the fire of youth? Didn’t you hear what Moses said? The Lord has given us the land already. Canaan is already ours. We are being sent merely to see and report to the people the great gift God has given us.”
“Do you really think we’ll just stroll into Canaan and the inhabitants will flee before us?”
“If they know the God who is with us, yes! With the Lord on our side, who will dare come against us? Let the Canaanites know what has befallen Egypt so that the fear of the Lord will fall upon them. Then they will run from us when Moses leads us into Canaan.”
Shaphat of Simeon stood. “A bold plan, Caleb.”
Shammua of Reuben shook his head. “A little too bold, in my opinion.”
“Should we not be bold? Look to the Lord who . . .”
“Look things over!” Palti of Benjamin said. “That’s what Moses said. That’s all he said.”
They ignored him.
Nahbi of Naphtali gave a grim laugh. “That’s all I plan to do.”
“What good if we get ourselves killed?” Ammiel of Dan wanted to know.
Joshua looked across the fire at Caleb. Caleb gave him a hard stare. Why do you say nothing? You, who have stood beside Moses. You, who have seen closer at hand than any of us the power of the Lord.
The others talked on around them. “No one has to die if we keep out of the cities and stay off the roads.”
“Stay low and listen,” Caleb said in disgust. “Be like a lizard in the dust.”
Shaphat’s
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