Be Careful of Giving a False Report

Christ Triumphant - A Devotional by E.G. White

Be Careful of Giving a False Report

Today's Text: We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. Numbers 13:31

The Message:      Young people are needed in the work-those who will undertake the work interestedly and will carry it forward zealously and strongly. But the Lord is, and ever will be, with the old, steadfast leaders who have held fast to the truth in times of peril. When the foundation of the faith of the younger leaders seems to be swept away and their houses falling, the testimony, like that of Caleb, will be heard from the old warriors, "Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it." Then the voice of unbelief was heard. "We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we." One word of unbelief prepares the way for more. Satan does not easily let alone any person whom he can tempt to dishonor God by expressing unbelief....      What effect did this report have upon the congregation? ... "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 this wilderness!"...      Let all read carefully the fourteenth chapter of Numbers, and let them understand that people can make false reports as did these who had been sent on an errand that concerned the movements of more than a million people....      Those who bore the discouraging report and brought discouragement to the whole camp of Israel, when opposed because of their unfaithful witness, served the satanic powers in complete rebellion. And they carried the disappointed congregation with them, in that they believed their interpretation of the land. The congregation took the wrong side, and, inspired by satanic agencies, they cried out against the faithful spies, and bade them stone Joshua and Caleb, who dared to bear the truthful representation in regard to the land.      But there is always a defense provided for those who have borne witness for the truth. What was it that saved the lives of Joshua and Caleb? "And the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel."...      We have here a positive evidence that the anger of the Lord was awakened against the rebellious people-those who had been blessed with great light and precious opportunities to know the will of God, which was communicated to them by Christ Himself, their invisible Leader, enshrouded in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.-Letter 106, 1897 (Manuscript Releases 15:289-291).

Commentary: My friend, what we say and what we do has a direct bearing upon the faith of others, and unless we are connected to Jesus we cannot influence others for God.  Many times we do not consider the effect that our words and actions have upon others.  We do not realize that our words and attitudes influences others for either right or wrong, for good or evil.  Because of this we tend to not be careful of what we say in the presence of others and such influence them for evil. In the case of Caleb and Joshua, they brought back a good report and encouraged others to lay hold of the promises of God and to go forward into the land of promise.  But the lying and discouraging report of the other ten who had gone into the land, turned the tide of influence against them.  Because of their report, the children of Israel had to wander in the desert for forty years, and all those who murmured and complained died before coming into possession of the promised land. The reason why the ten spies brought in a discouraging report was because their faith in God was weak.  They had seen the manifestations of Gods power in freeing them from the hands of the Egyptians.  His power and presence was manifested in the pillar of cloud that sat above the tabernacle, and yet they doubted that God would deliver on His promises to them.  Their faith was weak because their relationship with God was weak.  Unless we have a close personal relationship with God, we will not have faith sufficient for us to stand in the last days. We are once again on the borders of the promised land and the enemies of God are right before us.  Test and trial will come to all those who profess to be followers of Christ, and unless we are connected to the One true God through His Son Jesus Christ, we will not be able to stand during that time.  All those who have neglected to surrender their hearts fully to the Lord, will find their faith failing and will exclaim like the murmuring multitude, "Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!" (Numbers 14:2). My friend, how is your faith today?  Is your faith firmly grounded in the One true God through His Son Jesus Christ?  Are you daily trusting in Him to see you through the various trials of life today?  If you find that your faith fails when tried and tested, it is because your connection to Him is lacking.  Just like any relationship is built in time, so too is our relationship with God.  We must spend time with Him in prayer and the searching of Him in His word.  The more time we spend with Him the greater will be our faith in Him.  Then when trial and test come, we will be able to lay hold of His promises and trust in Him to see us through. God bless,

Video of the Week Who or What is the Holy Spirit? New Gods - Nader Mansour New gods is a presentation that addresses the identity of God the Holy Spirit. Nader Mansour shares the biblical foundation as well as other historical examples that shed light on this question. It also deals with the question of "why is it important?". What does the Bible say about new gods? Have you accepted a new god? How many are ignorantly worshipping a new god? You will not want to miss this presentation! Are you an SDA who has fallen for the trinity? You have not fallen too far, there is hope yet! Presented at the Wenatchee 2013 Camp Meeting, USA.