Joshua and Caleb: Obedient Spies
Numbers 11–14; 20–24; 27
As the Israelites traveled in the wilderness, Moses grew weary of their murmuring and sought help from the Lord. As a result, the Lord chose 70 leaders to help Moses govern Israel. Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses, and the Lord chastised them for speaking against His chosen servant. Moses sent 12 spies to scout the land of Canaan and bring back a report; only two of them, Caleb and Joshua, had faith that the Lord could help them successfully conquer the land as He had promised. In response, the Lord declared that the children of Israel would wander the wilderness until all the adults besides Caleb and Joshua had passed away. The Lord sent poisonous serpents to afflict the Israelites, who continued to murmur in the wilderness. He commanded Moses to raise a brass serpent on a pole. Those who looked at the brass serpent, which symbolized Jesus Christ, were healed.
Additional Resources
Scripture Helps: Old Testament, “Numbers 11–14; 20–24; 27”
Note: The “Introduction to the Course” provides guidance on how to use the standard lesson elements that follow.
Encouraging Personal Study
Before class, consider sending students one or more of the following messages or some of your own:
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While studying Numbers 11–12 and 27:1–7, reflect on the differences between personal revelation and revelation from the Lord’s prophets. Why are both important?
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How would your life be different if you always trusted the Savior to help you? Ponder how you can have more faith in Him as you study Numbers 13–14.
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As you study Numbers 21:4–9, think about how looking to the Savior can help when you are hurt or in need of healing.
Questions and Sharing
Provide time for students to ask questions and share insights and truths they discovered in their personal study of Numbers 11–14; 20–24; 27.
Skill Training
The learning activity for Numbers 21:4–9 might be helpful place to use the skill “Linking Scriptures” in Scripture Study Skills.
Learning Activity Options
Multiple learning options are provided for you and your students. Prayerfully choose which option or options will be most meaningful for your class. You could also seek input from your students.
Improving Our Teaching and Learning
Bear testimony often, and invite learners to share their feelings, experiences, and testimonies. As students share their feelings, experiences, and testimonies, the Holy Ghost will bear witness of the truth of what they are saying. To learn more about the power of sharing testimony, see “The Savior Bore Testimony to Those He Taught” (Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 19).
Why do I need both personal revelation and revelation from the Lord’s prophets?
Consider sharing the following scenario and discussing the accompanying questions:
Rachel has been struggling lately with some of the teachings of Church leaders. She is confident that she can receive personal revelation for the decisions and questions she has. Because of this, she wonders why guidance from prophets is important.
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What might Rachel need to understand about personal revelation?
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What might Rachel need to understand about why God calls prophets?
During this learning activity, encourage students to think about how God communicates with them through personal revelation as well as through the words of His prophets.
Explain that after a year of traveling through the wilderness, the Israelites complained to Moses after they became tired of eating manna. Moses grew weary of their murmuring and sought the Lord’s help. As a result, the Lord chose 70 leaders to help Moses govern Israel (see Numbers 11:1–17).
Invite the students to read Numbers 11:24–29, looking for what happened after Moses selected the 70 elders. You might also consider asking:
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What do you think Moses meant when he said he wished “that all the Lord’s people were prophets”? (Numbers 11:29).
Point out that Moses was not saying that he wanted every person to lead and receive revelation for the camp of Israel. Rather, he likely was expressing a desire that his people would live worthy to receive revelation for their own lives (see “Numbers 11:24–29; 12:1–15. What did Moses mean when he said he wished that all the Lord’s people were prophets?” in Scripture Helps: Old Testament).
To help students better understand the need to be guided by both prophetic and personal revelation, consider sharing the following statement by Elder Dale G. Renlund:
Like airplane pilots, we need to understand the framework within which the Holy Ghost functions to provide personal revelation. When we operate within the framework, the Holy Ghost can unleash astonishing insight, direction, and comfort. Outside of that framework, no matter our brilliance or talent, we can be deceived and crash and burn. …
Doctrine, commandments, and revelations for the Church are the prerogative of the living prophet, who receives them from the Lord Jesus Christ. That is the prophet’s runway. …
Personal revelation rightly belongs to individuals. You can receive revelation, for example, about where to live, what career path to follow, or whom to marry. Church leaders may teach doctrine and share inspired counsel, but the responsibility for these decisions rests with you. That is your revelation to receive; that is your runway. (“A Framework for Personal Revelation,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 16, 17)
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What are some truths we can learn about revelation from Numbers 11 and Elder Renlund’s teachings? (Students could identify truths like these: Every member of the Church can receive revelation through the Holy Ghost. The Lord guides His Church through His chosen prophets.)
Consider using one or both of the following activities to help students better understand these truths:
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Invite students to contrast the actions of Aaron and Miriam in Numbers 12:1–8 with those of the daughters of Zelophehad in Numbers 27:1–7. Explain that individuals often came to Moses with concerns so that he might ‘inquire of God’ and help them ‘know the statutes of God and his laws’ (see Exodus 18:15-16). Students could discuss what these accounts teach them about the relationship between personal revelation and following the Lord’s prophets.
