THEWAYTOHANDLEDISCOURAGEMENT 20 14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying, This is what your brother Israel says: You know about all the hardships that have come upon us. 15 Our forefathers went down into Egypt, and we lived there for many years. The Egyptiansmistreatedusaswellasourfathers. 16 ButwhenwecriedouttoJehovah,he heard our cry and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. Now we are here in Kadesh,atownontheedgeofyourterritory. 17 Pleaseletuspassthroughyourcountry. We will not go through any field or vineyard; neither will we drink water from the wells.wewilltravelalongtheking shighway;wewillnotveerofftotherightortothe leftuntilwehavepassedthroughyourterritory. 18 ButEdomanswered, Youmaynot passthroughmycountry.ifyouattempttodoso,iwillcomeoutagainstyouwiththe sword. 19 ThechildrenofIsraelreplied, Wewilltravelalongthehighway;andifIand my livestock drink any of your water, I will pay for it. Only let me pass through on foot Iaskfornothingelse. 20 Buthesaid, Youmaynotpassthroughmyland. 21 Soit wasthatedomrefusedtoallowisraeltopassthroughhisterritory;therefore,israel turnedawayfromthem. 22 ThechildrenofIsrael,indeed,thewholecongregation,setoutfromKadeshand cametomounthor. 23 AtMountHor,neartheborderofEdom,JehovahspoketoMoses andaaron,saying, 24 Aaronshallbegatheredtohispeople;heshallnotenterintothe landihavegiventothechildrenofisrael,becauseyourebelledagainstmycommand at the waters of Meribah. 25 Take Aaron and his son Eleazar, and bring them up to Mount Hor. 26 Remove Aaron s priestly garments from him and put them on his son Eleazar. 27 MosesdidasJehovahcommanded:theywentuptoMountHorinthesight ofthewholecongregation. 28 MosesremovedAaron spriestlygarmentsandputthem on his son Eleazar. Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazarcamedownfromthemountain. 29 Whenthewholecongregationlearnedthat Aaronhaddied,theentirehouseofIsraelspentthirtydaysinmourningforhim. 21WhentheCanaanitekingofArad,wholivedintheNegev*,heardthatIsraelwas comingalongtheroadtoatharim,heattackedthemandtooksomeofthemcaptive. 2 ThenIsraelmadethisvowtoJehovah:Ifyouwilldeliverthesepeopleintomyhand,I willdevotetheircitiestoyoubytotallydestroyingthem. 3 JehovahlistenedtoIsrael s vowanddeliveredthecanaanitestothem.theycompletelydestroyedthemandtheir cities;sothatplacewasnamedhormah. 4 ThentheytraveledfromMountHoralongtheroutetowardstheRedSea,inorderto goaroundthelandofedom.thepeoplebecameverydiscouragedinspiritbecauseof the route [they were obligated to take]. 5 The people spoke against God and against Moses, saying, Why have you brought us up out of Egypt in order to die in this wilderness?thereisnobread!thereisnowater!andwedetestthismiserablefood! 6 Then Jehovah sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelitesdied. 7 ThepeoplecametoMosesandsaid, Wesinnedwhenwespokeagainst Jehovah and against you. Pray that Jehovah would take the snakes away from us. 8 Jehovah said to Moses, Make a replica of a venomous snake and put it on a pole; whenanyonewhohasbeenbittenlooksatit,heshalllive. 9 SoMosesmadeabronze snakeandputitonapole.andithappenedthat,ifanyonewasbittenbyasnake,when helookedatthebronzesnake,helived.(num.20:14 21:9)
