"27 Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan.”
30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”
31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” 32 And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. 33 There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”
Oh, how much we learn when reading our fathers history!! This morning as I was studying my Sabbath School Lesson on The Spies Reports from Numbers 13 and 14, I felt inspired to share what I learned.
To give a little bit of context, in the text above we read the report from 12 spies that were sent to Canaan to inspect the land. They were to come back with information concerning the people, the land and its fruit. This was the land promised to Israel. Everyone was waiting anxiously for the report of the spies that they may know what to do next. However, as we can read above, the majority came back with bad report. Although there was good fruit in the land, they focused their attention on the obstacles ahead: the giants of the land. They saw that the cities were well fortified and that the people were strong and of great height so they shrunk from the possibility of being able to possess the land. After all, they were only as "grasshoppers" in their sight right?
Although God had been leading them all this way and had delivered them from so many other nations and battles, they forgot who was leading them. They looked to the obstacles rather than the solution. Yes perhaps the people were giants and the city was well fortified but who was on their side? Did they not have a more powerful being than all those obstacles to accompany them and protect them? Indeed, they did! They had God on their side but failed to remember this.
How many times do we find ourselves battling with our own giant in our lives? Whether it be temptation or trial we find ourselves losing hope and courage before the obstacles before us. Thoughts flow our minds:
What are people going to think if I do this?
I can't overcome, I'm too weak
This is too much for me
I can never do this alone
I'm a failure, God isn't going to help me
Discouragements takes over and we are left suffering in darkness. Feeling as though because of our weakness, God has forsaken us. So much so that we become like the Israelites who responded to the bad report by saying:
"“If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” So they said to one another,“Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.” Numbers 14:2-4
They preferred dying over fighting. They preferred to return to Egypt through another leader. There is a parallel that is very interesting for us here. As you study the Bible you will learn that Egypt is almost a spiritual symbol for the world (in all its sin and vices). And who be the leader of this world spiritually? Satan, of course. If we compare the Israelites to us, how many times do we threaten to go back into the world when discouragement and despair take over? To be lead by Satan and be captives of him as the Israelites were captives of Pharaoh? We think to ourselves "Would it not be better for us to return to the world?". To return to darkness, sadness and a life without the saving power of Jesus? We think to ourselves "if only we had died in the world rather than die in Christ!". In other words, often times when things get tough, we think to ourselves we would have rather stayed in ignorance that we may not have to go through the obstacles we face as Christians. What a shame! We forget about the life changing effect God's power has had over our lives and forget the freedom that comes with knowing the truth. We become willing to forsake what others are dying to have, freedom and peace, because of our discouragement.
What we fail to realize is that discouragement is never something God puts in our hearts. This feeling has another source. Ellen White explains this best:
"Hope and courage gave place to cowardly despair, as the spies uttered the sentiments of their unbelieving hearts, which were filled with discouragement prompted by Satan. Their unbelief cast a gloomy shadow over the congregation, and the mighty power of God, so often manifested in behalf of the chosen nation, was forgotten. The people did not wait to reflect; they did not reason that He who had brought them thus far would certainly give them the land; they did not call to mind how wonderfully God had delivered them from their oppressors, cutting a path through the sea and destroying the pursuing hosts of Pharaoh. [...] In their unbelief they limited the power of God and distrusted the hand that had hitherto safely guided them." Patriarchs and Prophets 388.2
This is what happens so often with us! Discouragement overflows our hearts and we feel the weight of our weakness and incapability before life's challenges or even spiritual challenges. And in this, what do we forget? The mighty power of God! We forget how far He has already brought us and distrust that He is able to lead us further. What we need to do is reflect, reason and recall all our past experiences with God. We need to remember and think about what He has done for us already and trust that He can do much more. We are forgetful creatures and Satan knows this. This is why he constantly tries to discourage and bring down. Praise God for His word that warns us against such deceptions!
Although times can get rough, like Joshua, one of the spies, we must say:
“The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us,‘a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.” Numbers 14:7-9
Indeed, the land promised to us, heaven, is an exceedingly good land. More worth it than any challenges we face. Indeed the Bible tells us "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9). We need to focus on that more than the obstacles as Joshua focused on.
Then we're told if the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land. We are told that "without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6). God requires that we have faith in Him so that He can bring us into His kingdom. If we despair and become discouraged, we disbelief His promises so He can't help us.
We do not need to fear people or things in our lives and we shouldn't rebel through disbelief. Like Joshua, we must remember that the Lord is with us and His protection is with those that love Him and trust Him.
So if you've been dealing with discouragement, disbelief and sadness I'd like to encourage you to look up to God. Focus on His strength rather than your weakness. God loves you more than the love of a mother for her child. He has mercy towards us and abundant compassion. He wants us to go to Him and ask for help and trust that He can do this. Don't listen to the devils whisperings of discouragement. Now that you know the root of it, when discouragement comes passing by, shut it down immediately and go to God in prayer. Ask Him to remind you of all the blessings and amazing works He's done in your life so far and pray that He helps you through this next challenge.
What precious lessons are found in God's word. If we look a little deeper, we find that God is speaking directly to us through each verse. He has given us His word to encourage, strengthen and help us through life's trials. This is why the Bible calls God's word the sword of the Spirit. It helps us our battle against the powers of darkness. Against feelings of discouragement and disbelief. I'd like to encourage you all to study the Bible for yourself and ask God to speak to you through it. Sometimes it takes time, but if you seek genuinely God is more than willing to open before you the delicacies of His truth. May the peace of God be upon you.
A prayer to pray: Dear God, thank you for not giving up on me despite my discouragement and disbelief. Thank you for teaching me through Your Word. Please forgive me for forgetting Your goodness towards me. Help me from now on to rebuke discouragement and remember to look to You in all things. Help me through my struggles and give me victory by Your power. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Much love and smiles,
Nahisha :)
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