Exodus

Looking from the inside

Something said by the character Atticus Finch in the book ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ has always stayed with me since reading it as a teenager. He said:

That’s pretty good advice to help us get a better perspective just in our normal day to day lives, but when I’m reading the Bible, I particularly like the idea of ‘climbing into the skin’ of those I’m reading about in the stories. I like to immerse myself in their human experience to try and understand why they did what they did. I try to imagine what it might have been like to live during those times, to experience what they did, and how it might have felt for them in those situations.

Most recently my bible reading has found me exploring the account of the exodus of Israel, around the point where they sent out the 12 spies into the promised land. You know how you can read something in the bible that you’ve read before but somehow, something new suddenly jumps out at you? Well, there were so many new things for me that my mind has been abuzz with it all ever since, so I thought I’d share some of it with you.

The spies go forth

Have you noticed how we usually refer to those 12 men as 12 spies? These days that conjures ideas of espionage and cold wars, so it implies something furtive, or covert, or deeds done under cover of darkness. But really, they were just 12 scouts sent ahead to check things out.

When I looked up ‘spies’ in Strong’s Concordance, I found there were actually two Hebrew words. The difference between them, as far as I could see, related to intent and perspective. In Num 13:2 where God tells Moses to send out the men, the word used is actually the same word used by King Solomon when he spoke about searching out a matter in Ecclesiastes. It suggests looking around to get a feel for things with a positive outlook that is non-threatening; without agenda, or military or political objective. It suggests exploring things deeply, to draw out the richness and value. In contrast, the other word is more in keeping with our modern stereotype of espionage and cunning, and is used repeatedly in the story of Rahab hiding the spies sent ahead by Joshua.

The choice of word matters, because that word is a point of reference that orientates our own view. If we think of them more as scouts rather than spies, then it’s easier to perceive God’s intention in sending them was probably more because He was like an excited parent on Christmas Eve, joyfully anticipating His children’s delight at what he was providing for them, and looking forward to seeing their faces as they examined each gift. Like a loving parent, he had had to keep the Israelites in line, and keep them going during their travels, because he was looking ahead to the promising future. And like many children, they whined and complained and sulked about what was going on because they were focused on the now.

Sending the scouts was probably his conciliation to the people. God didn’t need the scouts to be assessing the strengths or weaknesses of an enemy, because they didn’t need to devise a strategy for overcoming anyone. He’d already figured all that out in advance for them, and would have told them what needed to happen at each step along the way as they needed it, just as he had already been doing.

Reconnaissance

I’ve generally thought of reconnaissance as a pretty short-term thing, so when I read about the 12 scouts being sent to reconnoiter the promised land, I’m sub-consciously thinking that they’d only be gone a few days – a week or two at most. On this reading though, I was surprised to note that they were actually gone for 40 days. That’s more than a month, and even allowing for the fact that they were on foot, it’s not exactly a short time.

Moses had instructed them on what areas to check out, and what to look for whilst they were there (Num 13:17-20), but no instruction was given about how long they should be gone. I’m thinking that after over a year of eating manna every day, the scouts might have enjoyed not having to eat it, even if just for a while. And maybe they were also enjoying their first taste of real liberty, so they decided to make the most of the adventure and break from normal routine. Who would blame them if maybe they lingered longer than may have been absolutely necessary?

It must have been quite a wondrous experience for the scouts – kind of like kids these days the first time they visit the Royal Show. They wander around with eyes wide and mouths agape as they take in all the new and exciting sights and sounds and smells. I can imagine how their eyes might have grown wide when they first laid eyes on those massive bunches of grapes. How mind-blowing might it have been for them to see such a thing and then try to comprehend that this was what God intended to be their new normal?

Meanwhile, back at the camp

Meanwhile, back at the camp, I wonder what the murmurings were amongst the people? Human nature hasn’t really changed, so you can probably imagine what it might be like if such a large group of people were left waiting around for 40 days while an advance party went ahead to check things out first. With zero communications, people’s imaginations would have run wild as they conjectured and speculated on the fate of the scouts and the outcome of their journey.

On the whole, their track record thus far was not the best when it came to trusting God. Any apparent obedience was more likely motivated by fear of the consequences for not obeying, rather than a genuinely free choice borne of trust. Considering the years of abuse at their Egyptian master’s hands, it’s not surprising if their default setting was fear. So what kind of rumours might have been flying about? How likely is it that the camp was already divided in their views as to what might have happened? How many people were already feeling fearful of the future, and therefore imagining the worst? Wouldn’t that have psychologically primed them to accept the negative reports when they were shared?