*Or, thesouth Introduction Many years ago a group of settlers was going west along the Oregon Trail. At one point they reached a very discouraging episode in their journey. For several days water,andgrassfortheirlivestock,hadbeenscarce.theheatwasstiflingduringthe day. Some of their wagons broke down, causing delay. Consequently, a spirit of fretfulnessandcomplainingtooktheplaceofthecheerandhighexpectationsthat hadmarkedtheoutsetoftheirjourney.thesettlersdecidedtoholdameetingatthe nextnight srestingplaceandtalkovertheirsituation. When they gathered around the campfire to discuss their problems, one of them stood up and said, Before we do anything else, we should first thank God. Thank Hiimthatwehavecomethisfarwithoutanylossoflife,thatwehavehadnoserious trouble with the Indians, that we still have the strength to continue our journey. The settlers followed this man s advice; one after another they stood and thanked GodforHisblessings.(Mrs.Knight sbookofillustrations,pp.367 368) Thatapproachtodiscouragingcircumstancesstandsinstrikingcontrasttotheway OldTestamentIsraeldealtwithdiscouragement: ThentheytraveledfromMountHoralongtheroutetowardstheRedSea,inorder to go around the land of Edom. The people became very discouraged in spirit becauseoftheroute[theywereobligatedtotake.] 5 ThepeoplespokeagainstGod andagainstmoses,saying, WhyhaveyoubroughtusupoutofEgyptinorderto die in this wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserablefood! (Num.21:4 5) Whenweexperienceseveredisappointmentordiscouragementinourliveswe,too, are tempted to lash out against God in a blasphemous way. But the LORD will not tolerate spiritual temper tantrums; therefore, we must learn how to handle discouragementinagodlymanner. I.TheWaytoHandleDiscouragement:Don tbesurprisedbyit When Israel arrives at the border to the land of Edom (located southeast of Canaan),MosessendsambassadorstotheEdomitekingrequestingpermissionto pass through their land (Num. 20:14.) The Israelite ambassadors appeal to the blood relation that existed between themselves and the Edomites, identifying themselves as your brother Israel; and they appeal to Edom s mercy by recounting all the adversity they have suffered at the hands of the Egyptians (Num. 20:14 15.) The ambassadors explain that the people of Israel are merely requestingpermissiontopassthroughedomalongtheking shighway,theyhave
no intention of settling within Edomite territory or plundering the land (Num. 20:17.) ButEdomrefusestograntpermission,threateningtomakewaragainstIsraelif they enter Edomite territory (Num. 20:18.) Despite Israel s pleading and even their promise to pay for the use of water, Edom adamantly refuses to allow the peopletopassthroughtheirland(num.20:19 20.)Consequently,Israelisforced toturnawayandtakethelongarduousjourneyaroundthelandofedomtogetto thepromisedlandofcanaan(num.20:21.) To make matters worse, not only is Israel refused permission to pass through Edom, they are attacked by the Canaanite king of Arad (Num. 21:1.) Feeling threatenedbyisrael spresence,thatkingsendsoutamilitaryexpeditionagainst them,takingsomeofthepeoplecaptive. DespitethefactthattheLORDgivesIsraelamilitaryvictoryovertheseCanaanite people,hewillnotletisraeladvancenorthintothelandofcanaanitself;rather, thelordinstructsisraeltojourneysouthinordertogoaroundthelandofedom and eventually approach Canaan from the east along the Jordan River (Num. 21:4a.)Soitwasthatthepeoplebecame verydiscouragedinspiritbecauseofthe