Bible in a Year: Levitcus 26 - Numbers 13

Welcome back to our Bible in a Year journey! This week, we move from the final words of Leviticus into the Book of Numbers, where Israel transitions from receiving God’s laws to preparing for the Promised Land. But instead of stepping forward in faith, they fall into complaining, rebellion, and fear, leading to devastating consequences.

As we walk through this passage, we’ll see God’s blessings and warnings, Israel’s growing resistance, and a supernatural connection that reaches all the way back to Genesis 6. Let’s dive into 3 highlights we’ll be covering this week!

Overview of Major Highlights

1. Blessings, Curses, and Israel’s Holiness (Leviticus 26–27, Numbers 3–6)
   First, we see God give His people a choice—blessings for obedience or curses for rebellion. As Leviticus closes, God lays out the rewards of obedience and the consequences of rebellion. If Israel follows His commands, they will experience peace, provision, and protection. But if they turn away, they will face exile, oppression, and suffering. This sets the stage for their journey ahead.

2. Intro to Book of Numbers
   The next highlight we’ll cover is moving into Numbers. This book picks up after Israel’s time at Mount Sinai, detailing their journey toward the Promised Land. It is a book of transition, moving from God’s covenant laws in Leviticus to the reality of Israel’s struggles in the wilderness.

   Numbers records two censuses, the first to organize Israel’s army and the second to prepare the next generation to enter Canaan. Throughout the book, three major themes emerge: Israel’s repeated rebellion, as they complain about hardships and resist God’s leadership; God’s faithfulness, seen in His provision of manna, guidance by cloud and fire, and protection despite their disobedience; and preparation for the Promised Land, as God refines His people, raises up new leaders like Joshua, and ensures that only those who trust Him will inherit His promises.

3. he 12 Spies and the Crisis of Faith (Numbers 13)
   And for the final highlight we’ll look at the 12 spies being sent out. Israel’s biggest test is still to come—the moment they stand at the edge of the Promised Land. Moses sends 12 spies to scout out Canaan. They return confirming that the land is abundant and fruitful, but ten of them focus on the dangers—massive fortified cities and descendants of the Nephilim living there.

   Rather than believing in God’s power, fear overtakes the people. Only Joshua and Caleb stand firm in faith, trusting that God will give them victory. But Israel listens to the fearful report, leading to one of the greatest failures in their history. This moment is a defining point, not just for Israel but for understanding key themes that still apply to us today.

Key Themes

1. Obedience Brings Blessing, Rebellion Brings Judgment (Leviticus 26, Numbers 11-12)
   The first is Obedience Brings Blessing, Rebellion Brings Judgment. God’s covenant is clear—faithfulness leads to blessing, but disobedience leads to discipline. Israel’s journey is a constant back-and-forth between trusting God and turning away from Him. Their complaints and rebellion bring hardship, while obedience leads to provision. This same principle carries into the New Testament, where Jesus calls us to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7)."

2. Leadership and Rebellion (Numbers 12-13)
   The next key theme is Leadership and Rebellion. One of the biggest struggles Israel faces is accepting God’s chosen leadership—a theme that ultimately points to Christ. From Moses to Jesus, God’s chosen leaders are often rejected. Miriam and Aaron question Moses, much like how the religious leaders of Jesus’ time rejected Him. God establishes His authority through Moses, just as He later does through Christ.

3. Faith vs. Fear (Numbers 13)
   But at the core of their rebellion is something deeper—their fear. This leads to our 3rd key theme: Faith vs. Fear. The spies saw the same land, but they came back with two very different perspectives. Ten spies saw giants and obstacles; Caleb and Joshua saw God’s promises and provision.

   This moment teaches us that fear distorts reality. When we focus on our problems instead of God’s power, we miss out on what He has for us. This theme echoes throughout the Bible—from Peter sinking in the water (Matthew 14:30) to Paul reminding us to walk by faith. Trusting God often means moving forward before we see how everything will work out.

Supernatural Worldview

Now, let’s step into the supernatural worldview of what we’ll encounter—one that connects all the way back to Genesis. When the spies report that they saw descendants of the Nephilim in Canaan, this isn’t just an exaggeration. It connects to Genesis 6, where the ‘sons of God’ took human wives, producing a corrupted lineage. These beings were wiped out in the flood, but their presence persists in Canaan—specifically among Israel’s strongest enemies.

This isn’t just about physical strength—it’s about spiritual opposition. The nations in Canaan weren’t just random groups; they were part of a rebellion against God’s rule and the seed of the serpent out to destroy the seed of Adam leading to Jesus.

When Israel stood at the border of the land, their battle wasn’t just against human armies—it was a spiritual war, part of conflict that continues throughout Scripture. But as we’ll see later, God’s power always prevails, and His promises remain true despite opposition.

Closing Thoughts

This brings us to our closing thoughts—what can we take away from all of this? This week’s reading is packed with lessons about faith, obedience, and trust in God’s leadership. Israel’s fear kept them from stepping into the promise, but Caleb and Joshua remind us that faith moves forward even when the path looks uncertain.

As you read this week, ask yourself: Am I walking in faith or letting fear hold me back? If you have any questions, leave them in the comments or email me—I’d love to discuss them in our Q&A! See you next week!