Discouragement Spreads

“Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from Kadeshbarnea to see the land. For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which the LORD had given them.” (Nu 32:8-9 AV)

Moses is referring to the ten spies who discouraged the nation from taking the land almost forty years ago.  Here, it is the two and a half tribes who settled on the east side of Jordan.  Moses warned these two and a half tribes that if the did not join with the majority of the nation, there was a real possibility the minority would discourage the majority. 

Not that I endorse all that C.S. Lewis has written, but in his book Screwtape Letters the tool of the devil that worked most of all was discouragement.  There is even an “illustration” that many preachers use that teaches the same principle.  Discouragement can be epidemic.  In our passage, Moses is comparing two separate events with the same potential outcome.  The first, when Joshua and Caleb were the only good spies, were defeated by the discouraging report of ten spies.  The majority discoursed the minority.  The ten spies who had little faith discouraged the nation from a great victory if they simply would have trusted the word of the LORD.  In our passage, the minority has the potential of discouraging the majority.  This discouragement can become a plague that starts out small, but grows and grows, making the whole body anemic.

Years ago, I had a pastor friend who pastored a nearby church to my own.  We used to exercise together.  We would often get coffee together.  His church was in my neighborhood.  He pastored a Southern Baptist church which tend to be committee or congregationally run with little regard to the authority of the pastor.  We were talking about his call to the pulpit which came after I had already been in the area.  He was the rookie of the neighborhood.  He had remarked that he had received 100% of the vote and he would never take a church unless the vote was unanimous.  Then he made the remark that he would never make any decision unless he had 100% percent of support.  That may sound good.  But there is a flaw in this reasoning.  Even if there was one individual who felt differently, then the church would not go in the direction which the LORD had led the pastor.  Discouragement becomes the rule of the congregation.  Which also means, nothing really changes.  The church is motivated by the least motivating factor.  Or not motivated at all.

Discouragement is a disease of the heart.  It affects all those who come in contact with it.  It will affect the whole body and keep the group from going forward in to the will of God.  May the LORD have mercy if we are the one spreading discouragement that keeps the whole body from stepping up in faith towards what God can do.

A Heart For The Sheep

“And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying, Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.” (Nu 27:15-17 AV)

Of all the things Moses could have prayed, he prayed the LORD would provide leadership for his people prior to his exit from Earth.  The LORD had just told Moses to go to a particular place and look upon the promised land because God was about to bring him home.  He was told to look upon the land that he would never transverse because of his sin of striking the rock.  Moses could have asked for leniency.  He could have asked for mercy.  Moses could have asked that he be allowed to merely cross Jordan and step on the shores of Canaan prior to his death.  HE asked for none of these things.  He didn’t need to ask forgiveness, for he already had it.  The only reason God brought it up again was in the context of the privilege to at least gaze upon Canaan.  Not to make Moses feel guilt over a sin that had been previously atoned for.  The only request Moses had was that the sheep be no scattered for lack of leadership.

Moses is perhaps one of the three greatest examples of a pastoral heart.  Christ being the first and always the best example.  David perhaps the second best.  But what it comes to loving an unlovely and ungrateful people, Moses has to rank right up there with the best of the best.  No doubt, Moses lost his temper with the people more than the Bible records.  The bible records only twice did Moses allow his anger with the people get the better of him.  The Bible chooses to record Moses love and patience for his people far and above his lack of patience and frustration.  Moses, in my humble opinion, should be a study for each and every pastoral candidate.  The man of God should make a special mentor of the man, Moses.

