08/05/2008
Numbers 16:1 - 3 (HCSB) 1Now Korah son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took 2250 prominent Israelite men who were leaders of the community and representatives in the assembly, and they rebelled against Moses. 3They came together against Moses and Aaron and told them, “You have gone too far! Everyone in the entire community is holy, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the LORD’s assembly?”
Numbers 16:28 - 35 (HCSB) 28Then Moses said, “This is how you will know that the LORD sent me to do all these things and that it was not of my own will: 29If these men die ënaturallyû as all people would, and suffer the fate of all, then the LORD has not sent me. 30But if the LORD brings about something unprecedented, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them along with all that belongs to them so that they go down alive into Sheol, then you will know that these men have despised the LORD.”
31Just as he finished speaking all these words, the ground beneath them split open. 32The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, all Korah’s people, and all ëtheirû possessions. 33They went down alive into Sheol with all that belonged to them. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly. 34At their cries, all ëthe people of Israelû who were around them fled because they thought, “The earth may swallow us too!” 35Fire also came out from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were presenting the incense.
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Some of the Levites presumed that their own status was equal to that of Aaron and Moses. Indeed, it would be easy to suspect that Aaron’s position was gained by nepotism (family connections), but the men even accused Moses of exalting himself as a self-appointed leader.
There are so many people today who make similar claims. They say that their own status is much higher than God has recognized. People these days are claiming divinity – that they have reached some state of godhood. There are scores of books by self-proclaimed prophets and self-appointed religious leaders that are simply wrong and leading masses astray.
We can read above how God dealt with these charlatans. But in this dispensation of grace, God is dealing differently with this sort of person. We don’t see the ground opening up to consume them or fire from heaven descending on them. It would appear as if they have free reign.
This is not necessarily the case, God is merely deferring judgment. But this deferment also allows us as Christians to speak out, to rescue those who are being misled.
Remember that we should never presume ourselves to be greater than we are. Look what Moses did when confronted. He humbled himself and rather than defending himself verbally, he left the final decision to God.
We must also remain humble. When God calls us, we should respond. But we should never presume a role that God has not called us to.
Jeff Justus
Cleff Publishing
www.cleffpublishing.com
©2008 Cleff Publishing, all rights reserved.
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