Numbers 14:36-40: a reflection

36The men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation to murmur against him by bringing up an evil report against the land, 37even those men who brought up an evil report of the land, died by the plague before the LORD. 38But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive of those men who went to spy out the land. 39Moses told these words to all the children of Israel, and the people mourned greatly. 40They rose up early in the morning and went up to the top of the mountain, saying, “Behold, we are here, and will go up to the place which the LORD has promised; for we have sinned.”

The spies who had brought back an evil report of the promised land, discouraging the whole people and turning them from trusting God, are struck down; and the account marks the great harm their report had done. They brought up an evil report of the land, the account says, and made all the congregation to murmur against Moses. The harm of the spies was not only their own unbelief but that they spread it, discouraging the whole people, turning a nation from trusting God by their fearful, faithless report. Their discouragement was contagious; it spread from them to the whole congregation, and turned the people from the faith and courage they might have had. This shows the harm that spreading discouragement can do: not only failing to trust God ourselves, but spreading that discouragement to others, turning them too from faith. To spread discouragement and an evil report that turns others from trusting God is a real harm. Discouragement spread turns others from faith. The spies' faithless report discouraged a whole nation. Spreading discouragement can turn others from trusting God.

Notice the reach of the spies' harm: their discouragement spread to the whole congregation. It was not enough that they themselves did not trust God; they brought back a report that spread their fear and unbelief to everyone, making the whole people murmur and lose heart. Their discouragement was contagious, turning a nation from the courage and faith they might have had. This reveals how harmful spreading discouragement can be. When we voice our fears and faithlessness, spread an evil report, discourage others, we do not merely express our own unbelief; we can spread it, turning others too from trusting God, dampening their faith and courage. Discouragement is contagious; a fearful, faithless word can spread from one to many. To spread discouragement, to turn others from faith by our fears and doubts voiced abroad, is a real harm, as the spies' evil report turned a whole nation from trusting God. We do well to guard against spreading discouragement, mindful that our words can dampen or destroy others' faith and courage. Our discouragement, spread, can turn others from God. What we voice can spread; discouragement is contagious.

That is worth taking to heart, for spreading discouragement and doubt can turn others from trusting God, and we must guard against it. We can voice our fears, doubts, and discouragement, spreading them to others, dampening or turning them from faith, as the spies' evil report discouraged a whole nation; but this spreading of discouragement is a real harm. Our words can spread fear and unbelief, or they can encourage faith. Do not spread discouragement and doubt that turn others from trusting God; guard your words, mindful that discouragement is contagious. Guard against spreading discouragement and doubt that turn others from trusting God, mindful that discouragement is contagious and our fearful, faithless words can dampen or destroy others' faith, as the spies' evil report of the land spread to the whole congregation and turned a nation from trusting God; for it is not only our own unbelief that harms, but the spreading of it to others, and we do well to guard our words, voicing encouragement rather than discouragement, since what we say can spread from one to many and turn others from the faith and courage they might have had, so that we bear a real responsibility for whether our words build up others' faith or tear it down.

Lord, the spies who had brought back an evil report of the promised land, discouraging the whole people and turning them from trusting you, are struck down; and the account marks the great harm their report had done. They brought up an evil report of the land, the account says, and made all the congregation to murmur against Moses. The harm of the spies was not only their own unbelief but that they spread it, discouraging the whole people, turning a nation from trusting you by their fearful, faithless report. Their discouragement was contagious. Show me the reach of the spies' harm: their discouragement spread to the whole congregation. It was not enough that they themselves did not trust you; they brought back a report that spread their fear to everyone. This reveals how harmful spreading discouragement can be. When I voice my fears and faithlessness, discourage others, I do not merely express my own unbelief; I can spread it, turning others too from trusting you. Discouragement is contagious. I do well to guard against spreading it, mindful that my words can dampen or destroy others' faith and courage. Take that to my heart, for spreading discouragement and doubt can turn others from trusting you, and I must guard against it. I can voice my fears, doubts, and discouragement, spreading them to others, as the spies' evil report discouraged a whole nation; but this spreading of discouragement is a real harm. My words can spread fear and unbelief, or they can encourage faith. Keep me from spreading discouragement and doubt that turn others from trusting you; help me guard my words, Lord, mindful that discouragement is contagious, and voice encouragement rather than discouragement, that my words may build up others' faith rather than tear it down.