I have had the greatest privilege of serving with men of God whom I consider modern day Moses’.  The have been an example to me on how to love others even when other seem to be a thorn in the flesh.  These me, I can honestly say, never complained about any of the sheep God gave them.  They did have a realistic opinion about the sheep, but the loved them in spite of some of the trouble which they endured.  These men are gradually graduating to their final home.  This generation is passing before our eyes.  A generation that understood what pastoral ministry was all about.  They were not ‘kingdom builders’ which are modern seminaries are turning out.  They are first and foremost, shepherds.  They are not ‘headliners’ on a church marquee.  Their office is open to any and all who may wish their time.  They will never be in the annuals of a ‘Who’s Who’ because as far as they are concerned, they are a nobody trying to be a blessing to other nobodies.  They love their people.  And when they are gone, those whom they loved will realize just how much they were loved.  These men truly loved the sheep and their greatest concern was their welfare.

God Does Not Change

“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Nu 23:19 AV)

This verse has been over used in the debate of God’s sovereignty compared with the free will of mankind.  It is not our intent to debate this issue.  We must stay within context of the statement above.  The context is the king of Moab’s desire for the prophet of God to curse the nation of Israel.  Balak is seeking the magical curse of Balaam upon Israel because he feels threatened by Israel’s shear numbers.  Balak understands that if God curses them, then Moab is safe.  There are two errors in his judgement.  The first is that Israel is a physical threat to Moab to begin with.  They are not.  The second is that God can curse Israel to begin with.  That is what we want to consider this morning.

Yesterday, we considered the fact that God does not save to destroy.  God is not out to get you.  He is not a tyrant who takes pleasure in the torture of a creation whom He loves.  The hardships one faces are meant for our cleansing or maturity.  They are not meant to reduce us to ashes.  This passage is a good follow-up.  God is a God of honor and character.  If He promised something, then He will do it.  His covenants cannot be altered.  Even though the character of Israel is mentioned in this passage, it is not the foundation of the covenant God made with their ancestors.  The covenant God made with Abraham is unconditional.  God cannot go back on His word.  If He has stated something, then it is binding.  It cannot be canceled.  Balaam could no more curse Israel than he could change the course of the sun.

This truth of God’s unalterable righteousness and purpose is the foundation of our faith.  If God is not absolute and His word equally so, then there cannot be any faith.  We plan our lives around things that are predictable.  The sun comes up.  Gravity is absolute.  Math doesn’t change. Etc.  Without these absolutes, life could not exist.  If God is not a God of His word, then creation cannot exist.  God does not change.  Period.  It is that truth that brings security and comfort to God’s people.  No matter what the world believes or Satan attempts to prove, it doesn’t matter.  God is God and there is nothing that can change Him!

Not a Destroyer

“And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?” (Nu 20:4 AV)

Every time Israel faced adversity while wondering in the wilderness, they assumed God brought them out of Egypt to destroy them.  Perhaps, in the back of their minds, they were trying to justify the lack of faith at Canaan which resulted in the passing of a faithless generation in the wilderness.  Perhaps they were trying to find fault with God, or at the very least, God’s man that would be greater than their lack of faith.  Perhaps they were trying to justify their lack of faith with an “I told you so”.  Perhaps they were trying to say that if God can not keep them in the desert, why would they take the risk of invading Canaan thereby justifying their “rational” lack of faith.  There is another possibility we must consider here.  That is, their lack of faith continued in the desert.  It wasn’t enough they could not trust God to invade Canaan.  Now, they cannot trust God to take care of them.  The question to consider here is:  Why do we assume that the God of grace would save us only to see us destroyed?  This is not logical.  Worse yet, it is high blasphemous.

This condition has several names.  There is the ‘Woe is me’ virus.  Then there is the ‘Job Ailment’.  How about the ‘I don’t deserve to live’ syndrome.  This malady of which believes are inflicted find it hard to view hardship through the lens of faith.  We are works based.  No matter if we are saved or lost, a part of our human condition is to believe that good things means we are good and bad things means we are bad.  When bad things happen and we cannot seem to attribute equal bad things we have done (as Job failed to do) we chalk it up to God’s sovereign will.  We do this to the extent that it must please God to destroy that which He has created.  This is the Achille’s heal of Calvinism.  This is what they purport based on a misunderstanding of Romans chapter nine.  God is not please to destroy anything which He has created.  His is not pleased in the death of the wicked.  Why is it that, like Job, just because we cannot find just cause for our situation, we accuse God of being cruel?

