The Valley Of Discouragement
15th February 2009 am
Numbers 21:1-9
One of the greatest Valleys that God’s people go through, especially in these last days, is that of Discouragement. In these verses, we find Israel still wandering around in the wilderness because of their sin of unbelief. The 10 spies gave an evil report of the Promised Land and discouraged the hearts of the people so much, that they refused to go forward and as a result brought upon themselves the judgment of God.
Even in the wilderness, the Lord was good to Israel and met their every need, but the way was long and hard and the people were prone to complain. Israel had just won a great victory through the help of God and in the very next verse they were discouraged!
I want to look at this valley of discouragement this morning with both its causes and affects. Why do God’s people get discouraged when He is meeting our every need?
I. Reasons for Discouragement
a. Because the battles are long and hard – vs. 1-3
Israel wasn’t prepared for this attack because some of their people were taken prisoners, but the leaders immediately turned to the Lord for His help. They vowed to utterly destroy the Canaanites and their cities if the Lord would give them the victory.
We are in a battle Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
This battle is long and hard, it is easy for us to become discouraged – if we are unprepared.
Numbers 21:3
b. Because the way is often long and hard – vs. 4
The first victory certainly encouraged the Israelites, but it’s one thing to mount up with wings as eagles but it is something else to wlak and faint not (Isaiah 40:31) Courage in the battle must be followed by endurance in the race.
Because the Edomites wouldn’t give Israel right-of-way through their land, Moses had to lead the people east of Edom and then north through difficult terrain. It didn’t take long before the difficulty of the march made the people impatient, and they started complaining again.
It is possible for us to win the battle but lose the victory.
c. Because our hearts are often complaining and bitter – vs. 5a
The anger and impatience in their hearts boiled over into harsh words against the Lord and Moses. In both their attitudes and their words they were tempting the Lord. 1 Corinthians 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
d. Because our spiritual sight is often dimmed – vs. 5b
It was the same old complaint. Moses had brought them out of Egypt to die in the wilderness, and there was nothing to eat but manna. In the difficulties of the daily march, they’d forgotten God’s promise that they would enter the Promised Land and claim it as their home Numbers 15:1
A bountiful supply of manna had been sent from heaven each morning since just after the exodus, so for 40 years God has been feeding His people the nourishment they needed. Manna was Angels food Psalm 78:25 but the people had gotten so accustomed to their blessings that they loathed it and called it light bread.
1. Discouragement Is Sin
2. Discouragement Is Infectious
3. Discouragement Is Curable
II. Resources for Encouragement
You Will Not Find Encouragement in Circumstances even though they may improve temporarily, they will continue to change.
You Will Not Find Encouragement in Human Reason because the world has no spiritual answers.
You Will Not Find Encouragement in Self-Pity as this will only cause the valley to deepen.
1. You Will Find Encouragement In The Lord
1 Samuel 30:6 …but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
a. There Is Encouragement In His Person - Habakkuk 3:18-19
When Babylon was through attacking the land of Judah there would be very little left. Buildings would be destroyed, treasures would be plundered, and livelihoods would be devastated. The economy would fall apart and there would be very little to sing about.
BUT, God would still be on His throne, working out His divine purposes for His people. Habakkuk couldn’t rejoice in his circumstances, but he could rejoice in his God. Habakkuk discovered that God was his strength, that God was his song and that God was his salvation, therefore he had nothing to fear.
Who has ever whistled in the dark when they are afraid? That nervous whistle?
When we find ourselves in the valley of discouragement we need to take a leaf out of Habakkuk’s book, don’t try and whistle in the dark, take encouragement from the Person of God and sing about the one who will never fail you. It worked for Paul and Silas and ended up bringing the house down, literally.
b. There Is Encouragement In His Presence - Hebrews 13:5
The word covetousness literally means “love of money” but it can be applied to a love of anything. Someone once asked a millionaire, “How much money does it take for a rich man to be satisfied?” to which he replied, “Just a million more than he has.” Covetousness is the desire for more, whether we need it or not.
