Numbers 13:1–3
1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.
3 And Moses by the commandment of the Lord sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel.
Biblical Insight
This mission was not instigated by Moses or any other Israelites leadership; this operation was commanded by God. The characteristics and identities of the twelve spies also were very important. Not just any twelve men could go. God commanded each one be a ruler (verse 2), also translated “chief” (ESV) or “leader” (NKJV). As leaders these men had authoritative status and cultural influence; their responses would help sway public thought. Moreover, they were representatives of the people; their responses would be in part illustrative of general Israelite opinion.
Daily Devotion
Cranberries and cranberry sauce were once considered a staple food in the eastern states and a delicacy in the western states. Today cranberries and cranberry sauce have almost disappeared from American cuisine, aside from Thanksgiving. This change is due to “The Great Cranberry Scare of 1959.”
Seventeen days before Thanksgiving in 1959, Cabinet Member Arthur Fleming warned that cranberries could be contaminated with an herbicide that caused cancer in rats. Immediately, supermarkets took cranberries off their shelves, governors banned the sale of cranberries, and newspaper headlines decried even touching cranberries.
When the cranberry industry fought back, it was revealed that cranberries had not been tested before Secretary Fleming linked cranberries to cancer. By Thanksgiving shoppers could buy cranberries, but the damage was done. The words from one leader ignited the cranberry scare that wiped out hundreds of small growers, laid off workers, and changed the way American cuisine culture views the small, tart berries decades later.
In a much different realm, think about the power of your speech. Your words have influence in the lives of those you lead. What legacy will your words leave in their lives? What can you do this week to make a positive impact?