What I have learned over the years is that bad things happen for only two reasons.  The first is sin.  Ours or others.  Directly or indirectly.  Sin causes hardship.  The other is opportunity for the exercise of faith.  Like building muscle in the body, faith can only grow through risk and adversity.  God is not out to destroy you.  If it is chastisement, then confess and learn that which the LORD desires you to learn.  Grow up into the holiness of God.  If it is faith which He is testing, then quiet the heart and wait patiently on the LORD.  This generation could never do this.  They were too used to Egypt catering to their basic needs.  God required trust.  Something they had little of.  Even after seeing what God did to Egypt, they still couldn’t bring themselves to trust.  God is not out to destroy you.  He is out to reconcile and mature you.  This takes adversity.

If Not One Step Forward, Then Many Backward

“And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.” (Nu 14:4 AV)

This statement was made following their rejection of Canaan.  This was at the conclusion of the twelve spies returning with their report.  A question arises.  Even if you didn’t want to take the step of faith and conquer Canaan with the power of God leading the way, why return to Egypt?  They had survived the wilderness.  Why not set up camp somewhere else?  Why return to a life of hardship and bondage just because one didn’t have the faith to live in the promise of God?  This is a great mystery.  But it shows us the nature of the saint.

We are told, in no uncertain terms, that it is impossible to please the LORD unless we live by faith.  We see this in Hebrews chapter eleven and in verse six.  Faith requires risk.  Yes, the people of Israel were risking their lives to trust the LORD and enter Canaan.  Yes, when the LORD asks us to trust Him, from our perspective of doubt, there is always risk.  Even if we are unwilling to take additional steps of faith, why don’t we keep the status quo?  Which brings up a very salient point.  When we refuse to trust the LORD, there is no status quo.  It may seem that way.  Especially to the casual observer.  But there really isn’t.  When we refuse to step out on faith, our natural desire is not to stay put.  It is always to go backward.

Who hasn’t stood at the side of a pool or lake and looked at that water, wondering how cold it was?  We look at the water.  We dip the tip of our toe in to see how cold it really is.  There are plenty of others enjoying the swim.  We know that no matter how cold it is, our bodies will adapt right quickly.  There is really no reason to not trust what we know will be and jump in.  But there is a part of us that cannot accept the initial shock of the change of environment.  So, what do we do?  We retreat as far away from the edge of the water so that the demand of the swim is no longer a pull on our minds.  If it means to retreat to the house so that we do not see the pool or lake, then that is what we do.  If it means to retreat to a safe distance and sit in a recliner so that not even a drop hits our flesh, then that is what we do.  We do not continue to stand at the edge of the challenge even though we know we will not jump.  We retreat.  In other words, if our spiritual life is not one step forward, it is always many steps backward.  There is no status quo in a faithless life.

A Crusade, Not a Journey

“And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.” (Nu 10:35 AV)

Today’s popular buzz word in ‘church’ names or ministry descriptions is ‘journey’. It’s the adjective to describe what they see as the Christian experience.  So, we are on a journey?  From where?  To where?  How are we going to where we are going?  How are we going to get there?  Who decides when we make a turn?  Once we get there, then what?  Sshhh.  Be quiet!  Don’t ask such silly questions.  We are on a journey!  Don’t you understand.  We are on a faith journey.  GAG.  What they really mean is they are on an experience.  The better word to use is a cruise.  We have gotten on the good ship Lollipop and enjoying the ride that we believe is led by the Holy Spirit.  No real goals in mind.  No objective.  Simply to enjoy the journey.

