Sermons in Rosedale Network of Churches
Continuing a multi-year theme of hearing how God is at work in our churches, the 2025 Feature Beacon articles focus on preaching within Rosedale Network of Churches. Each article features a recent sermon by a Rosedale Network pastor. May we all be encouraged by the faithful teaching of God’s Word.
This morning, God’s people stand on the cusp of the Promised Land, and Israel’s wilderness wanderings could soon be at an end. But before God’s people enter the land, God commands Moses to send spies ahead. Moses directs the spies to prepare a report on these topics:
“…see what the land is, and whether the people who dwell in it are strong and weak, whether they are few or many, and whether the land that they dwell in is good or bad, and whether the cities they dwell in are camps or strongholds, and whether the land is rich or poor, and whether there are trees in it or not” (Num. 13:18-20a ESV).
The interesting question is: Why? Why is Moses interested in these things?
Our answer will depend upon whether we have lost the plot of Israel’s story. If we have lost the plot, then Moses’ directions sound like the kind of information that any general might desire, as he forms a battle plan. It will sound like Moses is strategizing about how to take the Promised Land through ordinary human warfare.
But what if the song from the Red Sea crossing still rings in our ears? What if we are already declaring that “the LORD is a warrior” who fights for His people (Ex. 15)? What if we have witnessed God defeat Egypt so that Hebrew slaves could plunder their masters without ever picking up a sword? What if we are convinced that God is on a mission to glorify Himself by accomplishing victory on behalf of His people: victory that they could never win for themselves?
In that case, the spies could come back with a hopeless report, and the conquest of the land would move forward undisrupted. The spies could declare: “The people of Canaan are enormous, numerous, and well-supplied—and they all live in fortresses!” Such a report would be no cause for alarm if Israel remembered God’s wondrous works. None of that would matter if God’s people trusted Him to glorify Himself according to His Word.
The God who led Israel into the Promised Land is none other than the God who leads us in Jesus Christ...
This is exactly the kind of report the spies deliver. But most of the spies have lost the plot. They despair, and the camp of Israel despairs with them. Among the spies, only Caleb and Joshua remember that Israel’s victory does not depend upon human strategy and strength, but upon the God who leads them.
Consider, again, our guiding question: Why? Why is Moses interested in these things?
Maybe the spies’ report never had anything to do with human military strategy. Maybe God wants His people to know exactly how big, strong, numerous, well-supplied, and secure their enemies are…because God is on a mission to reveal that He is greater, still. Maybe Moses intends for the spies to establish that, even when the enemy has every strategic advantage, if the enemy does not have God, his battle is already lost. Maybe, against the backdrop of this discouraging report, God’s people are supposed to recognize that God’s presence is the decisive thing and rejoice that God will glorify Himself, even and especially when we have no reason at all to hope in our own resources.
The God who led Israel into the Promised Land is none other than the God who leads us in Jesus Christ, and who dwells in the Church through the Holy Spirit. He spies out and reveals the hopeless inadequacy of our own resources, only to glorify Himself in our weakness. He accomplishes victory on our behalf, which we could never win for ourselves.
As you follow Christ in life, remember that He is the same LORD who drowned Pharaoh’s army in the sea, and who drove the Canaanites from the Promised Land. Remember His cross and resurrection. Follow boldly where He leads—even if it means a cross—because the God who leads you in Jesus Christ has defeated even death on your behalf.
Photo credit: Tissot, James. The Grapes of Canaan. Circa 1896-1902, The Jewish Museum, New York.
7 Responses
Interesting, and at times during the conquest of Canaan Israel’s enemies did destroy themselves, but most often there was physical combat. Was it just because a lack of understanding and trust in God? How are we to understand such things, given our nonviolent convictions? I don’t have a good answer!
I don’t have “nonviolent convictions,” brother. Historically, neither does our conference. Hear me out!
I understand the Bible in harmony with the Conservative Mennonite Statements of Theology & Practice. You’ll search those statements (along with the 1963 Confession and the Dordrecht Confession) in vain for the word “nonviolence”… or for any corresponding objection to violence-as-such. However, you’ll find bountiful and well-developed references to “biblical nonresistance,” which is a position that our stream of Anabaptism once sharply distinguished from the likes of “pacifism” and “nonviolence.”
It grinds my gears when people dismiss “nonresistance” because it “sounds passive” to them. The label “nonresistance” has always been meant to evoke Jesus’s marching orders to his disciples in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5). It anchors our practice directly to the specific instructions of Christ. It refers to a particular text, challenging us to find its significance in any given situation.
So, brother, you might not “have a good answer” — but it might not be a good question! Together with historic Anabaptism, I don’t see any need to reconcile biblical nonresistance with holy war because I see no contradiction between them! In any case, we obey God’s Word. Our marching orders are just as straightforward as Joshua’s were.
Enjoyed , clearly thoughtfully done. And insightful. I must visit your church sometime. If this is an example of your Biblical teachings. From Dayton now living in Elida Thanks for such a good read.
You are too kind, Timothy. Welcome to Elida! I’m also a relative newcomer, but I’ve found a warm reception at Pike Mennonite Church. I suspect that you would, too. Let’s connect! My number is (547) 903-1448. …your brother in Christ — Matt Cordella, the Pike Pastor.
Good thoughts. I had to pause on your question, “Why? Why is Moses interested in these things?” I considered for a moment that maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to send the spies in the first place. What was Moses’ motive? As we know, Moses was not perfect. Then I read 13.1-2 and got closer to the real plot. I think you identified it.
Your conclusion reassures me, Reuben! I’ve enjoyed preaching through Joshua these past few weeks… I wish that contemporary Anabaptists wouldn’t shy from these texts as we do. Old-timey Anabaptists didn’t seem to have much reservation about them! Anyhow, the study has been rewarding, and if it enriches anybody else, I’m doubly glad. Thanks for your comment.
Yes dear Brother we are so much like the children of Israel we soon forget Gods mighty power and might. The same Spirit that raised Jesus up from the dead we have access to that that same Spirit alive.