It is amazing to me how much a negative attitude can effect people. A negative
attitude can stop all forward progress if it is heard enough. It make me think of
the Old Testament account of the children of Israel coming to Canaan.
Numbers 13:30-33
31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against
the people, for they are stronger than we.”
32 And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied
out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its
inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature.
33 There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we
were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”
It continues in Numbers 14:1-4.
1 So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night.
2 And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole
congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had
died in this wilderness!
3 Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and
children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?”
4 So they said to one another, “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.”
Look at the impact that a negative attitude can have, even toward God's will. But, let's
turn that situation around and see what the opposite effect is. In verses 6-9 of that chapter
we read:
6 But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who
had spied out the land, tore their clothes;
7 and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: “The land we passed
through to spy out is an exceedingly good land.
8 If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land
which flows with milk and honey.’
9 Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread;
their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them.”
Now, this was not immediately accepted. In fact, the people wanted to stone them for it. But,
what happened in the end? Numbers 21:2-3 tells us that they put their faith in God, and He gave
the victory. We can accomplish anything if we have God on our side. That alone should give
us the positive attitude we need. There is no commandment from God to ever have a negative
attitude. Keep in mind, that wonderful verse in Philippians 4:13.
Have a wonderful day!
