How did God respond when Israel asked to send spies?
God condescended to Israel's request and permitted them to send spies, though it was not His original plan. He had commanded them to go in and take the land, promising to send hornets ahead and drive out the enemy. When they insisted on spying first, God said, 'All right, choose out 10 men, and let them go in.'
Les explains that God never intended for Israel to send spies into the Promised Land. When God said, 'Go in and take the land, and I'll send hornets ahead of you,' He promised to drive out the enemy and cleanse the land. But Israel could not take God at His word. They hedged and requested, 'Let us spy it out first.' In His goodness, God condescended to their request and said, 'All right, choose out 10 men, and let them go in.' Les calls this the biggest mistake Israel ever made. The 12 spies returned, and 10 gave a faithless report: 'We can't do it. We're as grasshoppers in their sight.' But God had said He would drive them out. Their problem was unbelief. Hebrews 3:15 warns, 'Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.' God was grieved with that generation for 40 years, and their carcasses fell in the wilderness, and they did not enter His rest because of their sin and idolatry.