Wednesday in Lent

17Verse 17. When Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, he told them, “Go up through the Negev and into the hill country. 18Verse 18. See what the land is like and whether its people are strong or weak, few or many. 19Verse 19. Is the land where they live good or bad? Are the cities where they dwell open camps or fortifications? 20Verse 20. Is the soil fertile or unproductive? Are there trees in it or not? Be courageous and bring back some of the fruit of the land.” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.) 21Verse 21. So they went up and spied out the land from the Wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo-hamath. 22Verse 22. They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, dwelled. It had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt. 23Verse 23. When they came to the Valley of Eshcol, they cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes, which they carried on a pole between two men. They also took some pomegranates and figs. 24Verse 24. Because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut there, that place was called the Valley of Eshcol. 25Verse 25. After forty days the men returned from spying out the land, 26Verse 26. and they went back to Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They brought back a report for the whole congregation and showed them the fruit of the land. 27Verse 27. And they gave this account to Moses: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and indeed, it is flowing with milk and honey. Here is some of its fruit!