Negative Nellies

Recommended Reading:  Numbers 13 & 14

I do my best daily to focus on what is positive in my life personally and in the world around me;  and, believe it or not – there’s truly an abundance of good and positive to consider if we’re just observant.  Am I always successful?  No.  But not even attempting to do it would be really detrimental for me.  (I’ll point out more about this later in the article.) But, there’s no question that there is a tremendous amount of negativity surrounding us – every minute of every day.  

I believe it is up to us to make a concerted effort to refuse listening to the Negative Nellies in this world.  Instead we should seek out the Positive Joshuas & Calebs.  Obviously, the power lies within us to make that choice.  

In God’s Word, we have many examples of the consequences for listening to the wrong voices and the results.  But one of the ultimate examples is found in Numbers 13 & 14.  In  13:17-20 there’s the story of Moses sending 12 spies into their Promised Land with directions about what they’re to observe.  They return after their 40 day trip and verse 27 (NLT) tells us:  “This was their report: ‘We arrived in the land you sent us to see, and it is indeed a magnificent country—a land ‘flowing with milk and honey.’ Here is some fruit we have brought as proof.’”  Now…here comes the big BUT – because “But” is the first word in verse 28 as ten of those spies allowed fear of some of the other things they saw (the fortified cities and the size of the people) to overcome their rationale and in verses 28-33 they go on to spew every negative thing they can recall, planting their fears into the entire Israelite community.  (Notice that these 10 came back reporting on what their physical eyes saw, not on what they should’ve “seen” as a result of their faith in God’s promises to them as Joshua & Caleb did.)  

Numbers 14:1 tells us that after that negative report from the 10 spies, the entire community wept all night, then they began to protest against their leaders – Moses and Aaron; and, in verse 2b they actually said this:  “‘We wish we had died in Egypt,’ they wailed, ‘or even here in the wilderness’…”  The rest of this chapter tells us that the people decided to choose a new leader and return to Egypt – the very place where they had been enslaved for 400 years!  But, Moses and Aaron fell face down before the people while Joshua & Caleb (the other 2 spies) tried to reason with the people.  They spoke words of encouragement about how God would be with them and asked them not to rebel against Him – that victory would be theirs regardless of what they encountered.  The people began to threaten them, then the presence of the Lord descended on the Tabernacle and He spoke to Moses.  God’s patience had worn thin and He wanted to just destroy the entire community right then and there and start over again with Moses.  

However, Moses interceded on their behalf and God determined to show them mercy for the moment.  But, in verses 28-29 (NLT) they learn their fate for listening to the negative reports of the ten spies:  “Now tell them this: ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very things I heard you say. You will all drop dead in this wilderness! Because you complained against me, every one of you who is twenty years old or older and was included in the registration will die.’”  Not only that but God declares that they will wander in that wilderness for 40 years.  (To me, this expressly conveys the importance of using caution with our words – you can get what you speak!  They spoke out wishing they’d just die there in the desert and God was going to give them what they asked for. Are we thinking and speaking positive things or negative things about ourselves and others?  We must learn to be more aware!)

Moses reports all of this to the community and OH! suddenly, “the people were filled with grief.”  (14: 39b NLT)  So NOW, they try to make amends with God by saying they’ll do what He’d told them to do and enter into the Promised Land.  The rest of chapter 14 tells us Moses warned them not to do it – that they were once again disobeying God since He’d directed them to go back to the wilderness and that God would not be going with them – this would spell defeat.  Did they heed the warning?  No, they pushed ahead and they were not successful – the inhabitants of the land drove them back to where they had started.

What God spoke about those that listened to the negative reports of the 10 spies and disobeyed Him most certainly happened.  Numbers 32:10-13 (NLT):  “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.’  The Lord was angry with Israel and made them wander in the wilderness for forty years until the entire generation that sinned in the Lord’s sight had died.”  And, Joshua 5:6 (NLT):  “The Israelites had traveled in the wilderness for forty years until all the men who were old enough to fight in battle when they left Egypt had died. For they had disobeyed the Lord, and the Lord vowed he would not let them enter the land he had sworn to give us—a land flowing with milk and honey.”

I believe that not only do we need to be extremely cautious about what we see, hear and speak in the moment, but we must consider that everything we consume with our minds repetitively and focus on, can have a dramatic effect on our lives as well.  

Here are some facts that come up when I searched “how will focusing on negativity affect us”:

“Focusing on negativity triggers a “negativity bias” that, over time, damages mental and physical health by causing chronic stress, anxiety, and depression. It weakens the immune system, reduces productivity, and impairs cognitive functions like memory and decision-making. This pattern distorts perceptions, leading to strained relationships and a fear-based life.”    American Brain Foundation +7

On the other hand, here’s what came up when I searched “how will focusing on positivity affect us”:

Focusing on positivity enhances mental, emotional, and physical well-being by reducing stress, boosting immunity, and increasing resilience. It promotes better cardiovascular health, fosters stronger relationships, and improves problem-solving abilities. Cultivating optimism helps manage life’s challenges more effectively, leading to improved, long-term health and a higher quality of life.”  Penn LPS Online +6

The choice seems like a no-brainer to me!  Our decision about what we will see and hear repeatedly, is our own – as well as what we speak.  Will we heed the negative “voices” or the positive?  Our very lives can depend on what we decide – the Israelites are the perfect example of that.

Written by Karran Martin

March 3, 2026

[All bold emphasis is mine]