“Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and all the people wept that night. And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron.” Numbers 14:1-2

Imagine being given the task of leading an entire nation of people from a place of bondage and slavery into a place of freedom and provision. You’re getting your instructions straight from the mouth of God, He’s visibly leading you forth via a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire, and ALL the people’s mouths are full of complaints and grumbling, and they’re unhappy with you as a leader. So unhappy in fact that they say, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt,” (Numbers 14:4). After all you’ve been through with these people, after seeing all the miracles and supernatural occurrences that have happened on this journey, they desire to go back to their place of bondage. Why? It is because they possess a mindset of defeat.

“Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” (Numbers 14:2-3).

This well known group of people, known as the Israelites, viewed themselves as already defeated. Fear of the unknown caused them to look at their circumstances and surroundings instead of God, and they believed a lie that they wouldn’t make it. Throughout their journey, the Israelites kept their eyes upon the way things used to be instead of on the bright future God had promised them and was leading them into.  The Israelites lamented,

“If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death,” Exodus 16:3.

Their minds were stuck on a good memory – things that once brought them pleasure in the midst of despair.  It’s obvious the past had nothing to offer them but sorrow, but they fondly held onto it and failed to see all that God was doing before them – He was fighting for them! He was making a way where there seemed to be no way! He was providing them with divine protection, meeting their every need, and leading them every step of the way. He did what is naturally impossible and parted the Red Sea on their behalf! The past had blinded them to the future.

Not only were the Israelites focused on a memory, but they had grown comfortable in their place of distress. They felt as if they knew how to navigate it after being in that position for so long, and now they were plunged into unfamiliar territory without a physical attachment to make life seem easier. They had to learn to rely on God for all they needed, including comfort.

When we’re in the heat of the battle, coming out of a place of familiarity, it’s easy to let our minds wander back to times that seemed joyous. Thoughts of the past bring a temporary, false feeling of comfort, but instead of launching us forward into the unknown, and into the place of promise God has for us, thoughts of defeat threaten to draw us back into our former state by whispering in our ears, “Remember when? Things seemed so much easier. We didn’t have to deal with this.” In Genesis 19:26 we see Lot’s wife looked back and was destroyed despite the warning given by the angels in verse 17 to “Run for your lives! Do not look back, and do not stop anywhere on the plain! Flee to the mountains, or you will be swept away!” I believe this warning can be applied to today as well – do not look back or the past will sweep you away.

“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have laid hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” Philippians 3:13

Having a mindset of defeat will stop anyone from progressing forward and reaching their ultimate goal, or dreams. It is a dream assassin. Again we see this in the story of Moses, who was to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses had received instructions from the Lord to bring them out of Egypt and into “a spacious land, one which is rich and fertile,” (Exodus 3:8). They had dreamed of the day when they would be rescued out of their slavery and oppression. They had cried out to the Lord, He heard them and devised a plan to rescue them. That day had finally arrived – they were coming out! Only it didn’t look quite like they had imagined. It would require time and effort on their part.

Entering into the things God has promised us can be a process with many different phases. For example, my husband and I were given a mandate by God to leave the place we grew up, leave our families behind, and move to South Carolina. The move was not easy, nor did it happen all in one fell swoop. It was a process that began with putting our house up for sale, and saying goodbye to all our loved ones. We left our home before it sold (which is a story unto itself), and moved to a rental house in Atlanta Georgia – something I had said I would never do again, rent. From there we bought a brand new house that was still under construction, despite being told we wouldn’t be able to get a loan, and lived there for nearly two years before God gave us the go ahead to continue on to South Carolina. Once again we were told it would be nearly impossible for us to get a loan for a house, but God did it again! We moved into yet another new construction home and into our promised land. It was not easy getting to our final destination, but God was there opening and closing doors for us every step of the way. We had many miracles happen along our journey as did the Israelites, and there were also many times when I cried out to God because I was ready to turn back.

The journey may be long and difficult resembling more of a fierce battle, but it will not overcome us unless we allow it to. God has given us everything we need to succeed. He has given us everything we need to do what He has called us to do, and to go wherever He has called us to go. Our provision is found in Christ Jesus and we always have the choice of trusting God and continuing on, or stopping midway in defeat.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43:2

The journey we must go through to reach our promised land, or place of provision is not meant to kill us, but it will effectively deal with our attitude and our character. Perseverance and patient endurance are the fruit produced by walking all the way through the fire. The quicker we submit to the process God has for us, the quicker we will make it through. We are never left to go through it alone; God says He is right there, going through with us.

I was given a dream from the Lord many years ago that showed me the process of going through the fire. The dream took place in a college setting on the roof (a higher place of learning). A large metal grill stood in the center – the coals red hot with a person lying motionless inside. It was so hot and painful that some did not dare to even venture close enough to look in. I watched as the person lie inside, surrounded by flames, and saw that they did not burn up. The Lord sat by the person’s side holding their hand throughout the whole process of going through the fire. I glanced over and saw another person who had just been lifted out of the fire and was wearing a suit of armor. Once out of the fire, they stood immoveable and each time they were put back into the fire, they came out even stronger than before.

Going through the fire is a painful process. It strips us of anything that is not Christ-like in character, leaving us standing stronger in our faith than ever before.

Our words in the midst of a battle will also determine our direction and the outcome of the battle. Filling our mouths with grumbling and negativity will keep us in a place of defeat. Choosing to speak life into our situations will bring about change.

“So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say: In this wilderness your bodies will fall,” (Numbers 14:28).

In the Israelites case, they saw themselves as defeated – already dead before even engaging in battle. Numbers 13:33 says they saw themselves as grasshoppers compared to what stood before them. The Israelites spoke a language of defeat, and later reaped what they had sown. Figuratively speaking, they had made it to the door of what God had in store, but it took a lot longer than it should have, and they failed to enter in due to what came out of their mouths. Their words were literally the death of them. Words have power to create or destroy. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Our words are like seeds planted as soon as they come out of our mouths. A harvest will soon follow – good or bad.

Let me ask you, how do you see yourself? Where do you see yourself? If you cannot see yourself beyond your circumstances, you will remain right where you are. There is victory in Christ Jesus!