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Give students time to study about how we are blessed by both personal revelation and revelation through His prophets. You could give them time to study portions of one of the following messages: Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 93–96 or Dallin H. Oaks, “Two Lines of Communication,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 83–86.
After students have had time to study, invite them to teach each other what they learned with a partner or small group. You might also consider discussing questions like the following as a class:
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What does the Lord’s pattern for personal and prophetic revelation teach you about Him?
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How have both personal revelation and revelation through the Lord’s prophets blessed your life?
Testify of the truths you have discussed today. Encourage students to seek guidance from the Lord by following His prophets and seeking personal revelation.
How can the Lord help me overcome my fears?
You could invite students to ponder and record their thoughts about the following questions:
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How can fear affect my relationship with God?
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What might I be able to do if I had more faith in Jesus Christ?
You could leave these questions on the board throughout the activity and invite students to ponder and add to their responses as they study Numbers 13–14.
Explain that after the children of Israel traveled in the wilderness, the Lord brought them to the border of the land of Canaan, which was the promised land. The Lord told them they would need to conquer the land to claim it. He instructed Moses to select one member from each of the twelve tribes to inspect the land and bring back a report of what they found (see Numbers 13:1–25).
Consider displaying the following table on the board and having students make their own copy. Invite students to study the verses and write down words or phrases from the scriptures that they could put in the second column.
|
Event |
Description |
|---|---|
Event The ten spies’ report | |
Event The people’s response | |
Event Caleb and Joshua’s report |
After sufficient time, invite students to share the words or phrases they wrote. Consider asking a student to record class members’ responses on the board. You could also ask:
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What stands out to you about the response of Joshua and Caleb?
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What can you learn from their response that can help you when you face uncertain situations? (Students’ responses could include a truth like the following: Trusting in the Lord can help us see our challenges with faith rather than fear.)
Consider displaying the following instructions. Invite students to complete this activity with a partner.
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Find an example from the life of Jesus Christ that demonstrates how He responded to a situation that might typically cause fear.
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Discuss what you learn about Jesus Christ from this example. How can His example help you when you experience fear?
After students have finished, consider inviting a few to share their insights with the class. You could also invite a few willing students to share an experience where they overcame a fearful situation because of their trust in the Savior. (As part of this discussion, consider showing the video “Be Not Troubled” [4:30].)
Encourage students to quietly reflect on their current circumstances and things they may fear. You could display the following instructions and invite students to record their responses:
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Identify an area in your life that causes you fear.
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Decide how you might approach this part of your life with more faith in the Savior.
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Record your plan.
What happens when I look to Jesus Christ?
Begin by sharing the following statement by Elder Neil L. Andersen:
We search for happiness. We long for peace. We hope for love. And the Lord showers us with an amazing abundance of blessings. But intermingled with the joy and happiness, one thing is certain: there will be moments, hours, days, sometimes years when your soul will be wounded. (“Wounded,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 84)
You could ask students the following question and invite someone to make a list of their classmates’ responses on the board.
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What pressures or challenges could result in a young adult feeling emotionally or spiritually wounded?
Invite students to think about where they typically turn when their souls are wounded. Encourage them as they study today to be sensitive to impressions from the Holy Ghost that can help them in their circumstances.
Explain that while the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, they complained against God and grew tired of the manna He provided. Invite students to read Numbers 21:4–9, looking for the Lord’s responses to the Israelites’ murmuring. Have students share what they found.
Point out that other scripture passages provide important additional details about this account. Display the following scripture references. Invite students to read each passage and write a one-sentence summary of what each passage adds to their understanding of the account in Numbers 21. (To practice the skill “Linking Scriptures,” in Scripture Study Skills, you might encourage students to digitally link these scriptures to Numbers 21:4–9 in Gospel Library or write the references down in their scripture margins as cross-references.)
After students have had sufficient time to study, invite them to share what they learned with a partner or small group. You could display the following image during their discussion.
Left: The Crucifixion, by Harry Anderson (detail). Right: Moses and the Brass Serpent, by Judith Mehr (detail)
Invite students to share with the class some of the truths they learned from their study and discussion. Students may identify several principles, including the following: If we look to Jesus Christ in faith, we can be healed.
Consider asking the following questions to help students better understand this truth:
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What are specific ways we can look to Jesus Christ for healing? (You could have students find and share scriptures or statements from Church leaders that help answer this question.)
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What can make it difficult to look to Jesus Christ? How can we overcome these challenges?
Invite students to think of an experience in their life when they chose to look to Jesus Christ for healing. You could invite a few students to share their experiences if they are not too personal.
Consider sharing the following statement by President Russell M. Nelson:
I plead with you to come unto Him so that He can heal you! He will heal you from sin as you repent. He will heal you from sadness and fear. He will heal you from the wounds of this world. (“The Answer Is Always Jesus Christ,” Liahona, May 2023, 127)
Give students time to consider how they may have felt inspired to apply what they learned today to their lives. Encourage them to write down any plans and spiritual impressions they received from the Holy Ghost.