The Promised Land

In Genesis 12, God called Abraham to start a new nation in a distant land. He moved to the region of ‘Canaan,’ which was later nicknamed ‘the Promised Land.’ Today, it’s the territories of Israel and Palestine, also called ‘the Holy Land’. In Numbers 13, Israel reached the edge of this special land. The spies they sent in brought back huge fruit – grapes, figs, and pomegranates – showing how good their new home would be. The Promised Land was said to ‘flow with milk and honey’ – a poetic way of saying there would be loads of cattle and crops.

How to be a spy

Israel sent twelve undercover spies to check out the Promised Land. Today, spy networks operate around the world. How do undercover agents avoid detection?

• Act casual: even under pressure, good spies don’t fidget, look down at the floor, or walk too quickly.
• Have an excuse: if they get caught, they have a story. They are prepared to give enough details to make their alibi sound convincing.
• Blend in: they use camouflage, move behind objects for cover, wear clothes, and use devices like the locals. They try to be the ‘grey’ person who blends in.

Giants in the Bible

In Genesis 6, there were mysterious warriors called the ‘Nephilim’. In Numbers 13, the spies saw the ‘Anakites,’ who were an extra tall tribe. Later, David killed a Philistine giant called Goliath. The tallest tribes in the world today are the Dinka people of South Sudan – their men average well over 6 ft.