Genesis 42:11 - "We are all sons of one man, we are honest men, your servants are not spies."

1 Samuel 26:4 - "David sent out spies, and learned of a certainty that Saul had come."

With war going on simultaneously in all parts of the world, with border hostilities, with threats of disruption of our internal security being constantly dented into our ears, we are surely fully familiar with the concept of the spy. Espionage is big business. How many television and movie scripts have been based on spy stories; how many books have been written! And the story of espionage has remained virtually unchanged down through history.

Oh, of course, the methods are somewhat different. We now have all sorts of exotic devices to help us, and I don’t suppose that James Bond would have found it necessary to climb down from Rahab’s window - I’m sure he’d have dreamed up a much more dramatic exit! But, essentially, the same purpose for spying remains - to gather information on the enemy’s strengths and weaknesses.

It was for this reason that Moses sent twelve spies into the Negeb and the hill country - they were to report on the fortification and terrain, as well as the productivity of the land. In the Jericho campaign, we are told that Joshua sent two spies in advance, presumably to assess the conditions in Canaan.

Spies also had another use, which today we can also appreciate. They were used to spread rumors to undermine the enemy’s morale. Read the story of Absalom’s revolt in 2 Samuel 15:10 for a fine example of this sort of activity. Maybe today we don’t think of the CIA or FBI or whatever as being rumor-mongers, and, as loyal citizens, we would have to say that this is never a prime purpose.

But there are many instances in which it is necessary to spread false rumors in order to flush out traitors and others who would like to see our institutions destroyed. So, in cases such as these, perhaps the end justifies the means.

Today, to qualify for espionage work, a man or woman must receive intensive training of all kinds. And this was probably true in biblical times too. After all, they were much more sophisticated than we generally credit them with being, and it wouldn’t have been any picnic to try to spy on them. So - forget about the ignorant, crude peasant types that we generally bring to mind, and think instead of a highly trained, knowledgable espionage expert. Max Smart wouldn’t have stood a chance!