Contentment cannot come from material things, for they can never satisfy the heart. Only God can do that. Luke 12:15 And he [Jesus] said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
When we have God we have all we need. The material things of life can decay or be stolen, but God will never leave us.
c. There Is Encouragement In His Power - Romans 8:31
The Father is for us and proved it by giving His Son (Rom 8:32) The Son is for us (Rom 8:34) and so is the Spirit (Rom 8:26). God is making all things work for us (Rom 8:28). In His person and his providence, God is for us. Sometimes we are like Jacob when we cry all these things are against me (Gen 42:36)
We need to enter each new day realizing that God is for us. There is no need to fear, when we are in this valley of discouragement because our loving Father desires only the best for His children, even if we must go through trials to receive His best. Jeremiah 29:11
d. There Is Encouragement In His Protection - 2 Corinthians 1:10
Paul saw God’s hand of deliverance whether he looked back, around or ahead. The word Paul used means, “To help out of distress, to save and protect.” God doesn’t always deliver us immediately, nor in the same way. James was beheaded, yet Peter was delivered from prison (Acts 12). Both were delivered but in different ways. Sometimes God delivers us from our trials, and other times He delivers us in our trials.
2. You Will Find Encouragement In the Word - Psalms 119:28 My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
a. There Is Encouragement In Its Promises - Deuteronomy 1:21
Kadesh-Barnea was the gateway into the Promised Land, but Israel failed to enter the land because of fear and unbelief. They walked by sight and not by faith in God’s promises.
Faith is not believing in spite of evidence, that’s superstition, but obeying in spite of circumstances and consequences. How much more evidence did the people need that their God was able to defeat the enemy and give them their land? Hadn’t He defeated and disgraced all the false gods of Egypt? Hadn’t He protected Israel on their journey? Hadn’t He provided for Israel on their journey?
When we are in the valley of discouragement we need to turn to God’s Word where we can find His promises to us – they will encourage you more than anything.
b. There Is Encouragement In Its Preaching - 2 Timothy 4:2
The word “preach” means to “preach like a herald.” In Paul’s day, a ruler had a special herald who made announcements to the people. He was commissioned by the ruler to make his announcements in a loud, clear voice so everyone could hear.
The Word of God is what both sinners and saints need. It is a pity that many churches have substituted other things for the preaching of the Word, things that may be good in their place, but are bad when they replace the proclamation of the Word. I have personally seen what the preaching of the Word can do in churches and individual lives – Nothing can take its place!!
Preaching must be marked by three elements: conviction (reprove), warning (rebuke), and appeal (exhort). Someone once said that when you preach, “You should afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted.” If there is conviction but no remedy, we add to peoples burdens, and if we encourage those who ought to be rebuked, we are assisting them to sin. Biblical preaching must be balanced.
3. You Will Find Encouragement In The Church
a. There Is Visual Encouragement - Hebrews 10:25
In this verse we are told that there is a great need to be faithful to the gathering of the saints at the House of God. Let’s face the fact this morning that church is viewed as optional by many. It should not be this way! There ought to be an excitement about going out to the House of God, Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.
It is encouraging to see one another in church, it is encouraging to see the church grow. According to this passage, some of the believers had been abstaining from church fellowship. Faithfulness encourages others and provokes them to love, good works, growth etc….
When a pastor called on a wayward church member, he found him sitting by a fireplace. He asked about his absence from services, and the parishioner replied, "I think I can worship as well alone as at church." After reflecting a moment, the pastor took the fireplace tongs, lifted a live coal from the fire, and set it down at the side of the grate. As they watched, its color turned to gray and the heat slowly died. The church member got the point. After a pause, he said, "I’ll be in church Sunday."
b. There Is Vocal Encouragement - Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
It encourages me just to hear them!
