READ: NUMBERS 13:17-33 TEXT: v30 LET US GO UP AT ONCE
And Caleb stilled the people
before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we
are well able to overcome it.
Context: Moses sent out 12 spies (1/12 tribes) to spy out the land/Canaan a.k.a. the Promised Land (v17)
A fact finding mission (v18-20)
Which they did (v21-25) bringing home after 40 days away, a huge cluster of grapes (v24)
The report was certainly sweet/sour
It was certainly a land to be desired as previously reported (v27)
Nevertheless there were certain problems (v28-29)
At this stage… nothing wrong with what has been actually said
Even the bit re: the problems does not in itself denote anything wrong
Honest reports are seldom 100% pleasing in all quarters
The people were strong…the cities were excessively fortified etc.,
However, there might have been something in the tone/voice or maybe the
people listening were fearing the worse, for Caleb (1/12) had to still
the folk - word means he had to silence them - and he urged the
people to go up immediately and possess the land, arguing that they
were well able to take it
His words, however, were lost. 10/12 spies disagreed, arguing that they would surely go to their death (v31-34)
Unfortunately the people took their word for it and spoke of returning to Egypt (14:1-4)
This led to severe judgement from God
That whole generation perished during the 40 years which Israel were left to wander in the wilderness
Only when the last/rebels died, were Joshua/Caleb (2/12) and the next generation enter into Canaan
This all is full of spiritual teaching
4 thoughts which will develop these spiritual truths
1) THE BASIC COMMAND TO GO UP TO THE PROMISED LAND:
Let us go up…
A/ The Promised Land is often taken to represent many things
Sometimes to represent Heaven ("When I cross/vale of Jordan…")
Best taken to represent entering into the Christian life
Left Egypt (World/Sin etc.,) and now to enter into the place of blessing, where there would be many conflicts but ult. victory
We will take it that way in this message
B/ It is always a going up in this matter/salvation
Just as Caleb spoke geographically, the Bible so speaks spiritually
The sinner is always found in a low place
Most graphic: Fearsome and horrible pit (Psalm 40)
Again/pictured in Jonah running away from God
Interesting to read Jonah 1 of the times Jonah went down:
Joppa (v3) Sides/ship (v5) Went down/sea (v15) Belly/fish (v17)
Sin always take men down: Spiritually/Morally often socially and
financially (Cp Prodigal Son) and ultimately down to hell itself
Solomon's warning about the strange woman also alludes to it:
For she hath cast down many wounded:
yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to
hell, going down to the chambers of death. (7:26-27)
There are no exceptions to this rule
Suppose the sinner does prosper so many ways by remaining on in his sins
He does not suffer morally perhaps, nor decline materially or
socially…indeed: He gains ground here which he might not have
done otherwise Truth: He goes down at the last
His earthly standing cannot keep him out of hell
He has no covering for those sins for he has refused the only remedy/cleansing i.e. the precious blood of Jesus Christ
Those unpardoned sins cling leech-like to his soul, entering into the very fibre/soul and plunging him into the ultimate depth
i.e. into the bottomless pit/hell itself
C/ Salvation is therefore a going up
The Psalmist who had been in/horrible pit was taken up from it
Salvation/described: lifted/heavenlies in Christ (Ephesians 1:20)
No longer beggars/dunghill…but elevated: priests/kings unto God
No longer wretched infants cast out/loathing of our
persons…but elevated to be heirs/God and joint/heirs of Jesus
Christ
D/ We invite sinners to go up
Why languish in sin? Why abide under wrath? Why go down?
