Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” – Numbers 13:31

Today’s Scripture Reading (September 24, 2015): Numbers 13

Apparently the Beatles believe that music is meant to be enjoyed - and not analyzed. A story is told about the writing of the Beatles song “I am the Walrus,” and the genesis of the song was a letter that John Lennon received from a High School student whose teacher had assigned the class to analyze Beatles lyrics (maybe the student was hoping for a little help with his homework.) But Lennon’s response to the letter was to write a song that defied analysis –and that song was “I am the Walrus.” And suddenly the song makes sense – rather, it is nonsense.

I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together.
See how they run like pigs from a gun, see how they fly.
I'm crying.

Sitting on a cornflake, waiting for the van to come.
Corporation tee-shirt, stupid bloody Tuesday.
Man, you been a naughty boy, you let your face grow long.
I am the egg man, they are the egg men.
I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob.

                                                                        John Lennnon and Paul McCartney

(Personally I think the goo goo g’joob makes the song).

As Israel prepares to invade Canaan, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the analysis of the spies. Canaan is fortified; this is not a land that is ripe for invasion. In fact, it might be a little like Canada deciding to invade the United States, or Belarus deciding to invade Russia. Any decision to invade was simply incomprehensible – it defied analysis. So as Caleb speaks up among the people, and his words must have sounded a little like “goo goo g’joob.”

But underlying the words of Caleb that made no sense was a trust in the God of Israel. No, moving the nation of Israel into Canaan was not a rational response to the situation – but that didn’t really matter. If God said that this was the action that needed to be taken, then this is what needed to be attempted.

I am convinced that we play things too cautiously within the Christian Church. We are so afraid that we are going to fail that we don’t even attempt the things that God has placed in front of us. What is it that you are attempting for God that if God doesn’t move you will fail? If there is nothing on that list, then you are playing it too safe. Caleb was willing to attempt something that unless God moved, he would fail. But his trust was such that he could not conceive of not making the attempt. The results, well, they would have to be left up to God - Goo goo g’joob.  

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Numbers 14