“Lesson 66: Numbers 13–14,” Old Testament Seminary Student Material (2018)
“Lesson 66: Numbers 13–14”
Lesson 66
Numbers 13–14
Prepare to Learn
Prepare your mind and heart to be taught by the Holy Ghost. Diligently seek knowledge and understanding through careful study, reflection, and prayer. Then follow the impressions you receive through the Spirit.
Begin your study with prayer.
What do you do when you are faced with a challenge or trial?
President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018) shared what he learned about the seafaring people of Tahiti. Notice what makes them successful in spite of the challenges they face at sea. You can read the text for this video here: “They Pray and They Go,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2002, 49.
Defending Your Faith
Read the following rhyme, which was recited by President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018). (See “Dare to Stand Alone,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 61.)
“Dare to be a Mormon;
Dare to stand alone.
Dare to have a purpose firm;
Dare to make it known.”
1. List a few circumstances in which you might need to defend your faith or standards. What challenges might accompany the circumstances you listed?
The Land of Canaan
As you study Numbers 13–14, look for important lessons you can learn from Israelites who defended their faith and from Israelites who did not.
Numbers 13 explains that the Lord had brought the children of Israel through the wilderness to a place near the land that He had promised to give them if they were faithful to Him. The Israelites were sent to investigate the lands and the people who inhabited them.
Refer to the map, and trace the Israelites’ journey from Rameses (1) to Kadesh-barnea (12) near the land of Canaan.
“Send Thou Men”
According to Numbers 13:1–16, the Lord instructed Moses to select one member from each of the twelve tribes to carry out an important task.
Read Numbers 13:17–20, looking for what Moses commanded these men to do according to the Lord’s instruction.
The 12 Spies
Spies reporting to Moses
According to Numbers 13:21–26, the 12 spies spent 40 days investigating the land and then returned with their reports and the fruit they brought from the land. Ten spies gave one report, while the other two spies, Joshua and Caleb, gave a different report.
You can find their reports and the responses of the Israelites in the following scripture passages: Numbers 13:27–29, 31–33 (the report of the land and the people by 10 of the spies); Numbers 14:1–4 (the Israelites’ response to the report of the 10 spies); and Numbers 13:30; 14:6–9 (Joshua and Caleb’s report of the land and the people).
Quiz 1
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According to Numbers 13:27–28, how did 10 of the spies describe the land of Canaan? Select all that apply.
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The land was “flow[ing] with milk and honey.”
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There were walls around the cities.
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The land was dry and barren.
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How did the 10 spies describe the people of Canaan? (See Numbers 13:31–33.) Select all that apply.
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Their men were stronger than the Israelites.
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The people were small and weak.
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The people were “of a great stature.”
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The sons of Anak were “giants.”
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What feelings did the Israelites have when they heard the 10 spies’ report? (See Numbers 14:1–3.) Select all that apply.
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They did not want to go to the land of Canaan.
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They became terrified and fearful for their lives.
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They were excited and happy to live in Canaan.
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They would rather have died in Egypt.
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What did the Israelites suggest they do rather than follow Moses into the promised land? (See Numbers 14:3–4.) Select all that apply.
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Appoint a captain
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Build an ark
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Settle down in the wilderness
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Return to Egypt
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Joshua and Caleb
Read Numbers 13:30; 14:6–9, looking for Joshua and Caleb’s report of the land and the people.
According to verses 8–9, why do you think Joshua and Caleb were so sure that the Israelites would prevail?
What We Can Learn
Read Numbers 14:9 again. Why did Joshua and Caleb believe that Israel could overcome the people in Canaan?
What can we learn from Joshua and Caleb’s words and example?
Standing for Righteousness
One principle we can identify from Numbers 14:9 is that if we know the Lord is with us, we can overcome fear and more courageously stand for righteousness.
Think about times when you have chosen to defend your faith like Joshua and Caleb did.
Our Moral Courage
Consider the counsel of President Russell M. Nelson regarding choosing “to stand out, speak up, and be different from the people of the world.”
You can read the text for this video here: “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 40–41.
2. Answer one of the following questions:
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When have you felt that God was with you as you stood for righteousness?
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What actions can you take each day that can strengthen you for moments when you need to stand for righteousness?
Facing Challenging Circumstances
Read Numbers 14:10, looking for how the Israelites responded to Joshua and Caleb’s words recorded in verse 9.
“And the People Mourned Greatly”
As recorded in Numbers 14:11–39, the Lord told Moses that there would be consequences for the Israelites’ lack of faith and their choice not to follow the Lord and His servants. Of all the Israelites 20 years or older, only Joshua and Caleb would be blessed to enter the promised land.
Read Numbers 14:24, looking for words or phrases that describe why Caleb would enter the promised land. You may want to mark what you find.
Following the Lord Fully
From Numbers 14:24 we can identify the following principle: To receive all of the Lord’s blessings, we must choose to follow Him fully.
This principle is illustrated in Numbers 14:40–45. These verses explain that after the Lord declared that the Israelites would not enter the promised land at that time, some of them ignored His words. These Israelites set aside their earlier fears of the people who occupied the land of Canaan and went to battle against them. However, because the Lord was not with these rebellious Israelites, they were defeated.
How can we show the Lord that we will follow Him fully?
Keeping All the Commandments
President Russell M. Nelson helps us understand why we should follow the Lord fully.
“[You] will encounter people who pick which commandments they will keep and ignore others that they choose to break. I call this the cafeteria approach to obedience. This practice of picking and choosing will not work. It will lead to misery. To prepare to meet God, one keeps all of His commandments. It takes faith to obey them, and keeping His commandments will strengthen that faith” (Russell M. Nelson, “Face the Future with Faith,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 34).
What Can You Do?
The following truths were identified in this lesson:
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If we know the Lord is with us, we can overcome fear and more courageously stand for righteousness.
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To receive all of the Lord’s blessings, we must choose to follow Him fully.
Commit to act on the principles you have learned by standing for what is right and obeying all of God’s commandments.
Doctrinal Mastery: Daniel 2:44
This picture, Daniel Interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream (Gospel Art Book [2009], no. 24; see also lds.org/media-library), depicts the doctrinal mastery passage Daniel 2:44.
Read Daniel 2:44 and the following associated key statement of doctrine: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will eventually fill the earth and stand forever (Doctrinal Mastery Core Document [2018], 4.11).
Think of one way to remember Daniel 2:44 and the associated key statement of doctrine.
Answer Key
Quiz 1: (1) a, b; (2) a, c, d; (3) a, b, d; (4) a, d