route[theywereobligatedtotake] (Num.21:4b.)TheyhaveencounteredEdom s rejection,acanaaniteattack,andnowgod smysteriousprovidence.allofthese occurrencestookisraelbysurprise,theywereallcontrarytotheexpectationof thepeople. Thewaytohandlediscouragement:Don tbesurprisedbyit. Don tbesurprisedtoencounteranunloving,unsympatheticresponsefromthose withwhomyouwouldexpecttohavebrotherlyrelations thekindofresponse IsraelreceivedfromEdom.ConsidertheresponseDavidgotfromNabalwhenhe soughtnabal shelpandcomfortafterhavingprotectednabal sshepherdsinthe wilderness: NabalansweredDavid sservants,whoisthisdavid?whoisthissonofjesse? Manyservantsarebreakingawayfromtheirmastersthesedays. 11 Whyshould Itakemybreadandwater,andthemeatIhaveslaughteredformyshearers, andgiveittomencomingfromwhoknowswhere?(1sam.25:10 11) ConsidertheresponsetheLordJesusgotinthedaysofHisearthlyministry: He wasintheworld,andtheworldwasmadethroughhim,buttheworlddidnotknow him. 11 Hecametohisownpeople,yetthosewhowerehisowndidnotreceivehim (Jn.1:10 11.) Don tbesurprisedtoencounterhostility,rejection,andoppositionfromaworld thatneitherfearsgodnorissympathetictohispurposes thekindofresponse Israel received from the Canaanite king of Arad. Consider again the case of the
LordJesusChrist: Considerhimwhoenduredsuchoppositionfromsinfulmen,so thatyouwillnotgrowwearyandloseheart (Heb.12:3.) Don tbesurprisedtoencountergod smysteriousprovidencebywhichheeven allowshispeopletobeopposedandtemporarilythwartedbythedevil.notethe words of the Apostle Paul to the Thessalonian church, we wanted to come to you certainly I, Paul, did, again and again but Satan hindered us (1 Thess. 2:18.)Thehymnwriter,IsaacWatts,asks, Isthisvileworldafriendtograce,to help me on to God? The answer he anticipates is No. Note the many times ScripturewarnstheChristiantoexpectoppositionandtrialinthepresentworld: Ihavetoldyouthesethingssothatinmeyoumayhavepeace.Intheworldyou have tribulation. But have courage; I have conquered the world. (Jn. 16:33.) SuchisJesus testimonytohisdisciplesandtous. theyreturnedtolystra,andtoiconium,andtoantioch, 22 strengtheningthe disciples,exhortingthemtocontinueinthefaith,and[teaching]thatwemust enterintothekingdomofgodthroughmanytribulations.(acts14:21 22) ThethoughtsandprayersofacontemporaryChristianwriterareveryapropos: TheothernightIstoppedbythebankafterhoursandusedtheautomatic tellermachine.thewholetransactiontooklessthanaminute.asiwalked thefewstepsbacktothecar,ithought,thetroublewithamericansociety isthatit stooconvenient Ifindmyselfthinkingthateveryaspectoflifeshouldbeaseasyasusingan automatictellermachine.whenitisn t,icaneasilybecomefrustrated.in addition, there is the subtle assumption that God is somehow committed tomakingmylifeconvenient,pleasant,andprotected Lord,helpmenottoconstructatheologyofconveniencethatwillnotallow Youtoleadmethroughthislifeorcallmehometoheavenalongaroadof painandpersonalloss.(davidmccasland,power,5/3/92,p.8) II.TheWaytoHandleDiscouragement:Don toverlookgod sfaithfulmercies inthemidstofit Again the people of Israel blasphemously protest against the LORD and His servantmoses: WhyhaveyoubroughtusupoutofEgyptinordertodieinthis wilderness? (Num.21:5a.)Theytotallylosesightof,andevendeny,God sactsof salvationandhisgoodpurpose,notejeremiah29:11, IknowtheplansIhavefor you, declaresjehovah, planstoprosperyouandnottoharmyou,planstogiveyou hopeandafuture.
