Do I See Through a Lens or a Prism?

Sermon Notes from Number 13 & 14
6/5/10
by Rabbi Ken Alpren,
summary by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.



Numbers 14:8-9, “If ADONAI is pleased with us, then he will bring us into this land and will give it to us - a land flowing with milk and honey. Just don’t rebel against ADONAI. And don’t be afraid of the people living in the land - we’ll eat them up! Their defense has been taken away from them, and ADONAI is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”

The word “if” here is taken from the Hebrew “im” and means assuredly or a sure thing. Kalev and Y’hoshua knew that G-d was assuredly pleased with them and had given them the land. But the promise of the land was conditional; it was based upon the condition of choosing not to be in rebellion against Him.

Kalev and Y’hoshua had G-d vision; they based their perception of G-d and His promises on His word and their experience with Him. They had personally experienced deliverance from Egypt and been provided with manna and received water from the rock. Their vision was on Him and what He could do and promised to do rather than on the obstacle of going into a land where eyes without this perception said it was too hard and that they were as small as grasshoppers in the estimation of the current inhabitants.

What about the ten other spies? How did they see G-d and the situation?

Numbers 13:27-29, “We entered the land where you sent us, and indeed it does flow with milk and honey - here is the fruit! However, the people living in the land are fierce, and the cities are fortified and very large. Moreover, we saw the ‘Anakim there. Amalek lives in the area of the Negev; the Hitti, the Yvusi and the Emori live in the hills; and the Kena’ani live by the sea and alongside the Yarden.”

The Hebrew word translated to “however” in these verses is “ephas” meaning but or nevertheless. The remaining ten started out with what was positive about the land but negated their report by saying... nevertheless... and imparted fear into the hearts of the Israelites with the word of their report. They were looking through a prism of fear and the power of their words penetrated the hearts of the people.

Isaiah 51:12-13, “I, yes I, am the one who comforts you! Why are you afraid of a man, who must die; of a human being, who will wither like grass? You have forgotten ANONAI, your maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundation s of the earth. Instead, you are in constant fear all day because of the oppressor’s rage, as he prepares to destroy! But where is the oppressor’s rage?”

Do we have G-d’s view of adequacy and sufficiency or do we have fear? Our fear may be from looking through the prism of hate, envy, lust or as with the spies - unbelief. Due to their unbelief an entire generation was condemned to death in the desert and their going into the promised land delayed by 39 years!

Do I want to be found looking at obstacles or trusting Him? He expects us to remember how He has brought us thus far and He expects us to trust Him! Does G-d and His Spirit not affect our situations? Am I so unique that He would neglect me? NO! Let’s choose this week to rest in His faithfulness to us! Let’s remember His word and his promises and be steady, sure and stable in His grace.

Further Scriptures for meditation: Daniel 3:17, Exodus 14:13-14, 2Kings 6:16, 2Chron 32:7,8, Proverbs 18:21, 1Sam 14:6, 1John 4:4, 2Peter 1:4, 2Chron 20:6, 15 and 1Sam 17:47