Numbers 21:4-9
“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. And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.”

Ever Been Discouraged?
In these verses, we see the Israelites in their wilderness journeys. Verse 4 says, as they were journeying to compass the land of Edom, that the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. What way was it that discouraged them? Was it the rough terrain? Or a long journey? Or were they just tired from all the fighting and journeying? If you look back at verses 1-3, the Lord had just given them great victory and then they were discouraged in the way.

Ever felt that in your life? Great victory followed by discouragement. I know I have seen that in my life, and I believe we need to be aware of this tactic of Satan. We need to be on guard against it. I think of the verse in Proverbs 27:12, ‘A prudent man forseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on and are punished.’ Being wise towards Satan’s attacks can save us pain.

In this account, given to us in Numbers, I believe we can see a progression that can be a teaching moment for us.
1. Discouragement brings murmuring vs. 4-5
Since the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way, verse 5 says they spake against God and against Moses. All the sudden they forgot about the victories, the good things, the faithfulness, the love of God and of Moses. Instead, they began to murmur about what they didn’t have. They focused on NO bread, NO water, and we LOATHE this light bread. Isn’t that you and me though? When we forget God’s goodness and allow discouragement in, we begin to murmur.
2. Murmuring brings chastisement vs. 6
Because of their murmuring ways, God sent chastisement in the form of fiery serpents and much people died. Do you realize that when you murmur and complain God is not pleased or glorified? Yet our tendency is to do it often! If we allow ourselves, we could murmur and complain continually. Yet what we like to forget is that chastisement will come from our actions! Thankfully, probably not in the form of a fiery serpent!
3. Repentance brings healing vs.7-9
The Israelites come to Moses and admitted they had sinned by speaking against the Lord and Moses. So, Moses prays, and the Lords sends healing. Do you want to get back in sweet fellowship with the Lord and His People? Then repent, admit your sin and the Lord will send healing.

Do you find yourself discouraged in the way today? Take a lesson from the Israelites today and don’t follow their progression! Already started the murmuring? Get it right, there is healing! God loves you, friend!