The Scouts Return

Twelve men went into the promised land – the land that had already been promised to them. All twelve saw exactly how good it was, and all twelve reported back to Israel the marvels it held.

But ten of them went on to say how they felt it was impossible for them to possess the land. The land they had already been given. That means over 80% of the reports the people of Israel heard from the scouts suggested it was definitely worthwhile, but that it couldn’t be done. Even after all the signs and wonders; after all the battles and difficulties they had already experienced in leaving Egypt to reach the point of being ready to go in and possess the land, and even though they had come through victorious each time because of God, they were afraid. In the end, they listened to the ten and their message of fear, and subsequently spent the next 40 years (40 years!!) wandering around in the desert because of it.

The period of wandering was 40 years because God declared Israel would spend one year for every day that the scouts had been in the promised land. True story. Bet the scouts wished they hadn’t been gone so long. (Num 14:34).

The Two

Something that spoke to me, though, was thinking about things from the perspective of the two. Like the other scouts, they’d seen the wonders of the promised land, but unlike the others, they’d come back with attitudes fuelled by faith that said “We can take ’em!” And yet they’d had to stand there while the other 10 told their tales of fear and faithlessness.

So let’s get into their skin and walk around in it a bit. You and the other scouts have just returned from an amazing adventure where you saw how true the promise of plenty was. You’ve seen the plagues in Egypt. You were there at the first Passover, and heard the wailing of Egyptian mothers grieving over their dead firstborn. You saw the pleading look of fear in their eyes as they watched you leave. You’ve seen the sea part, watched water come from a rock, won battles with possibly little to no military training, and spent over a year schlepping through the wilderness. You’ve seen God come through for you over and over and over. You’ve found out what it’s like to have God as your just ruler and protector; someone that wants your cooperative participation because he loves you, rather than a Pharaoh that uses his power to force you to do his will.

And after all that, you have no doubt that God will honour his word, and will do as he said he would. If he tells you that he’s giving you a great place to live, then not only do you believe Him, but you fully expect it to happen because you trust him, and have literally just checked it out and witnessed for yourself the truth of it.

But here are these ten men, who left Egypt with you and witnessed miracles with you and saw God come through for you over and over, and yet there they are telling everyone it can’t be done. Here you all are on the brink of finally possessing what was promised, and ten men are exerting their influence over the assembled crowd. Speaking supposition as fact, they persuade the people not to move forward.

You are doing your best to speak up over these men, to be heard because you are so firmly convinced of God’s plans for good. You are looking forward to the future with hope, so you earnestly encourage the people to believe because you can see a life of prosperity within their grasp. Your desperation to convince the people mounts, but with a sinking heart, you can see how things are going. You might be forgiven for feeling a bit discouraged.

Mob mentality

I’m sure you can imagine the dynamics of such a crowd. They become like a mob, willing to listen and follow whomever shouts the loudest. If one group is louder than another, they will tend to shout down anyone that raises their voice in opposition, even if the point being made is relevant and accurate. And once being persuaded, people are inclined to dismiss any other view.

I can imagine the desperation of the two to be heard, and their frustration at being shouted down or spoken over the top of. And I can only imagine the crushing disappointment, not only at not being able to make themselves heard, but seeing their nation – their families and loved ones – being on the brink of fulfilling the purpose of their journey, only to see it be snatched away at the moment of fulfilment. For 40 years.

How hurtful is it to know you genuinely have something of value to share, only to be spoken over the top of as though you aren’t even there? And how frustrating is it when you quite literally cannot get a word in because you are courteous and respectful, even if others are not? And then, by the time there finally is a break in the conversation and you could get a word in, either the moment has passed and your comments would now seem irrelevant, or your contribution is dismissed because people have already made up their minds and it’s too late to influence anyone positively.

I could relate to them, and maybe so can you. It’s hurtful if we feel no one is hearing us, because it makes us feel insignificant – as though we are so unimportant, or hold so little value to others that we’re not even worth spending the few moments it might take to listen. And if that’s how poorly it feels for us, how much worse would it be for God? He is always trying to communicate with us because he loves us and wants the best for us. How heartbreaking must it be for him when we don’t, or won’t, listen? And yet he still has the kindness and fortitude to keep loving us and extending us grace.

