The Spies in the Wilderness

Jim and Bob learn about...

...The Spies in the Wilderness

(Puppets up)

Bob: Hey Jim! Are you ready to wrap up the long story of Moses?

Jim: (Angry) You LIED to me, Bob.

Bob: What?!

Jim: Read this! (Holds up piece of paper)

Bob: “February 25, 2015. The Aquarium in Giza, Egypt, is pleased to announce its inclusion of a Narwhal in its new exotic campaign.” (Sigh) Really.

Jim: THERE ARE NARWHALS IN EGYPT!!

Bob: Ok! I’m sorry! Now can we get to the story?

Jim: Fine. But you should probably do your research BEFORE you tell me stuff! You may be the Bible expert, but I’M-

Bob: -The Narwhal expert. I get it. Anyway, our story begins in Numbers 13. Like I told you yesterday, the Israelites had been wandering in the wilderness for several years. They had rebelled against God, so He forbade them from entering the Promised Land. Our story begins in verse 1.

Jim: Ah. The irony. Numbers 13:1. Three “Numbers” in a row. (Bob stares at him) Continue.

Bob: Verses 1-3 read: “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.” So Moses sent them from the Wilderness of Paran, according to the command of the LORD, all of them men who were heads of the children of Israel.”

Jim: (Superfast) Too many words, not enough explanations! (Normal) Boom! Said it before you could interrupt me!

Bob: These verses tell us that God told Moses to commission men to scout out the Promised Land. Twelve men were sent, one from each tribe.

Jim: Oh boy.

Bob: What?

Jim: TWELVE tribes? I’ll never remember them all!

Bob: Yes, you will. Because I happen to know a little song that can help you remember!

Jim: Really? Awesome! How does it go?

(To the tune of “The Twelve Months Song”)

♪ Reuben

Simeon

Levi

Judah

Dan and

Naphtali

Gad and

Asher

Issachar

Zebullin

Manasseh (and)

Benjamin

These are the Tribes of Israel! ♪

Bob: Those were the names of the tribes of Israel! Catchy, huh?

Jim: Oh! Ok, I getcha so far. So God told Moses to tell the spies to tell everyone else what they saw in the land God told them to go to. (Pause) That’s a lot of telling.

Bob: No kidding. So, the spies went into the Promised Land, and then returned later to give a report.

Jim: What did they say?

Bob: Numbers 13:27-28 tell us. They say, “Then they (that is the spies) told him (that’s Moses), and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there.” (Jim opens his mouth) Too many words, not enough explanations, right?

Jim: You are a mind-reader.

Bob: These verses are telling us what the spies said. The spies had gone into the land, and came back scared. They said that the land was flowing with milk and honey, but that the people there were too big and strong to beat.

Jim: What, were they giants?

Bob: Actually, that is very possible.

Jim: What in name of Jeremiah Acorny?!

Bob: The end of verse 28 reads: “Moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there.” Anak was in all probability a giant, or a mighty warrior. It is totally possible, even probable, that these people were giants.

Jim: Wow. These spies are cowards.

Bob: No, Jim. Two of them weren’t cowards. Two spies by the name of Joshua and Caleb weren’t scared of the giants.

Jim: Those are cool names. And they weren’t scared?

Bob: Nope. They wanted to march right into the Promised Land and take over.

Jim: What?! That’s crazy!

Bob: No, Jim. You’ve forgotten who was on their side.

Jim: (Thinks) A Narwhal?

Bob: Nope.

Jim: (Thinks some more) Teddy Roosevelt?

Bob: NO, Jim.

Jim: (Thinks even more) (Definite) Jimmy Buffet.

Bob: JIM!

Jim: I’m just kidding, Bob. I know the answer you’re looking for. You’re trying to say that Joshua and Caleb weren’t scared because they had God on their side.

Bob: Exactly! Joshua and Caleb trusted that God would protect them against the giants of the Promised Land.

Jim: Man. That would take a lot of faith.

Bob: Well, for Joshua and Caleb, yes, it would have. But God expects you and me...and everyone everywhere to have the same amount of trust. The Bible tells us about what God did-and still does-for His people. It tells us about God’s power. As such, we are expected to trust and obey Him.

Jim: Huh. That doesn’t seem too hard…

Bob: And if you believe in God, if you trust in His power, and if you follow His commands, He will protect and provide for you.

Jim: Wow. He is an amazing God, Bob.

Bob: That He is, Jim. (Looks around) Well, I think that’s all the time we have for today.

Jim: Thanks for telling me those stories, Bob.

Bob: Well, you’re welcome. But remember, these stories are true. Every one of them actually happened. The Bible will always tell the truth.

Jim: True that, Bob. True that.

Bob: So, (To kids as much as to Jim) What did you learn?

Jim: Well, I learned that God provides for His people, like He provided for Moses…

Bob: Right!

Jim: …And that God’s power is amazing and infinite, as proved by the plagues…

Bob: Right again!

Jim: …That we need to obey God in whatever He tells us, like Moses did at the Red Sea…

Bob: Exactly!

Jim: …And that we need to trust God, even if we think we know better, like Joshua and Caleb did.

Bob: Well done, Jim! If we trust God and obey His commands, He will take care of us with His awesome power. (Looks at phone) Man, is it (Whatever time it is) already? I gotta go!

Jim: Alright, me too. Bye Bob!

Bob: Bye!

END SKIT