“THE DANGERS OF DISCOURAGEMENT”
NUMBERS 21:4-7
INTRO: Discouragement is a terrible tragedy. Discouragement is no respecter
of persons. Discouragement can come to us at any time or at any
place. None of us are exempt from facing discouragement.
Discouragement can cripple our faith and cloud our focus. Many
today are discouraged with life in general. Suicide ranks high on the
list as a number one killer, especially among young people. Parents
are discouraged with their children, and children are discouraged with
their parents. Husbands and wives get discouraged with their
marriages. We see discouragement with our government, jobs, with
the weather and many other things. Amy Carmichael said,
“Everywhere the perpetual endeavour of the enemy of souls is
discouragement. If he can get the soul "under the weather," he wins. It
is not really what we go through that matters, it is what we go under
that breaks us. We can bear anything if only we are kept inwardly
victorious. ... If God can make His birds to whistle in drenched and
stormy darkness, if He can make His butterflies able to bear up under
rain, what can He not do for the heart that trusts Him? (Amy
Carmichael in Learning of God. Christianity Today, Vol. 37, no. 13).
Discouragement is the devil’s tool! There is a legend that Satan
decided to get rid of a number of his tools, so he arranged an auction.
There was envy, deceit, malice, sensuality, enmity, thoughtlessness,
and many other tools which Satan had used successfully (priced very
low). One piece, marked very high, was labeled Discouragement.
"Why do you want so much for this tool?" asked one bidder. "This
tool," replied the old tempter, "has always been my most useful one.
You can see it has had more wear than the rest. It is used as a wedge
to get into a man's mind when all other means fail. Practically every
human being has had this tool used on him, although very few know
that I'm the one welding it." As it worked out, none could afford the
price Satan demanded for Discouragement...and so he is still using it.
—William S. Deal (Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations. WORDsearch
7.0. Copyright 2007. WORDsearch Corp. All Rights Reserved). I want
you to notice these words in Numbers 21:4—“and the soul of the
people was much discouraged because of the way.” This
evening we want to consider THE DANGERS OF DISCOURAGEMENT.
What happens when we get discouraged? WHEN WE GET
DISCOURAGED…
(1) WE DISCOURAGE OTHERS
NUMBERS 21:4-5a—“And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of
the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. And the people spoke against God, and against Moses…”
A. DISCOURAGEMENT SADDENS. We can almost see the sadness of the
people as we read—“the soul of the people was much discouraged because of
the way.” The phrase “was much discouraged” is translated from one word
in the Hebrew which means “grieved, mourned.” The way is hard and
becomes very discouraging to the people. In their plight of discouragement,
they begin to complain and whine and murmur. Unfortunately this is
characteristic of many of us today. When life is hard we complain and
murmur. (J. Vernon McGee's Thru The Bible. WORDsearch 7.0. Copyright
2007. WORDsearch Corp. All Rights Reserved).
ILLUS: Dr. Jerome Frank at Johns Hopkins talks about our "assumptive
world." What he means is that all of us make assumptions about
life, about God, about ourselves, about others, about the way
things are. He goes on to argue that when our assumptions are
true to reality, we live relatively happy, well-adjusted lives. But
when our assumptions are distant from reality, we become
confused and angry and disillusioned. (Haddon Robinson, "How
Does God Keep His Promises?" Preaching Today, Tape No. 130).
The Bible says—“The soul of the people was much discouraged because of
the way.” In other words, their expectations and God’s expectations didn’t
line up. This discouraged them and sadden them.
B. DISCOURAGEMENT SPREADS. Vv. 4-5 tell us once again—“ and the soul
of the people was much discouraged because of the way. And the people
spoke against God, and against Moses…”. Discouragement will not only
sadden but it will also spread. Discouragement starts with one unhappy
person but it does not end with one unhappy person. It always involves
others. You will recall how the spies came back from Canaan and how they
discouraged the other people (Numbers 13:26-33; 14:1-4). You will recall
also, how when Peter got discouraged he said, “I go a fishing” and the others
said, “we also go with thee.” (John 21:3). Discouragement spreads like an
epidemic.
Friends, people need encouragement, not discouragement! Charles
Swindoll asks, “How many people stop because so few say, "Go!"?” (Edythe
Draper, Draper's Book of Quotations for the Christian World (Wheaton:
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1992). Entry #3135). Many of the
conveniences we enjoy, the advancements that have been made, the
discoveries found; would not have been possible if those responsible would
have listened and heeded discouraging people.
ILLUS: The story is told that once Henry Ford was trying to sell his idea of
his car to a large group of business-people and investors. What he
had to say was not going over too well. After he finished showing
the plans, Thomas Edison hit his fist on the table and said, “Henry,
you’ve got something! It will work! You can do it!” Henry Ford
said, “That thump on the table changed the tide.” And the great
was built.
THE DANGERS OF DISCOURAGEMENT are that WE DISCOURAGE OTHERS but also…
(2) WE SAY THE WRONG THING
NUMBERS 21:5—“And the people spoke against God, and against Moses,
Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.”
A. THEY BEGIN TO CRITICIZE. It tells us here—“and the people spoke
against God, and against Moses…”. They criticized:
? GOD’S PROTECTION—“Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?”
? GOD’S PROVISION—“For there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.”
B. THEY BEGIN TO COMPLAIN. When people start murmuring and
complaining I promise you there is nothing good that will come out of it.
When we say the wrong things we do not build up but we tear down!
ILLUS: I stood on the streets of a busy town,
Watching men tearing a building down:
With a "Ho, heave, ho," and a lusty yell,
They swung a beam and a sidewall fell.
