Will The Fruit We Eat Be Bitter Or Sweet?
“For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.” Proverbs 1:29-31
Although I do not eat as much fruit as I should, I do enjoy the opportunity to choose favorites from a fruit tray or salad bar. This morning, the above verse resulted in a discussion concerning the “fruit” we are choosing to one day eat. Our daily choices are making up this fruit salad. Will it be a treat to enjoy, or will the taste be unbearable? In the above passage, the person described has chosen to go their own way. They “did not choose the fear of the LORD”. Therefore, they “shall eat of the fruit of their own way”…of their own choosing. Choosing our own way over God’s way always produces bitter fruit that is very hard to swallow.
We could take this principle and discuss so many topics in the law of “sowing and reaping”, but this morning, the Lord allowed us to look at the familiar story of the twelve spies in Numbers 13 & 14. Of the twelve who went to search the land of Canaan, two men (Joshua and Caleb) brought back a good report and the other ten an evil report:
“And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel…” Numbers 13:30-32
Sadly, the people listened to the ten instead of the two and the results were one of great despair:
“And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. 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!” Numbers 14:1,2
The people were so distraught over the evil report, that they wanted to go BACK to bondage!
“And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.” Numbers 14:3,4
Once again, Joshua and Caleb tried to encourage the people:
“And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.” Numbers 14:6-9
But, the evil report of the ten had already done its devastating damage:
“But all the congregation bade stone them with stones…” Numbers 14:10
In this Biblical account, we see two groups of people among the twelve spies – Encouragers and Discouragers. All twelve men went to spy out the very same land, yet they brought back two opposite reports:
Joshua & Caleb – “we are well able”
The Other 10 – “we be not able”
It is quite evident that, as they entered the land, Joshua and Caleb had their eyes set on the One Who is able to do exceeding, abundantly above as they said, “the Lord is with us: fear them not” Numbers 14:9 Because their focus was on God, they were able to encourage the people. Joshua and Caleb were encouragers.
I thank God for the “encouragers” He has placed in my life! Through trying times, the Lord has allowed individuals who have their focus on the “God of the impossible” to offer an encouraging word to me…praise the Lord! Trials come to all and when they do, what a blessing to have “encouragers” in our lives.
Back to the fruit…toward the end of Numbers 14, we see what God thought of those who discouraged the people as well as those who encouraged:
“And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land, Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD. But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search the land, lived still.” Numbers 14:37,38
Just as the report of the ten and two was completely opposite, so was the “fruit” of their ways:
The Ten –> Discouraging Words –> Death
Joshua & Caleb –> Encouraging Words –> Life
What a very solemn reminder concerning our words. Very simply put, God does not take lightly those who are a continual discouragement to God’s people. May we choose our words carefully, as we consider the “fruit” we will one day eat…
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Proverbs 18:21
~ Rachel ~