Powerpoint Pictures: Fake moustache; Binoculars; Invisible Ink; Dark Glasses; Code Book; Fingerprint kit

Who might use the following things? [Fake moustache; Binoculars; Invisible Ink; Dark Glasses; Code Book; Fingerprint kit]

A spy.

After God forgave the people of Israel for worshipping the golden calf, the people (now divided into twelve family groups called tribes) travelled to the land of Canaan that God had promised them.

God told Moses to send some men to explore the land He was going to give them.  So Moses choose 12 men (one from each tribe) to spy out the land and report back what it was like – were the people living there strong or weak, were there lots of people or few people, was the soil good for farming, and what was the fruit found there like.

After 40 days of exploring the land, the 12 spies returned, bringing with them a bunch of grapes so big it took two men to carry it.  They told Moses and the people how great the land was.  However, 10 of the spies were scared of the people living in the land – they said the people were like giants compared to us, and their cities were big with high walls – they had forgotten what God is like and didn’t think that the people of Israel were strong enough to fight them.

“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.  But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” (Numbers 13:30-31)

The big question is: “Who will the people believe?”

Will they believe the 10 spies who said the enemy is too strong or will they believe Joshua and Caleb who believed that God would keep His promise and help them to defeat them?