Fiction Friday - No Nay-Sayers Allowed

As I read through the Bible, I sometimes wonder about background details or different sides to the stories included. What was it really like? What would a minor character have said or done? What if...? I hope you enjoy.

"Oh, man! This is so delicious!" The twelve spies were regrouping outside the camp. They'd had to split up for a while to avoid attracting attention as they assessed the land they were supposed to conquer. "How did you get all this? Almonds? Pomegranates?"  Shaphat asked Palti. "We saw an orchard, but it was guarded by giants." He scooped up a handful of almonds. 

"Giants? Be serious," Joshua was skeptical. So far only six of them had arrived. They were sampling the spoils as they waited for the others before giving a final report.

"Mm..." Shaphat's mouth was full. He chomped on the nuts, spewing bits as he talked. "You know those big guys are descended from the Nephilim." He said it with such finality that Joshua squinted at him. Palti backed up Shaphat with a nod. "Come on Josh, the giants of ancient times?"

He knew who they were talking about, but, "There are no more Nephilim."

"But they had babies, who had babies. Didn't you learn your 'begats'?" Joshua felt himself reddening. He was known as a man of faith. In this group of nay-sayers, he didn't feel up to the argument. Soon the others would come. These guys seemed to see all the negative. Maybe some of the others would have a better attitude.

One of the men who'd been pacing the perimeter watching for the others, turned to join the debate. "There's a lot of good stuff about this land, but I don't know. I see a lot of obstacles." The chatter continued until finally around sundown five more spies arrived, with the sixth leaning on two of them for support.

"What happened?" Shaphat asked, and the others joined in. "Were you ambushed?" asked one. "We're doomed!" said another. Joshua hated the negativity he heard.

The first of the new arrivals, Caleb, calmed them down. "Now, don't worry about it. Nahbi just twisted his ankle."

Nahbi was grinning. "The hills are so beautiful! But the rocks are loose." He laughed at his own misfortune.

One of the men who'd been supporting Nahbi was shaking his head. "They might have a lot of good stuff here," he dropped his sack and olives and figs rolled out. "But it's dangerous. I don't think we have much of a chance against them."

Shaphat jumped on that. "Did you see the giants, too?"

They took their time navigating their way back to the camp where Moses and Aaron were waiting, arguing all the way. 

Ten spies said not to try to take over Canaan. Joshua and Caleb stood up for the promised victory. 

40 years later, after that generation of nay-sayers had all died, Joshua and Caleb were proved right.

Reference: The twelve Israelites spied on Canaan in the book of  Numbers, chapter 13. Because 10 of the 12 denied that God could give them a victory among the strong men and fortified cities that existed there, the entire camp of Israelites were forced to wander the desert for 40 years until that generation died out. Of the generation that first left Egypt, only Joshua and Caleb were allowed to enter the promised land. Talk about consequences!