Here is your chance to go up and enjoy benefits/salvation
Elevated to a new heart/new desires after holiness etc.,
2) THE PERMANENT RESULT OF GOING UP: THE PROMISED LAND:
Let us go up...and possess it
A/ Life changing event. Life changing to leave the bondage/Egypt
Life changing to go with God into the wilderness and be led by the fire/cloud and have your needs supernaturally met
Now going to be life changing to move into Promised Land, fight with
and drive out the Canaanites and glorify God by living according to His
law in Canaan
B/ Life changing to forsake sin - to cast your all upon the shed
blood and finished work/Christ and to trust Him to meet your every spiritual (and other) needs
When I got saved, I knew things would never be the same again
I knew: Christianity was not a mere interest to pass a Sunday
I knew: I was taking a life long possession with all this entailed
I intended to be a Christian 12 months later, 5 years later etc.,
I was aware of that. It meant that in 1978 and it means it now
Both Caleb and the Doubters knew this was a permanent fixture
That is why the original inhabitants had to be removed
There would be no token, temporary presence in the land
They could've worked out some arrangement with the locals if so
That's why in Joshua 2, Jericho was like Fort Knox
The Canaanites knew it too i.e. these people are here to stay
That's why they fought so bitterly to the very end
Bible Christianity is a life changing, life long experience
Conversion described as a dying/world and a living to Jesus Christ
Described as a new birth - possession of eternal life
C/ The Devil knows it too
This is why he tries to pluck away to good seed etc.,
Would not be done for 4 week wonders
This is why Bible is full/permanent warnings to God's people
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know
these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error
of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. (2 Peter 3:17)
Why is this? Because we are expected to finish the course with joy and keep the faith like Paul did "Faithful unto death"
It is a possession - It's permanent
D/ Sinners know it too
If salvation were a temporary thing - everyone would flock to experience it and could sit it out for the short while
Sinners resist it because they are not willing to forgo their sins
forever - they love their sins too much to see them killed off
3) THE SOLID REASONING TO GO UP TO THE PROMISED LAND:
We are well able to overcome it
A/ Caleb: Not arguing they could do so in their own strength
In their own strength…every reason to be afraid
Sinner cannot either save himself or even convert himself
Sinner is dead/trespasses and in sins (Ephesians 2:1)
Jesus said (x2) that men cannot come except they are drawn
(John 6:44/John 6:65)
Nothing physical (especially on God's part) keeping them back
The sinner chains himself by his own wicked heart and stubborn will from coming. He resists the grace/God and loves/own sin
Left to himself…the sinner will perish in his own wickedness
B/ But they can come by the grace/God and they have come
Every last sinner is to be encouraged to believe he can so come
Not for us to keep any sinner back/discourage him on this matter
Caleb did not do so with the COI
His preaching here is indiscriminate - He is preaching to many who
ultimately failed to enter in - but that didn't limit his appeal
C/ Yes…there is a point/preaching when we must bring almost to the point/despair
We remind him of what he is and what he has done and what he faces and what he cannot do
THEN…we preach what Christ has done and made possible for sinners to do
Not only can the sinner overcome every obstacle in his way to salvation, but, through Christ, he is well able to overcome it
This is because Jesus Christ is Mighty/Save (Isaiah 63:1) and able to save/uttermost (Hebrews 7:25)
This is because saving grace is sovereign grace
There is no reason/sinner to hold back and not be saved
Jesus Christ can meet every objection
There are no reasons - plenty of silly excuses- but no reasons
4) THE URGENT NEED TO GO UP TO THE PROMISED LAND:
Let us go up at once…
A/ A rebellion was fermenting - Time/essence before it worsened
By the next morning (14:1-2) people were murmuring and talking of going back, not upward and forward into the Promised Land
Time is of the essence
B/ Salvation should never be delayed - once its great truth is grasped - because serious impressions may be lost
The heart is so wicked - the Devil so malicious - the world so unfriendly/seducing - that many who delay never get saved at all
Only by longsuffering mercy/God that previous impressions return
So: Now…the accepted time etc., (2 Corinthians 6:2/Isaiah 55:6)
C/ Fearful words found in Proverbs 1:24-30 demonstrated here
When the rebels learned of the punishment (14:27-37) they decided to go with the idea of going up (v39-40)
But God had withdrawn his offer (v41) and they went up but did not succeed (v44-45)
Appeal
THE END