Numbers 13:19 records Moses instructing the 12 spies to evaluate the military strength of Canaan. It asks whether the inhabitants lived in unwalled camps or strongholds, effectively assessing the difficulty of conquest. Spiritually, the verse tests the Israelite's faith: weighing God’s promise against terrifying, tangible obstacles.

The Context of the Verse
In Numbers 13, the Israelites have finally arrived at the borders of the Promised Land—the land of Canaan. Instead of immediately going in and trusting God’s promise to give them the land, the people requested permission to send scouts ahead. Moses commissions twelve leaders to assess both the fruitfulness of the region and its defense systems.
Verse 19 specifically asks:

"And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it is good or bad; and what the cities are that they inhabit, whether in camps or in strongholds;"

But God had already promised a good and fruitful land as far back as Abraham. It wasn’t called “The Promised Land” for nothing. Don’t you think that they just should have taken God at His word?

Key Interpretations

  • Evaluation of Defenses: Moses wanted to know if the cities were vulnerable camps or heavily fortified, inaccessible strongholds (Hebrew: mibtsar).

  • Walk by Sight vs. Walk by Faith: The spies were instructed to look at physical realities. The ten faithless spies allowed the sheer size of the fortresses and the giants (the Anakim) to induce fear, making them forget that God’s power outmatched the physical obstacles. Joshua and Caleb, conversely, acknowledged the walled cities but trusted the Lord.

Connections to "The Return of the Lord"
In Christian theology, the narrative of Canaan—and this specific reconnaissance mission—serves as a rich prophetic, eschatological, and spiritual metaphor for the Return of the Lord (the Second Coming).

  1. The "Fortified Cities" and Worldly Opposition
    Just as the spies were anxious about the fortified cities of Canaan, believers awaiting the Return of the Lord often view the world's strongholds of sin, secularism, and spiritual wickedness as insurmountable. Numbers 13:19 reminds us that the return of Christ and the establishment of God's Kingdom will face fierce, "fortified" opposition from the forces of this world. However, like the walls of Jericho, no human stronghold can stand against the ultimate victory of God.

  2. The Call to "Go Up and Possess the Land"
    Upon the spies' return, Caleb declared, "Let us go up at once and take possession of it, for we are well able to overcome it" (Numbers 13:30). This embodies the Church's forward-looking attitude toward the Lord's return. Rather than cowering in the wilderness out of fear of the "giants" (spiritual trials, tribulation, or earthly rulers), believers are called to maintain faith, boldly anticipating the eternal inheritance that Christ is returning to establish.

  3. The Warning of Unbelief
    The New Testament book of Hebrews (Chapters 3 and 4) uses this exact spying event in Numbers as a stern warning. The Israelites were barred from entering the Promised Land because of unbelief. In the context of the Return of the Lord, this teaches that believers must remain steadfast, vigilant, and faithful. Unbelief and fear of the world’s "strongholds" cause one to forfeit the spiritual rest and eternal inheritance God has prepared.