They go on to protest, There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food! (Num. 21:5b.) The LORD had been graciously and even miraculouslykeepingthesepeoplealive,yettheyhavetheaudacitytocursethe very provision He has faithfully supplied. They also have lost sight of the fact that it was their unbelief and rebellion that has prevented them from already gaining access to the Promised Land of Canaan. The wisdom of Proverbs 19:3 wellappliestothepresentsituation: Aman sownfollyruinshislife,yethisheart ragesagainstjehovah. InresponsetoIsrael sattitudeandbehavior,thelorddemonstratesthathewill nottoleratespiritualtempertantrums,andhewillnotallowhissacrednameto beblasphemed.hesentvenomoussnakesamongthepeople(num.21:6a.)the wildernesswasinfestedwithvenomoussnakesandscorpions,aswelearnfrom Moses testimony, He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirstyandwaterlessland,withitsvenomoussnakesandscorpions (Deut.8:15.) ButIsraelhadbeengraciouslyspared untilnow.whenwedenyorcursegod s dealingwithus,hemayexposeustomoreterribleperilsthanweknewexisted. Who can count or even know the dangers and demonic forces from which we havebeensparedbythemercyandcovenantfaithfulnessofgod?butcursegod, denyhispresentgoodnesstoyou,andyouareliabletobeexposedtothevery perilsfromwhichthelordhasbeengraciouslysparingyou. Wereadfurtherthatthesepoisonousserpents bitthepeopleandmanyisraelites died (Num. 21:6b.) The terrors to which we expose ourselves when we blasphemeandforsaketheprotectivecareofchristareveryrealanddeadly;as the LORD warns rebellious Israel in the time of Jeremiah: See, I will send venomous snakes among you, vipers that cannot be charmed, and they will bite you,declaresjehovah (Jer.8:17.) The way to handle discouragement: Don t overlook (and don t forsake) God s faithfulmercies.maywebearinmindsuchscripturepassagesasthese: Many, O Jehovah my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you plannedforusnoonecanrecounttoyou.wereitospeakandtellofthem,they wouldbetoomanytodeclare.(psl.40:5) BecauseofJehovah sgreatlovewearenotconsumed,forhiscompassionsnever fail. 23 Theyareneweverymorning;greatisyourfaithfulness.(Lam.3:22 23) Consider,too,thefollowingtestimony: AmaninDundee,Scotland,whohadfallenandbrokenhisback,wasconfined tohisbedfor40years.heneverhadadaywithoutpain,butgodgavehim the grace and strength to keep going. His cheery disposition and great love forthelordinspiredallwhovisitedhim.
Onedayafriendasked, Doesn tthedevilevertemptyoutodoubtgod? Oh yes, he tries especially when I have to lie here and see my old schoolmatesdrivingby,havingagoodtimewiththeirfamilies.attimesit s asifsatanwhispers, IftheLORDissogood,whydoesHekeepyouhere?Why didheallowyoutobreakyourback? Whenthefriendaskedhowhehandledsuchattacks,themanreplied, Ipoint himtocalvaryandtothewoundsofmysaviorandsay, Doesn theloveme! The devil can t answer that, so he flees every time. (Our Daily Bread, 12/2/93) III.TheWaytoHandleDiscouragement:RepentofAnyUngodlyResponsetoIt The people of Israel came back to Moses and confessed their sin: We sinned when we spoke against Jehovah and against you. Pray that Jehovah would take thesnakesawayfromus (Num.21:7.)AfterhavingcometoMosesinangerand accusation, and then having turned away from Moses and from the LORD in disappointment and sinful disgust, it took a great deal of humility for them to return.buttheycametoseethattheirplightwasdesperate,thattherewasno hope apart from the LORD, and they had to return. In returning, they confess their sin: there can be no forgiveness without the confessing and forsaking of sin.whentheyreturnedtothelord,inhumilityandhonestconfessionoftheir sin,theyfoundthelordtobemerciful. Go, proclaim this message Return, faithless Israel, declares Jehovah, I will frown upon you no longer, for I am merciful, declares Jehovah. I will not be angry forever. 13 Only acknowledge your guilt you have rebelled against Jehovah your God, and have not obeyed me, declares Jehovah. 14 Return, faithlesspeople,declaresjehovah,foriamyourhusband 22 Return,faithless people;iwillcureyouofyourbacksliding.yes,wewillcometoyou,foryouare JehovahourGod. 