Forty years

Having had to rely on God’s kindness and faithfulness thus far, how is it the people now decided he couldn’t be trusted to take care of them and their children in the future? It must have been very hurtful for God. Considering the lengths he had gone to just to get them to this point, and having had to contend with their frequent murmurings and complaints, he had still brought them through. To have them then turn around and say “yeah-nah, we’re not doing it” – that’s quite a slap in the face.

Caleb & Joshua (the two) had done things right. They had been right in their positive assessment of the promised land and Israel’s capacity to possess it, but even though they had no part in Israel’s choice to accept the bad reports of the ten, they still had to wear the consequences of that choice. For 40 years. Forty years of injustice at the hands of their kinsmen. To put it bluntly, that would suck.

It was only once the 40-year sentence had been handed down, that suddenly some of the people felt inspired to go ahead with the move into the promised land. One night they’re all ready to stone Joshua & Caleb, weeping as though their destruction upon entering the promised land was a certainty, whining (again) about their supposed fate, and plotting (again) to oust Moses & Aaron. Then the next, they are so filled with remorse that some of them decide they are now ready to leave.

Bee in a bottle

Once upon a time, when I was a child, I caught a bee in a glass jar. Fascinated, I watched him buzz around in there for a while before I decided to release him. Between making the decision to free him and actually moving to do so though, I changed my mind. Instead, I continued to observe him until the gentle compassion of childhood kicked in. Even as a child I could see he was frantic to escape, so I decided, again, to let him go.

This time, I twisted the lid of the jar loose and was just beginning to lift it when two things happened simultaneously. The clever bee saw his chance at freedom and was making his escape, when in a moment of childish petulance, I hesitated because I had changed my mind again. I quickly jammed the lid back down, but in the process I decapitated him. I was instantly filled with remorse, because my intention had been to only observe for a time before releasing him. I felt bad, because my indecision had cost that bee his life. It was my fault; and there was nothing I could do to make it better because it couldn’t be undone.

I suspect the reason those few Israelites changed their mind was not because they’d had a sudden infusion of faith, but simply because they were faced with an unpleasant 40-year consequence. But the bee was out of the bottle. No amount of remorse could undo the damage. The Israelites had had an appropriate moment to decide whether or not to accept the generous gift they were being given, and they blew it. Any attempt to proceed with the plan after that was pointless, because it was too late. They couldn’t make it better, and it couldn’t be undone.

Deliverance

Having struggled under the burdens of slavery for so long, it’s understandable that the people longed for deliverance from their suffering. But what was it they imagined deliverance from slavery would mean? Did they just expect deliverance to mean a cessation of forced labour? Were they just hoping to stay where they were because Egypt was where they felt comfortable? Were they hoping for a political change in policy that would reinstate power over themselves and restore their right to make money? Had they imagined, even for a minute, that deliverance might mean uprooting their entire lives? How much of their struggle, once they were freed, was because their new reality did not align with what they had imagined?

Something else to consider is that even if your days are filled with hard labour and harsh taskmasters, over time a part of you adjusts and adapts to it. It simply becomes what’s normal, and you learn to live your life around it because you become conditioned to the abuse.

It’s probably easy for us to accept their deliverance, because most of us have lived free all our lives. But if you’ve had someone controlling you for a long period of time, even though you may groan under the strain of it, there will also be a small part of you that finds a strange comfort in it as well. If you are free, you can make your own decisions, you can come and go as you please, and you mostly live life on your own terms. But freedom comes at a price, because it requires a degree of responsibility and accountability.

However, if you have been controlled over a long period, someone else has taken that responsibility for you. You might be the one doing the work, but they will have the power. And although a part of you may rail against the burdens of oppression, another part of you will find comfort in it, and come to rely upon it because it relieves you of being responsible for yourself.

That makes me wonder if it wasn’t just a fear of the ‘giants’ they thought they might have to face, but more a fear of actually possessing what had been promised? Psychologically, they’d experienced a massive shift when they left Egypt. They’d had to adjust to life on the move, and when they reached the promised land, there was going to be another huge adjustment. If they were still adapting to the initial culture shock of leaving Egypt with it’s harsh taskmasters, what’s to say that the prospect of even more freedom and plenty in the land of promise was just too scary?

The bad report of those ten spies gave them all an out; an excuse not to do what was frightening. They might have deceptively convinced themselves they were making a wise choice, but really, weren’t they just being afraid? Because the thing is, God was not just offering them relief from poverty and abusive servitude. He was offering them true liberty and prosperity.