“ Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way” (Numbers 21:4).
Discouraged on the way
The Christian walk is long enough to provide us with various times of testing, and these times will always lead us to one of two possible termini, namely, discouragement or fulfillment. It is so because every opportunity to advance is also an opportunity to retrograde, and every occasion to gain hides in its fabric an occasion to lose. Therefore, a specific state of affairs might dishearten the one and strengthen the other, for it is not the circumstances of life that make a person strong, but rather the state of the heart immersed in them.
The importance of spiritual training
Since we don’t know when these times of testing will come, we must keep ourselves ready at all times, i.e., we must remain among those who go from strength to strength (Ps. 84:7), and it can only be done when greater challenges come our way.
It is precisely this passing from quandary to quandary that will make us fit and develop in us the ability to endure times of adversities. Without this sort of training we have little possibility to succeed. The prophet had rightly noticed that each dire straits is important and should be regarded as a stepping stone on the path of progress.
If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, in which you trusted, they wearied you, then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan?” (Jer. 12:5).
Our opening text
“ Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way” (Numbers 21:4).
So here we have people discouraged on the way, and in part they were discouraged because they had not prepared themselves. Consequently, when long-lasting difficulties came their way, they were overwhelmed and lost heart. Obviously, there was another alternative. For instance, David could have fallen to discouragement many times, but as the following verse declares, he knew how to buttress his spirit and find strength in times of need.
Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:6).
When we have fellowship with God we imbibe divine strength, for His word can fortify our spirit and make us fit for the battle. Daniel refers to this sorts of imparting when he wrote:
And he said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me” (Daniel 10:19).
This heartfelt imparting is the best antidote against discouragement. It uplifts the heart and reshapes the mind. It brings about a new way of contemplation where God illuminates the dark prospects. As a result, the sun of hope rises and shines in our hearts, bringing boldness and edifying expectations.
The fibers of discouragement
Discouragement doesn’t come overnight. It is the result of a prolonged conflict that has drained the soul of any sort of fortitude. It is the surrendering of oneself to the fate of apparent darkness. It affects the way we assess reality, and above all, the way we speak inwardly—that is, the way we think—as well as the way we communicate with others. Discouragement brings nothing good. It is a destructive mental state with which God has nothing to do. It is one of the purest expressions of unbelief that feeds on ignorance and blindness.
The speech of discouragement
“Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread” (Numbers 21:4,5).
One of the main problems with discouragement resides in its inevitable expression. It doesn’t keep quiet. It preaches words of unbelief wherever it abides. It is so because the discouraged heart has removed God from its assessment. It can only see the dark clouds of detrimental circumstances hanging above its head. All edifying rays have been removed and there stands the discouraged heart amidst complaints and grumblings. All is bad; nothing will work; God doesn’t hear; there is no hope of deliverance.
As far as Christianity is concerned, discouragement is a departure from the truth, for it is established on lies and subsists by means of deception. It is indeed a devilish bait that can lure the unstable soul away from glorious achievements, and worse, away from the fulfillment of God’s will. So let us not blench. Even if the turn of events brings us to desolation, let us trust our Shield and our exceeding great Reward. For He who promised is faithful.
Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go” (Joshua 1:7).
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