Numbers 11–14; 20–24; 27: Lesson 56

Numbers 11–14

Choosing Faith over Fear

Sometimes it can be difficult to move forward with faith instead of fear. The children of Israel faced that challenge. After they journeyed in the wilderness, the Lord led the Israelites to the border of the promised land. The Lord instructed Moses to send 12 men into the land and have them bring back a report of the land and its inhabitants. Most of the 12 were afraid about the prospect of conquering the promised land, but Caleb and Joshua had faith that the Lord would help them. This lesson can help students view their challenges with greater faith in Jesus Christ.

Student preparation: Invite students to think about obstacles or challenges they are currently facing. They could ponder how they are facing them with fear or with faith in the Lord.

Possible Learning Activities

Viewing challenges with faith

Consider writing two headings on opposite sides of the board: Faith and Fear. Display the following experiences, or other relevant examples, one at a time. Invite students to ponder if they view each example with faith in Jesus Christ or with fear.

A big test or school project

Repentance

The future

Sharing the gospel

• How can we tell if we are viewing a situation with faith in Jesus Christ or with fear?

• What difference does it make if we view a situation with faith or fear?

• Why can it sometimes be difficult to see situations like these with faith in Jesus Christ?

Continue to ponder these questions as you study today. Invite the Holy Ghost into your learning as you think about how to view your challenges with greater faith in Jesus Christ.

The spies’ report of Canaan

After the children of Israel traveled in the wilderness, the Lord brought them to the border of the promised land. It was the land of Canaan. The Lord told them they would need to conquer the land. The Lord instructed Moses to select one member from each of the twelve tribes. These men were commanded to inspect the land and bring back a report of what they found. After 40 days of investigating the land, the 12 men returned with their reports, along with fruit from the land (see Numbers 13:1–25).

Consider dividing the class into thirds. Invite each group to read one of the following accounts. Ask students to imagine that they represent the people they read about. They can prepare answers to the questions that follow. Each group could then share their answers, or you could have a student or two come to the front and use the questions to interview each group.

1. Numbers 13:26–29, 31–33: The 10 spies’ report of the land and the people

• How would you describe the land of Canaan and the people you saw?

• What feelings did you have when you saw the people? Why?

2. Numbers 14:1–4: The Israelites’ response to the 10 spies’ report

• What feelings did you have when you listened to the 10 spies’ report? Why?

• What did you suggest the people do rather than follow Moses into the promised land? Why?

3. Numbers 13:30; 14:6–9: Joshua and Caleb’s report of the land and the people

• How would you describe the land of Canaan and the people you saw?

• The other spies are convinced that Israel cannot overcome the people in Canaan. Why are you so sure that Israel can?

After each group has answered their questions, thank them for their participation.

Review Numbers 13:30; 14:8–9, looking for words and phrases that show Caleb and Joshua’s faith in the Lord.

• What lessons do you learn from Caleb and Joshua?

  Among various answers students might give, help them identify the truth that trusting in the Lord can help us see our challenges with faith rather than fear.

• What do you think it means to act with faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ when we face challenges?

Faith versus fear

Elder Kevin R. Duncan of the Seventy explained something we can learn from the experience of the children of Israel in Numbers 13–14:

Just like the children of Israel, we face formidable obstacles. … It isn’t wrong for us to recognize those obstacles. But it is important that we face them with faith. …

… Each challenge and each obstacle we face is an opportunity to choose, as did Joshua and Caleb, to rely on the Lord. “Rebel not … , neither fear” (Numbers 14:9) was good counsel for the children of Israel, and it is still good counsel for each of us today. (“Rebel Not, Neither Fear,” Liahona, Apr. 2022, 47)

• What experiences had the children of Israel previously had with the Lord? How could remembering these experiences have increased their faith in Him?

• Why do you think some people forget what they know about the Lord when facing a challenge?

Despite the many miracles the Lord had provided and the testimony of Caleb and Joshua, the Israelites continued to murmur. As a result, the Lord declared that because of their murmuring and doubt, the great majority of the adult Israelites would not be allowed to enter the promised land (see Numbers 14:26–39).

Read Numbers 14:24, 30, looking for how the Lord blessed Caleb and Joshua because they placed their faith in Him.

To help students face their challenges with faith, consider displaying the following chart on the board. Invite them to copy the chart into their study journals.

Challenge:

Fear-Based Statement	Faith-Based Statement
Fear-Based Statement	Faith-Based Statement

Invite students to share some modern-day challenges they may face and ways they could respond with fear or faith.

You might provide an example such as:

Challenge: Speaking in public settings

Fear-based statement: “I can’t speak in front of others because I always nervously mix up my words.”

