How To Be a Miserable Failure

October 6, 2013

How To Be a Miserable Failure             Notes not edited

Numbers 13

SIS—The greatest misery in life results when someone passes on the opportunity to have a relationship with God forever.

As I  said last week, there are certain passages in the Bible that have a particularly important significance.  That is not to say that all parts of the Bible are not inspired—they are—but all parts of the Bible do not encapsulate enormous amounts of truth like other passages.

Scholars have a name for these types of passages.  They are called, “archetypal” passages.  Archetypes in literature refer to “a statement, or pattern of behavior, a prototype, if you will, upon which others are copied, patterned, or emulated.”  Archetypes are individual stories that encapsulate a bigger story.  You might say it is a “novel in miniature.”

Numbers 13 is such a story in the Bible.  This chapter recounts the historical event in the life of Israel shortly after the Israelites were miraculously delivered out of bondage in Egypt.  As the Israelites flee east they arrive at the Southern edge of what we now know as Israel.  They are in the Wilderness of Zin.  Egypt is behind them and the Promised Land is before them.  This is an archetypal theme of “choice” that runs throughout the gospel story.  Sin is behind them, blessing is before them, and a choice is confronting them.

This motif of choice, or archetype, will come up again and again as God’s story of redemption unfolds.  Joshua will speak of making a choice, as he oversees the conquest of the Promised Land (Jos. 24:15), and Elijah will highlight the idea of choice in another archetypal story of the challenge on Mount Carmel (1Kngs. 18).  Paul will use this story in Numbers to demonstrate to New Testament Jews the importance of “choosing to obey God” (Hebrews 3).

I must point out that this passage here in Numbers 13 is a “low point” in the life of God’s chosen people, Israel.  They did not “succeed” in obtaining God’s blessings through the conquest of the Promised Land.  That would come forty years later through Joshua’s leadership.  No, here in this passage we have a picture of the “miserable failure” of God’s people—hence my title, “How To Be a Miserable Failure.”  If we follow the example of the Israelites in this passage, we will guarantee a “miserable failure” in life—in fact, in all eternity.  So, my message this morning is this:  “don’t listen to my instructions on how to be a miserable failure.”  Completely ignore this “How To” message—you know . . . like you usually do with my sermons!

Let’s pick up the story after the spies have been inspecting the Promised Land for 40 days.   READ NUMBERS 13:25-33

There you have it—a clear, “how to” message.  It is a message outlining “how to fail miserably in three easy steps.”  The first step is:

1.  Acknowledge that God is Good! (v. 26, 27)

Did you know that there is something “worse” than not knowing anything about God and His wonderful blessings?  What could be worse than not knowing God and His wonderful blessings?  Simply, it is “worse” to know of God and to not obey Him.  The Bible says,

^{Luke 12  47} And that slave who knew his master’s will and didn’t prepare himself or do it  will be severely beaten.  ⁴⁸ But the one who did not know and did things deserving  of blows will be beaten lightly. Much will be required of everyone who has been given much. And even more will be expected of the one who has been entrusted with more.

This text comes from a parable dealing with the sudden second coming of the Lord, and the need to be watchful and ready at all times.  One set of slaves knew of the Master’s will and were unconcerned and unprepared.  They get a more severe beating in hell.  The other set of slaves never heard of the Master’s will and they will get a lighter beating in hell.  Now, granted, hell for all eternity is a horrible place and everyone there will suffer immensely.  It is hard to fathom, but it is true, some will suffer even more immensely because they heard the message of God’s goodness, but did not respond.

Now turn to our text and we will see that these Israelites, on their way to becoming miserable failures, knew about and acknowledge enthusiastically that God is good.  Look at verses 26-27:

²⁶ The men went back to Moses, Aaron, and the entire Israelite community in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They brought back a report for them and the whole community, and they showed them the fruit of the land.  ²⁷ They reported to Moses: “We went into the land where you sent us. Indeed it is flowing with milk and honey,  and here is some of its fruit.

All twelve spies sign on to the report of the Land.  It is a land “flowing with milk and honey” (two symbols of richness and blessing) and a land that produces some of the sweetest, largest fruit in all the world.  Verse 23 tells us that one cluster of grapes

Turning back leads to failure.  Moving ahead leads to fulfillment.  Would you not agree with me that one of the key ingredients to true success is “fulfillment?”  There is a story from the ancient fables of Aesop about a mouse:

Now you must know that a town mouse once upon a time went on a visit to his cousin in the country. He was rough and ready, this cousin, but he loved his town friend and made him heartily welcome. Beans and bacon, cheese and bread, were all he had to offer, but he offered them freely. The town mouse rather turned up his long nose at this country fare, and said, "I cannot understand, cousin, how you can put up with such poor food as this, but of course you cannot expect anything better in the country; come you with me and I will show you how to live. When you have been in town a week you will wonder how you could ever have stood a country life." No sooner said than done: The two mice set off for the town and arrived at the town mouse's residence late at night.  "You will want some refreshment after our long journey," said the polite town mouse, and took his friend into the grand dining room. There they found the remains of a fine feast, and soon the two mice were eating up jellies and cakes and all that was nice. Suddenly they heard growling and barking.

