Grace Is For The Humble
Wednesday, June 11
Numbers 16:21-26 (NIV)
““Separate yourselves from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.” But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and cried out, “O God, the God who gives breath to all living things, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?” Then the LORD said to Moses, “Say to the assembly, ‘Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.’” Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. He warned the assembly, “Move back from the tents of these wicked men! Do not touch anything belonging to them, or you will be swept away because of all their sins.”
Devotion
To usurp means to take a position of power or authority improperly. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram were not seeking to please God. They were discontent and grumbling. They were trying to usurp leadership positions they had not been given but were jealous for, and they wanted material gain. This was a serious sin in the eyes of God. “Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” (Samuel 15:23) In contrast, Moses was more humble than any man of his time (Numbers 12:3), and God put Moses in his leadership position. Note that in this situation, Moses was concerned for the people and for God, not for himself.
Are people in a faith community supposed to blindly obey their leaders? Not at all! The tragic consequences of these false leaders’ rebellion spread well beyond the individuals, which is a warning for us. The Bereans were praised for comparing the words of the Apostles Paul and Silas with Scripture every day to see if their words were true (Acts 17:11). Each follower of Jesus has this responsibility, so that we learn God’s ways and are not led astray from them. However, we are not to grumble and complain or slander our leaders. And we are not to usurp authority we have not been given. As He did for Moses, God can bring each of us to a place of greater honor as we are faithful to follow Jesus.
In His mercy, God gave the community and Korah’s own family a choice to separate themselves and not share in the tragic consequences of his sins. If those around you are living in rebellion to God, even if they are leaders or friends, the Lord Almighty calls, “Come out from among them and be separate … I will be a father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to Me.” (2 Corinthians 6:17-18) The sons of Korah separated themselves from the sins of their father and did not die. True to His promise, God was a father to them. The sons of Korah later testified to God’s faithfulness in the Psalms they wrote.
Today's Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the leaders You have placed in my life to help me live for You and serve others for Your glory. Protect and keep our leaders from sin and rebellion against You. Protect me from being led astray by rebellious people; please show me where I need to separate myself from such sin and help me to do it. Protect me by Your Word, which is truth. Help me not to take authority that is not mine. Help me to be a faithful person You can trust in a leadership position, whether in my family, my community, my workplace, wherever You place me. For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Apply It Today
If you are a son or daughter of God through trust and surrender to Jesus Christ, rejoice that you share that honored position! And, it is not wrong to desire greater honor. Today’s chapter shows us that it is wrong to grab honor from another or seek to build ourselves up by tearing legitimate leaders down. If you feel called to leadership, ask God to show you the path of preparation and know that He is able to lift you up. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5).
Resources:
- Watch this short clip, “Humility Is A Position Of Prayer”, and humble yourself before the Lord, that in due time He may lift you up.
- Contrast of Outcomes To Inspire You: Korah = judgment and death Sons of Korah = worship leaders and Psalmists Moses = sustained and vindicated by God