Faith-based statement: “Public speaking is hard for me, but I believe the Lord can give me courage and strength to do it.”

Students could use the situations from the beginning of the lesson.

For the following activity, consider providing pieces of paper for the students.

Ponder a challenge you face, or might face, in your life. Write the challenge in your chart along with a fear-based statement you might think or believe about that challenge.

Reflect on what the Holy Ghost has taught you about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ from the scriptures, the words of the prophets, and your own spiritual experiences. Think about how this knowledge can help you face challenges with faith in the Lord. Then write a faith-based statement in your journal. You might also want to write the faith-based statement on a piece of paper that you can take home and set it somewhere you will see often. Or take a picture of the statement on your phone. You could even set the picture as your wallpaper on your phone.

Consider inviting a few willing students to share their thoughts and feelings about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. They can share how the Lord helps them face challenges with faith. Testify that the Lord will bless us as we faithfully face our challenges.

Additional Resources

How can we choose faith over fear?

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then of the First Presidency, explained:

Rather than dwelling on the immensity of our challenges, would it not be better to focus on the infinite greatness, goodness, and absolute power of our God, trusting Him and preparing with a joyful heart for the return of Jesus the Christ?

As His covenant people, we need not be paralyzed by fear because bad things might happen. Instead, we can move forward with faith, courage, determination, and trust in God as we approach the challenges and opportunities ahead. (“Perfect Love Casteth Out Fear,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 106)

Why did the 10 spies respond the way they did?

Elder Kevin R. Duncan of the Seventy shared:

All twelve spies had witnessed the same benefits from and the same obstacles to fulfilling the Lord’s command to dwell in Canaan. However, their responses demonstrate how ten members of the group saw only the problems, while the other two placed their trust in God.

Ten of the spies saw only the difficulties before them. Because they did not rely on the Lord, they feared following His command to go up to the land of Canaan. Caleb and Joshua, on the other hand, knew that if the Israelites had faith, the Lord could deliver the land of Canaan to them. (“Rebel Not, Neither Fear,” Liahona, Apr. 2022, 46)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Book of Mormon example

To help students see a Book of Mormon example of facing obstacles with faith rather than fear, you could have students compare 1 Nephi 3:31; 4:1–3 with the story of the 12 spies. Then ask questions such as:

• How were Laman and Lemuel like the 10 spies?

• How was Nephi like Caleb and Joshua?

Numbers 11:29. “Would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets”

It might be beneficial to help students deepen their understanding of personal revelation. To do this, they could read Numbers 11:14, 24–25, looking for how the Lord relieved Moses’s burden of leadership.

Explain that 70 elders were blessed to receive revelation and speak as inspired by the Holy Ghost. Numbers 11:26–28 records that Joshua asked Moses to stop two of the elders from prophesying. Students could read Numbers 11:29, looking for Moses’s response to Joshua’s concern.

Explain that Moses was not saying that he wished everyone was the prophet, holding priesthood keys necessary to receive revelation to lead the Church. Rather, he could have meant that he wished all people were “prophets,” meaning that they had the testimony of Jesus, “for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10).

Students could then read the following statement from President Russell M. Nelson:

It has never been more imperative to know how the Spirit speaks to you than right now. …

I renew my plea for you to do whatever it takes to increase your spiritual capacity to receive personal revelation. (“Hear Him,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 90)

You could invite students to quietly ponder what they are doing to receive personal revelation.

Murmuring

Numbers 11–14 contains a few experiences that led the Israelites to murmur. Groups of students could each read one of the following scripture passages:

Numbers 11:1–6, 16–20, 31–33

Numbers 12:1–13

Numbers 14:1–5

Students could discuss the experience that caused the Israelites to murmur and the results of their murmuring. You could then ask a question such as:

• How does murmuring cause us to distance ourselves from Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and others?

As part of your discussion, you might show “Stand and Be Not Moved” from time code 18:43 to 21:15.

Christlike meekness

Students might benefit from learning more about the Christlike attribute of meekness. They could read Numbers 12:3, looking for one of the Christlike attributes Moses had. You could write two phrases on the board: Meekness is … and Meekness is not … .

In partnerships, students could look up scriptures or statements about meekness using the Guide to the Scriptures or the Gospel Library app. After studying, one partner could use what they learned to complete Meekness is … while the other partner completes Meekness is not … .

If helpful, you could read the following statement from Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

Meekness is a defining attribute of the Redeemer and is distinguished by righteous responsiveness, willing submissiveness, and strong self-restraint. (“Meek and Lowly of Heart,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 32)

The class could then discuss how Jesus Christ exemplified meekness in His life.