Numbers 21:4 “And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.”
It is often said that discouragement is the devil’s most effective weapon against the Children of God. Discouragement is usually associated with ignorance and shortsightedness; that is, only looking at our present trouble and failing to look toward the hope of a better day and failing to consider that we are under the leadership and care of the Sovereign God Who has power and authority over our present trouble. Discouragement is a very effective weapon; the military uses it in Psychological Warfare, cruel minds use it to control other people, and the devil uses it to render us unfruitful in the Lord’s service. In this case, the Children of Israel had fallen into discouragement because they were traveling through extremely rough desert terrain and, in their shortsightedness, they could not see beyond the desert to focus upon the Lord’s promise to give them the Land of Canaan. Later on, when they approached the Land of Canaan, most of their leaders “discouraged” the people with the “we can’t” attitude (Numbers 32:7). They were told that they could not take the Land of Canaan because there were high walled cities and great armies and giants in the land. In their shortsightedness, they couldn’t remember (no hindsight) that the Lord had delivered them from the Egyptian army and through the Red Sea; neither could they focus upon the Lord’s sure promise (no foresight) to give them the Promised Land. Good and godly leaders always point the people to the other side of their present trouble, reminding them of Philippians 4:13, and reminding them that our Lord is our helper in times of trouble. The Apostle Paul gives us the perfect antidote to discouragement; he tells us, “we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: 9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;” (II Corinthians 1:8-10). The Psalmist tells us to “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.” (Psalms 31:24)! In a time of great distress, the Children of Israel “helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.” (Isaiah 41:6)! John the Baptist greatly encouraged us when he heralded, “Behold the Lamb of God” (John 1:29,36); pointing us to our Blessed Savior and the source of help in times of need! We have every reason to “Be of good courage” – let us daily encourage ourselves and one another in the Lord (I Samuel 30:6); said another way, if we have an attitude if good encouragement, it will encourage those around us!