WAEC Christian Religious Studies (CRS) 2018 Theory — Question 3

Model answer

Numbers 13:1-33, 14:1-19. Moses sent twelve men, one from each tribe, to spy out the land of Canaan and assess whether it was fertile and whether the people were strong or weak. After forty days, the spies returned with a report that the land was indeed fruitful, bringing back grapes, pomegranates and figs to prove it flowed with milk and honey. However, ten of the spies reported that the inhabitants (Amalekites, Hittites, Amorites, Jebusites, Canaanites) were strong, the cities were fortified, and the people were of great stature (giants/descendants of Anak), causing the Israelites to feel like grasshoppers. Only Joshua and Caleb gave a positive report, encouraging the people not to fear since God would help them. The people, however, believed the negative majority report, wept, and rebelled against Moses, wishing to return to Egypt or appoint a new leader. God was angered by their unbelief and threatened to destroy them, but Moses interceded on their behalf.