"What is that?" said the country mouse. "It is only the dogs of the house," answered the other. "Only," said the country mouse, "I do not like that music at my dinner!" Just at that moment the door flew open; in came two huge mastiffs; and the two mice had to scamper down and run off. "Good-bye, cousin," said the country mouse. "What! Going so soon?" said the other. "Yes," he replied. “A crust of bread eaten in peace is better than a banquet eaten with anxiety.”

I fear that most people in the world, including many Christians, have the “city mouse” attitude toward success.  Most people stress out trying to maintain “top rat” in the rat race of life.  I believe that is a recipe--a sure-fire strategy for misery and failure.  I know I fight an uphill battle as a preacher trying to convince people that sacrificially serving Jesus, though challenging and at times costly, ultimately leads to total fulfillment.

I see people every Sunday sitting on church, fully acknowledging that God is good—in the greatest sense of the word—but they do not surrender to His will and engage enthusiastically in His work.  This leads to STEP TWO in “How To Be a Miserable Failure.”

2.  Avoid Anything Difficult (28-29)

²⁸ However, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified.  We also saw the descendants of Anak  there. ²⁹ The Amalekites  are living in the land of the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan.”

Then slide down to verses 32-33:

³² So they gave a negative report to the Israelites about the land they had scouted: “The land we passed through to explore is one that devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw in it are men of great size. ³³ We even saw the Nephilim  ^c there—the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim!  To ourselves we seemed like grasshoppers, and we must have seemed the same to them.”

I’ve come to understand there are two basic types of people in the world—winners and whiners!  Winners see a challenge and say, “Why not!”  Whiners see a challenge and say, “Why me?” 

America has many problems to be sure but one problem that drags us down as a people is an “entitlement mentality.”  Too many people have the misguided notion that governments number one mandate is to take care of them from the cradle to the grave.  Eleven of our 50 states populations that receive more in government funds than they pay in taxes.  Another way to look at it is this:  47 percent (now they say it is down to 43%) of Americans get more from the government than they contribute. 

Now, I’m all for helping the poor—I’d be willing to pay more in taxes if that would help—but I am not for providing an income so some able-bodied man can lie around on the couch all day eating Cheetos and watching T.V.

I hate to say it, but I think we have just gotten lazy as a society.  I am so thankful that I married a woman who was not afraid to work—and work hard. In that regard, I’m a “women’s libber,” I guess.  The other day I say a sign that had the question:  “What do you call a woman that works as hard as a man?”At the bottom was the answer:  “lazy!”

I’ve told you before about my father’s work ethic.  It didn’t matter if he was sick as a dog, he went to work.  Around the first of every December, I remember him being gone a lot more.  Sometimes he’d leave for work and would not be back until the next day.  I learned later that he was taking extra shifts at the plant so we could have a wonderful Christmas. My Dad had his share of faults, but like most in his generation he was a hard-worker.  I learned from him the value of working hard.

I read about a man the other day who made an appointment to see his Doctor.  When the Dr. came into the examination room the man said, “Doc, I just can’t seem to get the things done that I used to get done.  I just seem to want to lie around all day.  What do you think is wrong with me?”  The man continued, “Now, tell me in plain English, Doc.  What’s wrong with me?”  The Dr. knew the man very well.  In fact, he had known him since he was a little boy.  The Doc said, “OK.  In plain English—you are just plain lazy!  You always have been.”  The man never missed a beat and said, “OK. Thanks.  Now explain it to me in medical terms so I can tell my wife!”

The fact is:  fulfillment in life is hard work.  Serving Jesus is hard work.  Paul said clearly, “Work out your salvation in fear and trembling”  Phil. 2:12

In another passage Paul, the Great Doctor of the Church, put it in plain English (or Greek): If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.” (2Thess. 3:10)

Life is hard.  Ask any Senior Citizen.  During WW2 our young men left home and many did not return for 2 or 3 years.  They slept in mud and blood with no cell phones, no skype and no communication with family for YEARS!  They were part of what is called, “The Greatest Generation.”  They are also called, “The Builders.” They knew the value of hard work.  When faced with a challenge—they met it head on!

Sure, the cities were walled and heavily fortified.  Yes, the occupants of the Land of Promise were fierce, fighting men.  They exaggerated a bit when they referred to the inhabitants as, “Nephilim.”  This was a giant race referred to in Genesis 6:4 as half-breeds of “demons and human women.”  Whatever they were, they would have been killed in the flood.  Grasshoppers were the smallest edible creatures for the Israelites.  So, the negative report contained serious exaggeration.

But, even though the report was exaggerated, the challenge was real.  Conquering the Promised Land was not going to be an easy task.  It would, in fact, take decades. 

