Numbers 13:28

NUMBERS 13:28

This verse introduces the spies’ wary assessment: the people are strong, the cities are fortified, and there are notable adversaries (the Anakim). The phrase “Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land” signals the pivot from reporting fertility to forecasting risk. The spies identify structural and military obstacles—defended cities, formidable populations—creating a realism that the people will laterweaponize to justify retreat. The mention of Anak is significant: the Anakim were legendary giants in Israelite memory, amplifying fear. The balance of the report—promising land but warning about danger—exposes the tension between faith and fear that dominates Numbers 13–14. This verse sets up the conflict that will culminate in the people’s collective choice to trust or doubt God’s promise.

Theologically, this moment tests whether God’s power is greater than human obstacles. It raises questions about whether the promise of land is contingent on human strength or God’s faithfulness. The statement anticipates Jesus’ teaching about faith that moves mountains: what we fear may be magnified when we forget God’s presence. The contrast between abundance and threat is a classic biblical pattern: God’s call requires reliance on divine strength, not human calculation.

We often face “strong people and big walls” in our lives: job losses, health crises, or relationship breakdowns. This verse invites honest assessment of risk while insisting that risk is not disqualifying when aligned with God’s commitments. Practically, name the giants you face, but also name how God has helped before. Build a plan that honors God while realistically addressing danger: seek wise counsel, set feasible milestones, and maintain faithful courage. Remember that fear can misread the size of God’s power.

Cross-References: Joshua 14:6–12; Joshua 17:14–18; 2 Corinthians 4:7–9; Romans 11:20; 1 John 4:4