 Note above that when the pillar of smoke or fire lifted off the tabernacle and the nation of Israel traveled, they had a distinct goal in mind.  VICTORY!  No victory over their own declared enemies like anxiety and self-indulgence.  Rather, victory over the enemies of God!  Not our enemies.  God’s enemies!  Moses saw the lifting of the pillars and the leading of the LORD as an opportunity to serve and to fight.  Not to have our narcissistic, self-centered, fearful self be taken care of.  A few weeks after my home church baptized me by immersion, they encouraged me to enroll in a home discipleship ministry.  It was there I learned the believer has three enemies.  We have the world, the devil, and the flesh.  These enemies are a constant threat to the well being and maturity of the believer.  However, we were taught these three enemies hindered or primary goal in life.  That primary goal in our ‘journey’ was to bring glory to our Savior and LORD, Jesus Christ.  This meant we were to read and learn the statutes and principles of the word of God, seeking the power of the Holy Spirit, to defeat failure in our walk for God’s glory.  We are not on a cruise.  Our walk with God is not a journey.  It is a battle!

What is alarming is the statistics of cultures vices are not all that different inside or outside of the so called ‘church’.  The reason is we are on a journey.  We are not in a battle.  We are on a cruise and seeking our needs to be met by the steward of our ship and the waitstaff assigned to meet our needs.  If the ship gets a bit tossed in the waves, we panic and assault the captain of the ship to make it stop.  Our journey is all about having roses to stop and smell.  Not the true believer.  Keep the boarding pass.  We are on the battle field.  But God’s grace and power of the Holy Spirit, we will get our licks in.  The old devil, the world, and the flesh will feel a strike from the sword of God.  The word of God will be sure to make its presence known.  Get off the good ship lollipop and your self-centered journey and get in the battle for the LORD Jesus Christ.

All for One

“And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him.” (Nu 7:89 AV)

This statement follows what some might consider one of the ‘boring’ chapters of the Bible.  Chapter seven is a list of all the heads of each tribe and the required offering given to the tabernacle.  Each offering is worded exactly the same.  The amounts and items given are identical.  The only item that changes are the names associated with each offering.  Again, some might consider this redundant and ‘boring’.  However, the word of God is neither.  There are a number of applications which could be made.  The first is that when it comes to being right with God, the standard doesn’t change.  It matters not who we are or the ability or resources we have.  When God says to so something, then we do it.  But there is another application we can make here that is specific to the verse above.  That is, God does not speak to the leader unless all his leadership is also right with God.

There is a church of which I am casually familiar that has been looking for a pastor for at least five or six years.  When one researches this church, he will find it was started by an individual who was part of leadership of another church, yet was removed.  The circumstances are quite vague and I am in no position to judge whether this individual or the disciplining church is in the right.  However, I am inclined to favor the authority here and lean slightly towards the church.  What I found interesting is a young man I knew contacted this individual’s church as a possible candidate.  He found their standards didn’t match so he didn’t pursue it further.  On reflecting more of this church, I asked this fella if he happened to talk to the individual who had started this work after being disciplined from his former church.  The fella said he was the contact for this opening.  To which I remarked, “I wonder if you asked him this question, how he would respond?  Sir, from what I have read on social media and with contacts of other churches who are familiar with your situation, it seems to me that you might be the reason your church cannot find a pastor.  Even if you are in the right, would you be willing to leave your church if it means they might be able to find a pastor?”  My gut tells me probably not.  It does point to a principle, though.  If leadership is the reason God is not leading, one wonders if leadership is willing to get right with God!

There are pastors who struggle with vision.  They do not know why God is silent.  They have checked themselves.  They have striven to keep short accounts with God.  Yet, God is silent.  He may try one thing after another and nothing seems to work.  When there is an idea that pops into his heart, the LORD says ‘No’.  It seems like there is a dead end no matter what road he tries.  He may not even know why.  Perhaps it is because the leadership he is endowed with has issues which they refuse to change.  It could be there is more sin in the camp of which he is unaware.  If we are in the blessed position of leadership in our churches, the man of God depends upon you to be right with God.  God may not speak to him because we are not what we should be.