Life’s challenges will either motivate us to press harder, or paralyze us into accepting second best.  One of my favorite stories on motivation was a favorite of Abraham Lincoln.  The roads in Lincolns days were dirt and traveling on them after a rain created deep ruts from the wagon wheels.  Well, as the story goes, after a rain Freddy the Frog got trapped in a deep rut.  He tried to hop out, but just could not get out.  A group of his friends tried to help him out.  They shouted words of encouragement, but Freddy was stuck.  He tried and tried and tried, but just could not get out of that rut.  After a while Freddy gave up, and his friends all gave up and went back to the pond.  The next day they found Freddy sitting on a lily pad enjoying the warm sun. His friends said, “Hey Freddy, I thought you said you had given up and you could not get out of that rut.”  Freddy replied, “Well, I couldn’t get out of that rut, but a wagon was coming and I had to!”

Life is full of ruts.  We often back away from our challenges because we lack a “proper motivation” for attacking our challenges.  We often five up because we lack “faith in God.”  This is what happened to the Israelites.  Their faith in God was smaller than their fear of the giants.  It would be too difficult to fight the giants, so they just did not try.

You can see how Israel would become miserable and fail.  They freely acknowledged that God was good—the best.  But, they avoided following His plan and purpose for their lives because it was “too difficult.”  Then, they entered STEP 3 of “How to Become a Miserable Failure”:

3.  Accept Second Best (14:26-32)

Hop over to chpt 14, verses 26-32:

²⁶ Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: ²⁷ “How long must I endure this evil community that keeps complaining about Me? I have heard the Israelites’ complaints that they make against Me.  ²⁸ Tell them: As surely as I live,” this is the Lord’s declaration, “I will do to you exactly as I heard you say. ²⁹ Your corpses will fall in this wilderness—all of you who were registered in the census, the entire number of you 20 years old or more —because you have complained about Me. ³⁰ I swear that none of you will enter the land I promised  to settle you in, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. ³¹ I will bring your children whom you said would become plunder  into the land you rejected, and they will enjoy it.  ³² But as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness.

I can hear you all thinking:  that is so stupid!  Why would they prefer going back into bondage in Egypt instead of taking a shot at the Promised Land?  That seems so wrong . . . but don’t we all do this more often than we want to admit?

How many times have you sinned against God since you became a Christian?  How many times have you chosen the “way of the world” over the “way of the Word?”  The fact is we sin all the time by choosing the world’s definition of success rather than God’s.  The end result of chasing the world’s success is “second best” at best—and for many it is not even second best.

I think of Randy Travis.  Some of you know Randy.  He has one of the most unique voices in country music.  He also professes to be a Christian.  But, the glare of Hollywood lights has temporarily blinded him to the blessings of God.  He’s been in and out of jail, has wrecked two or three vehicles driving drunk, and was found naked and in a ditch not long ago.  The world’s success is second best at best. 

I think we all would like to experience a little “Hollywood fame and fortune.” But, have you actually been to Hollywood Boulevard?  It looks really nice on T.V. during the Academy Awards or other celebrations, but it is actually a very depressing street with some really odd clothing stores—but that’s another story.  The fact is, Hollywood has nothing to offer that heaven will not make look like a cheap trinket.  The world’s way is “second best” at best and will always lead, ultimately, to “miserable failure.”

Oh, how I thank God He does not always give me what I ask for!  He did give the Israelites what they asked for.  They declared in their foolishness, “It would be better to die here in this wilderness” and so God made it happen.

Now, most of that generation lived long, full lives.  God cared for them every day they were in the Wilderness.  He provided water in a desert.  He provided a strange “bread-like substance, manna” every morning and brought in flocks of quail to capture and cook every evening.  The Bible says that under God’s watchful care, “They did not even bump their toes on a stone and their clothes never wore out” (Deuteronomy 8:4).

This was God’s grace and mercy.  The O.T. is full of demonstrations of God’s grace and mercy.  They did not lose their “salvation” so to speak, but they lost their blessings in life.  They traded God’s fruit for the world’s false promises.  They made the wrong choice and it caused them to experience “Miserable Failure.”

CLOSE:  I believe this is a very important message for our church, today—or any day, but especially today.  We stand at a crossroads.  We can either “turn away” from God in disobedience—which in many ways would be the easier choice—or, we can fully embrace God’s will and march boldly into the future.  Turning away will lead to “miserable failure,” regardless of what temporary success our church may appear to have.  Turning toward God’s promise will lead to “unimaginable” fruit, but it will not be without significant sacrifice.

Two choices lie before all of us this day:  failure or fulfillment.  The Israelites chose “failure.”  I’m praying we will chose fulfillment.

The greatest misery in life results when someone passes on the opportunity to have a relationship with God forever.  The greatest fulfillment comes when we embrace God’s will for our lives—no matter what it costs or what giants we have to fight.

Fulfillment—Ah tis a lovely word,
After all the weary years, after all the pain and tears,
After all the doubts and fears—fulfillment!
Fulfillment—yes, every promise kept! After waiting, longing, dread,
After brightest hopes have fled—lo, it is done just as God said,
Fulfillment! Such as you cannot contain,
Good measure, pressed down, running o’er.
All God has shown and so much more—
A rending sky, an open door.
Fulfillment.

God does not want you to be a “miserable failure,” but rather He wants you to enjoy an immeasurable fulfillment.

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