Satisfied By Love...Day 21

"Now Korah the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men.  And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men.  They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, 'You have gone too far!  For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them.  Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?' " (Numbers 16:1-3)

Before this was said, Israelites who were complaining about how God was doing things were overtaken by inhabitants of nearby lands.  Someone broke the sabbath by gathering sticks and God's instruction to Moses was to stone him.  And now, when Moses and Aaron are doing what God has asked of them, men are gathering together to oppose them.  I have learned from my days in Leviticus and Numbers that this will not end well. 

Moses and Aaron were leaders chosen by God.  Moses was reluctant to do it on his own and God sent Aaron to help him.  In Numbers 11 He also allows Moses to have leaders share the burden of the people with him.  And in Exodus God gifts people with abilities to accomplish the tasks required to build all that the Israelites would need to worship Him.  Specific gifts for specific tasks.  All of these were by God's design.  

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.  To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."

We may know that God has designed us all with different gifts, abilities, and tasks, but isn't it easy to fall into comparison?  I often look at other moms with more than one child and wonder why I can't be as organized or as calm.  Bible study leaders ask questions that dig deeper into who we are and it feels like I could never know enough to lead that way.  Women look fit and it makes me wonder how I can change to fit in that skin.  

And I wonder if here, in Numbers, these men looked at Moses and Aaron and became jealous of their relationship to God.  Or jealous of the leadership they had among the people.  Moses and Aaron were the ones He spoke to.  They were chosen for something different.  These men were still leaders among the people, just not the leaders of all the people .  

When we compare sometimes we may feel like failures because we could never be as good as someone else.  Or, we may feel triumphant that someone else isn't as talented as us.  Or we may just want what they have and feel we deserve it just as much.  Once again, the eyes drift to us and our own circumstances.  They aren't thinking about God's purpose.  Have they forgotten, maybe even just temporarily, that it isn't Moses and Aaron at work, but God at work through them?  And by trying to demean their position or take it over themselves they are telling God that what He is doing isn't good enough?  

Well, it didn't turn out well for the men who opposed God's chosen leaders.  

Numbers 16: 31-35 "...the ground under them split apart.  And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods.  So they and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol, and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.  And all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, 'Lest the earth swallow us up!'  And fire cam out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men offering the incense."

And even after this, the people complained that Moses and Aaron killed the people of the Lord.  They were struck with a plague until Aaron made atonement for them, but 14,700 people had already died.  

Isn't there death when we try to take what God has made good into our own hands?  Death of what He would have done had we obeyed.  Death of something beautiful that could have entered our lives if we wouldn't have been afraid to say yes.  Death of a blessing to others because we thought we deserved it more.

But when we follow His direction and obey His commands and work out His gifts in us and celebrate His gifts in others, the death is to self.  And He fills us.  And we are satisfied.

Oh Lord, let us rejoice in who You have created us to be and appreciate the work You are doing in others.  To be thankful for those who lead us, to rejoice in the gifts of all who have been created by You, and to be willing when You ask us to lead, and to follow, for the common good... 

Adding to the list today...
#115 Heart revival when I learn a new way to read His Word
#116 When I choose to walk with Jesus I know he will bring victory
#117 For new friendships that feel old
#118 For real fellowship that encourages
#119 A whole weekend with my husband at home!
#120 White snow falling on red berries
#121 Craft fairs and their potpourri smell
#122 Free childcare!
#123 This little one sleeping all night again
#124 Our farm friends
#125 Nap time in the afternoon
#126 Sunshine melting snow
#127 The fellowship of believers
#128 Pastors who love the Lord and their flock
#129 Musical worship and the gathering of voices in praise
#130 Sleeping til 7
#131 Getting back to routine
#132 A quiet Monday after a BUSY weekend
#133 Snowplows and shovels at 6:30 Sunday morning
Thank you, Lord, for these...