23 surelyinthejehovahourgodisthesalvationofisrael. (Jer.3:12 14,22 23) WhenthepeoplereturntotheLORD,Heisfaithfultoreceivethembackandto provide for their deliverance. Moses is instructed to make a bronze replica of thedeadly,venomoussnakes(num.21:8a.)thatbronzesnakewasattachedto a pole and prominently displayed for all to see (Num. 21:8b.) In order to be saved,thebitten,perishingisraeliteshadtolookatthebronzesnake,trusting thatthelordwouldsavethem(num.21:8c.)thebronzesnakeattachedtothe pole was an Old Testament representation of the Lord Jesus Christ: Just as Moseslifteduptheserpentinthewilderness,inthesamewaymusttheSonofman beliftedup; 15 sothatwhoeverbelievesinhimmayhaveeternallife (Jn.3:14 15.) BecauseoftheirblasphemyandrejectionoftheLORD,theyweredeliveredover tothedeadlyvenomoussnakes.thewayofsalvationthelordprovidedwasfor themtolooktotheharmlesssnakeheappointedfortheirdeliverance.note2
Corinthians5:21,speakingofChrist,theApostlePauldeclares, Himwhoknew no sin God made to be sin on our behalf; so that we might become the righteousnessofgodinhim. Thewaytohandlediscouragement:Repentofanyandeveryungodlyresponse toit. TheApostlePaulexhortsthePhilippians, Doallthingswithoutgrumblingand arguing, 15 sothatyoumaybecomeblamelessandpure,childrenofgodwithout blemish, in the midst of a perverse and depraved generation, among whom you shinelikestarsintheuniverse (Phil.2:14 15.)Whenhespeaksof grumbling andarguing, Paulisnotspeakinghereaboutthatstruggle that takesplacein thechristian sheartaswewrestletoacceptthewillofgod.evenourlordjesus inhishumannatureexperiencedsuchstruggles: Father,ifyouarewilling,take this cup from me, yet not my will, but yours be done 44 And being in anguish, Jesusprayedmoreearnestly,andhissweatwaslikedropsofbloodfallingtothe ground (Lk.22:42,44.) WhatPaulisreferringtothatdeep seatedresistanceandrebellionagainstgod thatrefusestoaccepthiswillandbecomeshardenedandembitteredwhenits own will is disappointed. When he uses the phrase, grumbling and arguing, PaulhasinmindOldTestamentIsraelandthecharactertheydisplayedinthe wilderness: you were unwilling to go up; you rebelled against the commandment of JehovahyourGod. 27 Yougrumbledinyourtentsandsaid,Jehovahhatesus;so he brought us out of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroyus.(deut.1:26 27) They(Israel)havedealtcorruptlywithJehovah,theyarenothischildren,it istheirblemish;theyareaperverseandcrookedgeneration.(deut.32:5) Itisonethingtocryout, OLORD,helpmetotrustandobey! Itisquiteanother toquietlyseethe, OLORD,Iwillnottrustandobey! Wearetodoallthingswithoutgrumblingandarguingsothatwemaybecome children of God without blemish. What Paul means is that we are to increasingly become transformed into the character of Christ our Savior who trustingly accepted His Father s will, confident that in the ultimate sense he wouldnotbedisappointed,noteisaiah53:7,11 12, Hewasoppressedandafflicted,buthedidnotopenhismouth;likealambthat isbeingledtoslaughter,andlikeasheepthatissilentbeforehershearers,so hedidnotopenhismouth. 11 Hewillseethefruitofthetravailofhissouland shallbesatisfied. 12 Therefore,Iwillgivehimaportionwiththegreat,andhe willdividethespoilwiththestrong (Isa.53:7,11 12)
AsopposedtobeinglikeOldTestamentIsraelwho,becauseoftheirperpetual grumbling and arguing, are identified in these terms in Deuteronomy 32:5, theyarenothischildren,itistheirblemish i.e.;theirrebelliousspiritisthe blemish,thecondemningmarkagainstthem. Conclusion Christian, in this present world you may expect to encounter discouragements sometimesofaveryseverenature.ifyourespondtosuchtimesofdiscouragement anddisappointmentbylashingoutagainstgodinablasphemousway,donotexpect thelordtotoleratesuchspiritualtempertantrums. MaywelearntoavoidthesinfulconductexhibitedbyOldTestamentIsrael;maywe learntoimitatetherighteousconductofchristoursavior. As Christians, may we, too, utter the prayer made by that perceptive brother to whomweearlierreferred: Lord,helpmenottoconstructatheologyofconvenience thatwillnotallowyoutoleadmethroughthislifeorcallmehometoheavenalonga roadofpainandpersonalloss.