What an amazing number of things there are in today's passage, that would be worthy of special study!
I would love to take the time to write to you about the giants that the Hebrew spies found in Canaan. Actually, the biblical giants are a favorite topic of mine. If you do your own research on the Nephilim, Rephaim, Zamzummim, Emim, and Anakim, you'll find tons of information that's intriguing. However, it's important to stick to what the Bible says, because there is a lot of myth and legend about these things. Here's a Bible study by Wayne Blank that will get you started on your research.
I would also like to address the issue of interracial marriage, but instead, I'll let you check out this short article about it. from the Christian Bible Reference Site.
Instead, I'll comment on Colossians, and what Paul has to say about pitfalls in our faith. Study is a good things, but when you study without taking care to guard your spirit, there are many things that can make a Christian stumble in his or her faith. Among these, Paul lists captivity that comes by "philosophy and empty deceit (v. 8)." Dangerous philosophies, Paul says, can come from two sources. They can either be "according to human tradition," or they can be "according to the elemental spirits of the world." Paul warns believers to make sure that their faith comes not from these things. He reminds us to have a faith that is according to Christ.The two issues I mentioned above, dealing with the Nephilim, and dealing with interracial marriage (which, by the way, you'll find have a common link if you do the research) are fascinating topics of study. But when you decide to tackle a topic to study, you have to be careful about the sources you choose to believe. That's why I said you need to stay with what the Bible says about them and not follow rabbit trails. Or, if you do choose to follow rabbit trails, make sure you follow them back again to solidly grounded Truth. Human tradition, as well as teachings that come from the elemental spirits of the world, can cloud your vision if you let them lead you. Make sure you stick to faith that is according to Christ and His Word.
The Bible is full of fascinating things that you can learn. I encourage you to pick topics that you encounter in the Bible, and make a study of them. Get your Bible commentaries, dictionaries, concordances, Greek and Hebrew resources, and other helps together. Keep a notebook of the interesting things that you find. As you're reading the Bible through in a year, there can often be so much material to cover that you just gloss over the surface of the text without digging deeper. I encourage you to not only read God's Word, but to study it as well. But be sure that you keep your study well-grounded. Read the commentaries, but don't trust them too much, because they are simply human understanding, philosophy, and ideas that are based on God's supernatural gift of the Bible. Open your heart to a spiritual understanding of God's Word, but be guarded about any random interpretation that comes to mind, because the elemental spirits like to deceive believers. Always check the Bible against the Bible. Always "study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15)."
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