Numbers 13-15 

Victorious Faith

Twelve princes of Israel spy out the Promised Land.  Trusting in their eyes, ten become terrified of the land’s inhabitants.  Trusting in their God, two become empowered to defeat the foe.  Ten place their fear of man above their fear of God.  Two place their fear of God above their fear of man.  Ten lead Israel to defeat.  Two eventually lead Israel to victory.  Which are we?  When God calls us to fight the giants in our own lives or in the world around us, do we quake or do we trust?  Do we claim the Land or run in fear?  LORD God, we pray to always seek Your Face and to trust You for victory. 

Sparkling Flashes of Beauty: The Meaning of Names

The beauty in Scripture is so extraordinary it can stun the mind.  Consider the meaning of the names of the men who spied out the Promised Land.  Highlighted below, the English translation of their names is placed in a sentence structure.  Take a moment to read it and ponder it. 

The Renowned One was judged as a dog.  He redeemed, bringing salvation to the troupe of God, His troupe.  He is the God of His people, concealed and cherished, the triumphant God.

Here are the names of the men, listed in Hebrew, with their English translations.  They are listed tribe by tribe as presented in the text: 

Reuben:  Shammua:  renowned

Shimon:  Shaphat: judged

Yehudah:  Calev: dog

Issachar:  Yigal: from Goel, thus God redeems

Ephraim:  Hoshea: salvation (changed to Yehoshua:  God is salvation)

Zebulun:  Gaddiel:  God is my troupe

Yosef:  Manasseh:  Gaddi, my troupe

Dan:  Ammiyel, my people is God

Asher:  Sethur: hidden, concealed

Naphtali:  Nachvi: hidden, cherished

Gad: Geuel: triumphant God

The men who trusted Adonai were Calev, judged “a dog” and Yehoshua, “God is salvation.”  Their names speak directly of Yeshua, for our Messiah was treated worse than a dog, and He brought us salvation.  The entire passage, therefore, speaks of our need to trust in Yeshua’s Saving Grace.  The true Promised Land is acquired through Him.  Only He defeats our enemies and opens the door to our Salvation.  Yehoshua led them into Israel, and Yeshua leads us into the fulfillment of the Promised Land.  But some people consider Yehoshua a better translation of “Jesus” than Yeshua:   a Sparkling Glimpse of Beauty.  Halleluiah!  Dear LORD, thank You that our salvation comes only through You.