I asked the foreman of the crew,
"Are those men as skilled as those you'd hire if you wanted to build?"
"Ah, no," he said, "no indeed.
Just common labor is all I need.
I can tear down as much in a day or two,
As would take skilled men a year to do."
And then I thought as I went on my way,
Just which of these two roles am I trying to play?
Have I walked life's road with care,
Measuring each deed with rule and square?
Or am I one of those who roam the town,
Content with the labor of tearing down?
—Selected
(Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations. WORDsearch 7.0. Copyright
2007. WORDsearch Corp. All Rights Reserved).
Had God not been good to Israel? Did not God protect them and provide
for them throughout their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness?
Deuteronomy 8:2-4 tells us—“And thou shalt remember all the way which
the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble
thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou
wouldest keep his commandments, or not. And he humbled thee, and
suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not,
neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth
not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of
the LORD doth man live. Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did
thy foot swell, these forty years.” Israel had no right to be discouraged nor
to complain. Neither do we! If God does not give us another blessing in our
lives we should still be able to say, “Blessed be the name of the Lord!”
THE DANGERS OF DISCOURAGEMENT are WE DISCOURAGE OTHER, WE SAY THE WRONG THING and…
(3) WE SEE THE WRONG THING
NUMBERS 21:5—“And the people spoke against God, and against Moses,
Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.”
A. THEY HAD A DISTORTED VISION. All they could see was the worst
possible situation: death, starvation, no water. Discouragement will distort
our vision. It will cause us to see only the worst of things instead of the
best of things.
ILLUS: Two men were in jail. As they looked out of their cell they talked
about what they could see outside. One said, “I see it has been
raining and there is mud. I see some trash that has been washed
upon the side walks.” The other prisoner said, “I see beautiful
skies, and the big beautiful sun that has come out and driven the
rain and the clouds away.”
B. THEY HAD A DEFEATED VISION. Their discouragement led to defeat.
They only saw death—“And the people spoke against God, and against
Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the
wilderness?...” They thought they were going to die in the wilderness.
(4) WE MAKE WRONG DECISIONS
A. WE FAIL TO SEEK THE LORD. Proverbs 3:5-8 tells us—“Trust in the
LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all
thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in
thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy
navel, and marrow to thy bones.” We make wrong decisions when we are
discouraged because we fail to seek the Lord. He knows the right way to
the right ends. He knows what benefits us. He is able to free us from that
which does us harm: therefore it is our duty and our safety to place our
confidence wholly in Him, and to trust not to our own judgment. (Keil &
Delitzsch Commentary on The Old Testament. e-Sword. Version 7.8.5.
Copyright 2000-2007. Rick Meyers. All Rights Reserved Worldwide).
Someone has said, “Regardless of circumstances, each man lives in a world
of his own making.” -- Josepha Murray Emms (As quoted in Bob Phillips,
Phillips' Book of Great Thoughts & Funny Sayings, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale
House Publishers, Inc, 1993), p. 68).
B. WE BECOME FEARFUL IN THE SITUATIONS OF LIFE. Every time the
Israelites became discouraged all they could think was, “Let’s go back to
Egypt,” or “Let’s stone the leaders,” or “Let’s make a golden calf and
worship it.” Because of their discouragement they were fearful. Here we
see them saying—“Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in
the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our
soul loatheth this light bread.” They were speaking out of fear and
discouragement.
ILLUS: Fear. His modus operandi is to manipulate you with the
mysterious, to taunt you with the unknown. Fear of death, fear of
failure, fear of God, fear of tomorrow-his arsenal is vast. His goal?
To create cowardly, joyless souls. He doesn't want you to make the
journey to the mountain. He figures if he can rattle you enough,
you will take your eyes off the peaks and settle for a dull existence
in the flatlands. --Max L. Lucado (1955- ) (Edythe Draper,
Draper's Book of Quotations for the Christian World (Wheaton:
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1992). Entry #3971).
(5) WE INVOKE THE CHASTISEMENT OF GOD
NUMBERS 21:6-7—“And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people,
and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore
the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have
spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD,
that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the
people.”
A. WE FAIL TO CONSIDER. Note the words in vv. 6-7—“ And the LORD sent
fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of
Israel died We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and
against thee…”. The people because of their discouragement failed to
consider that there were consequences for their actions. Friends, there are
always consequences to our actions. 1 Corinthians 10:9-12 warns us—
“Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were
destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured,
and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto
them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the
ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take
heed lest he fall.”
B. WE FACE THE CONSEQUENCES. V6 tells us—“And the LORD sent fiery
serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel
died.” All of this started because of discouragement. All of this because—
“the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.”
CLOSING: THE DANGERS OF DISCOURAGEMENT are WE DISCOURAGE
OTHERS, WE SAY THE WRONG THINGS, WE SEE THE WRONG
THINGS, WE MAKE THE WRONG DECISIONS, and WE INVOKE
THE CHASTISEMENT OF GOD.
Is there a remedy for discouragement? Yes! :
? CONFESS THAT DISCOURAGEMENT IS A SIN (v7).
? GET YOUR EYES ON JESUS (v8). The serpent on the pole is a type of Christ. Friends, we must keep our eyes on the Lord or else we will become discouraged (Hebrews 12:1-3).
? GET UP OUT OF THE “DUMPS” AND MOVE ON FOR GOD (vv. 10-11).
Prepared by Brother Bryan L. Browning, Pastor of Beechmont Baptist Church, Beechmont, KY for Sunday Evening, June 24, 2007.