An Encouraging Report

We resume our studies in Joshua at the point of the Israelite spies’ escape from Jericho with Rahab’s assistance. Following her advice, they go to an unnamed mountain and hide there for three days. During that time, the men sent by the king of Jericho complete their search of the area along the road to the Jordan and return to the city. Then the spies descend, cross the Jordan, and return to Israel’s camp.

Matthew Henry points out what the spies’ return must mean to the Israelites: “Their return in safety was itself an encouragement to Joshua, and a token for good.” The spies had gone into a hostile city. There they had been discovered by the vigilant king, but God had delivered them from danger by sending them a most unexpected ally. With her assistance, they had eluded a determined party of searchers. These facts surely take away some of the very natural fears that the Israelites are experiencing as battle looms. “He that so wonderfully protected their scouts would preserve their men of war, and cover their heads in the day of battle,” Henry writes.

But even more encouraging are the spies’ words: “ ‘Truly the LORD has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us.’ ” How unlike most of the spies Moses had sent into the land years earlier. Indeed, all of them (except Joshua and Caleb) became fainthearted because of the Canaanites. Their report to Moses revealed their lack of faith in God’s promises: “ ‘The people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large.… We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.… There we saw the giants … and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight’ ” (Num. 13:28–33). Like those earlier scouts, the spies sent by Joshua saw strong walls and mighty warriors. They may have even seen some of the giants. But they mention none of these things to Joshua. They are men of faith, who see in the Canaanites’ terror the fulfillment of the promise of God. “Had they been disposed to discourage the people, as the evil spies did that Moses sent, they might have told them what they had observed,” Henry writes. “But they were of another spirit, and, depending themselves upon the divine promise, they animated Joshua likewise.”