THE DANGER OF DISCOURAGEMENT.

Numbers 21:4 declares "And they journeyed to 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." Having been aware,those referred in our text are the children of Israel, and "the way" is the wearisome wilderness which they had to move through to the promised Land. If you remember, for many years they had been under the slavery of the Egyptians and they had to wait for many years before their rescue finally arrived. Considering their miraculous escape, their journey to the promise land started. Almighty God fed them everyday with manna from heaven. He led them with pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night (Exodus 13:21,22.). He offered them His love. He equally offered them His word. And He promised them that if they honoured His commandments and obeyed Him,it will be well with them and their children. But after journeyed for many weeks without being to the much scheduled land of promise, "the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way." Truely, if you have given your life to Christ, you too can share with the experience of this people. What they encountered in the land of their captivity can be compared to your life in sin,when you were under the captivity of Satan. You too have had a situation of what it means to be in bondage to the passion of this world which is pertaining to a symbol of Egypt. At different time, you were serving the devil like the children of Israel were serving Pharaoh in Egypt. The habits and practices of this world enslaved your mind. It seems there was no way for your freedom from the inclination of sin and the agony of Satan. But God who is rich in mercy and grace did not allow you to die in bondage of the devil. He saved you and made you His precious child. He offered you a brand new life, a new hope,new focus and many treasured promises for life and eternity. Even you can confess that the miracle of saving grace is indeed the greatest miracle you have received since you were born.