Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan and said to them, “Go up into the Negeb and go up into the hill country, and see what the land is, and whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many. (Numbers 13:17,18 ESV)
Not Stupid
General T.J. (Stonewall) Jackson was once tasked with occupying an enemy fort. He meticulously planned preparations, a diversion, and a tactically brilliant attack. It succeeded. A cynic from his staff, who had observed Jackson’s faith, asked him, “General, if you knew God was on your side, why bother to plan?”
Supposedly, Jackson looked the cynic in the eye and uttered, “Faith, sir, is not stupid.”
Moses knew this, too. God had promised success in Israel’s Canaanite conquest. Even so, even though Moses believed, even though Moses had no doubts… he sent spies to check Canaan out. To collect data and facts. To find out what he was in for.
And we get to do this, too. Faith does not mean, ‘stupid.’ As well as faith, God gives His people brains. As well as faith, God gives His people experience. As well as faith, God gives His people some common sense.
We are peculiar, our faith does not make us stupid.