OceanSide church of Christ

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ARE YOU AN ENCOURAGER?  OR, A DISCOURAGER?

Victor M. Eskew

 

Let’s begin this article by reading about an event that happened not long after the children of Israel left the bondage of Egypt.  Most Christians are very familiar with this event. 

 

“And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.  And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land.  And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it” (Num. 13:25-27).

 

At this point, the spies who searched the land of Canaan were encouragers.  They noted the truthfulness of God’s words, “surely it floweth with milk and honey” (Lev. 20:24).  They also showed Israel the great produce of the land.  Had they stopped right here with their report, Israel would have eagerly entered into the Land of Promise.  But, they did not. 

 

“Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great:  and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.  The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south:  and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains:  and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coasts of Jordan.  And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it” (Nub. 13:28-30).

 

The report changed just a bit.  A harsh reality was set before the children of Israel.  The people are strong.  The walls cities are walled, and very great.  Several tribes of the Canaanites dwell therein.  This, however, was known.  And, Caleb continued to urge the people, saying:  “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.”  Even with this information, Israel would still be strong in heart.  They would still be eager to take the Promised Land.  But, the report continued.

 

“But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.  And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.  And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which were come of the giants:  and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight” (Num. 13:31-33).

 

The report goes from encouragement to reality to discouragement.  Several spies make it clear to Israel that the land could not be taken.  “We be not able to go up against the people,” they said, “For they are stronger than we.”  The discouragers have made their report.

 

“And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.  And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron:  and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt!  or would God we had died in the wilderness!  And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be prey?  were it not better for us to return to Egypt?” (Num. 14:1-3).

 

The impact of the discouragers has infiltrated the camp.  Joy is now turned into sorrow.  Strength is turned into weakness.  Submission is turned into rebellion.  Hope is turned into despair.  Victory is turned into defeat.  Even the bold and encouraging statements from Joshua and Caleb could not reverse the impact of the discouragers (See Num. 14:6-10a).

 

Brothers and sisters, we have a choice to make.  Will we be encouragers of God’s people?  Or, will we be discouragers? 

 

Our words prove which we are.

Our actions prove which we are.

Our involvement proves which we are.

Our support of our elders proves which we are.

Our willingness to give proves which we are.

 

Which are you?  God knows.  Your brothers and sisters in Christ know.  You know.  Remember, the encouragers, Joshua and Caleb, still entered the Promised Land after the forty years of wandering.  The discouragers did not.  They all died in the wilderness because of their unbelief.  Again, we ask:  “Are you an encourager?  Or, are you a discourager?”