Faith Builds Faith

“Do you intend to stay here while your brothers go across and do all the fighting?” Moses asked the men of Gad and Reuben. “Why do you want to discourage the rest of the people of Israel from going across to the land the Lord has given them? Your ancestors did the same thing when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to explore the land. After they went up to the valley of Eshcol and explored the land, they discouraged the people of Israel from entering the land the Lord was giving them. Then the Lord was very angry with them, and he vowed, ‘Of all those I rescued from Egypt, no one who is twenty years old or older will ever see the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for they have not obeyed me wholeheartedly. The only exceptions are Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they have wholeheartedly followed the Lord.’ [Numbers 32.6-12]

Although, as the story goes, Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manaseh had no intention of doing so, Moses made very clear that they would be held responsible if they discouraged their fellow Israelites. 

Anything we do that discourages the faith of others is serious bad business with God!

God has made many promises throughout the entire Bible. These promises offer many good things to those who believe. It is simply unacceptable for us to be content to let others believe. Our contentment with faithlessness - our complacency regarding faith - is outright sin toward other believers! In other words, my lack of faith affects not only me, but everyone else who witnesses it and is discouraged in their own faith by it. And, when my lack of faith discourages others, I have not only sinned against God, but my fellow man as well.

It starts to make sense now why Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before God after they heard the initial scouts' report from the Promised Land (Numbers 14). They knew that a terribly contagious disease of unbelief had been unleashed among the people. The words from Hebrews 11.6 best describe it: "And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him." Let me paraphrase this verse: It is impossible to please God while discouraging others (pointing out "obvious" obstacles).

We must realize that faith builds faith and faithlessness builds faithlessness.

Father, I confess my own faithlessness as sin against You and my fellow man! Please forgive me this terrible trespass against You other believers! Help me to see that my faith is not only good for me, but also is good for others!