Scripture describes the Promised Land as a land “flowing with milk and honey” at least nineteen time (Lev. 26:3–12; Num. 13:23, 28; 14:7; 24:3; Deut. 6:3; 11:9; 26:9, 15; 27:3; 28:2–7, 11–12; 31:20). Canaan didn’t have rivers of milk and ravines filled with honey. Rather, this was a hyperbolic way of describing the rich abundance of the land of Canaan. The twelve spies, who inspected the Promised Land, testified to the fact that it was in fact a land flowing with milk and honey (Num. 13:27). They even brought one cluster of grapes that had to be carried by two men (Num. 13:23)!
Possibly the spies witnessed that cattle and goats produced more milk in areas abundant with forage. Honey, in the biblical period, was not a cultivated product. Honey was associated with nonagricultural areas that were covered with wild vegetation. The Promised Land had the agricultural capability to produce what Israel worked for, and the capability of producing natural resources. In other words, the land would produce milk if they worked for it, and it would naturally produce honey if they cared for it.
The twelve spies witnessed the fulfillment of God’s promises. The Promised Land was everything that God promised it would be. But rather than go and posses Canaan, they were terrified of the giants that inhabited the land. Their fear paralyzed their faith. Despite the land flowing with milk and honey, they wanted to go back to Egypt (Num. 14:3-4).
Unfortunately this happens in the church today. People are freed from their bondage of sin, and at the first sight of trouble they want to go back to the world. Or, when they realize that living for God requires work and effort, they would would rather go back and be a slave to sin.
Brothers and sisters, living for the Lord is far greater than being a slave to sin. Don’t go back to the world. Don’t forsake God’s promises. Like the cluster of grapes being carried by two men, look at the blessings that others have witnessed and experienced. Those blessings are greater than anything that the world has ever offered.