Part 11 (2/2)

REBELLION GOES WAY BACK!.

A propensity to rebel thrives in every human heart. It's as old as the Garden of Eden. What did G.o.d say to the original couple? ”Here's the whole world I've created and put under your care-99.9 percent of all of the things. Do what you want; only here's one thing you can't do.” And what did they do? They rebelled. They did the one thing G.o.d commanded them not to do.

The book of Proverbs says, ”Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child” ”Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child” (22:15). Foolishness-rebelliousness-is bound up in our very being. It's part of our nature! There's a desire to go my own way. It's in the heart of every kid-each little baby who comes into the world. They sit in the nursery and you think everything is innocent perfection. All of a sudden, they get to age one or two and you see they have a will. They didn't learn it; it came from within. (22:15). Foolishness-rebelliousness-is bound up in our very being. It's part of our nature! There's a desire to go my own way. It's in the heart of every kid-each little baby who comes into the world. They sit in the nursery and you think everything is innocent perfection. All of a sudden, they get to age one or two and you see they have a will. They didn't learn it; it came from within.

Kathy and I received the grand tour at my brother Todd's new house during a recent visit. Kathy and I were being led by our two little nephews, Josh (eight) and Tanner (six). As we walked around the bas.e.m.e.nt, I complimented their house: ”Oh, this is so nice, your new house,” and ”That iso nice.” Later I said, ”Oh! What's this door? I really like this door.” I was pointing at a heavy door with a big deadbolt.

”That's the door that goes outside!” one of my nephews said. I said, ”Oh, let's open it and see...””No, no! Dad doesn't want that door opened! Don't open that door!”

”Well, no problem,” I said. ”We won't open the door because Dad's the boss.” I looked at them and asked, ”Your dad's the boss, right?”

Then little Tanner said, ”Yeah, he is, but we wish he wasn't!”

That's it, isn't it? We laughed about it. But do you know what? That is in every single human heart, the desire to rebel. You say, ”Well, why? Where does it come from?”

The answer is found in our third biblical truth about rebellion: Rebellion has many sources.

You don't wake up in the morning and say, ”I think I'll be a rebel today. I think I'm just going to be in everybody's face all day.” Rebellion is where you end up. Other att.i.tudes push you to that place.

Notice that verse 3 begins, ”They a.s.sembled together.” ”They a.s.sembled together.” This was a conspiracy-an organized, well-thought-out coup. Allow me a brief word of caution here: Don't ever be the person who gets on the phone and pulls together the group. There is a huge accountability before G.o.d if you are the instigator and organizer of rebellion, as Korah was in this circ.u.mstance. This was a conspiracy-an organized, well-thought-out coup. Allow me a brief word of caution here: Don't ever be the person who gets on the phone and pulls together the group. There is a huge accountability before G.o.d if you are the instigator and organizer of rebellion, as Korah was in this circ.u.mstance.

Notice how they approached their leaders: ”They a.s.sembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, 'You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the a.s.sembly of the Lord?'” ”They a.s.sembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, 'You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the a.s.sembly of the Lord?'” (verse 3). This was Korah talking to Moses on behalf of his rebellious group. Look at Korah's half-truths,”...All the congregation are holy.” True or false? Well, in the sense that all of them were set apart by G.o.d and belonged to Him and that each one had equal access to holiness, there's some truth to that. ”And the Lord is in their midst.” Is that not right that the Lord was with every one of His children? Sure, it is. Most rebellion is based upon half-truths. But then comes this last part, the accusation hidden in a question: ”Why do you exalt yourselves above the a.s.sembly of the Lord?” There's the lie. Far from self-exalting, Moses was self-abasing. Moses was the guy who G.o.d had to basically knock down and drag into this role. Remember the burning bush in Exodus 2 and Moses' reluctance to lead? We've also learned in Numbers 12:3 that Moses was more humble than any man on the face of the earth. He was the guy saying, ”I don't want this job. Does anyone else want it? Come on, you can have it.” Moses did not exalt himself. (verse 3). This was Korah talking to Moses on behalf of his rebellious group. Look at Korah's half-truths,”...All the congregation are holy.” True or false? Well, in the sense that all of them were set apart by G.o.d and belonged to Him and that each one had equal access to holiness, there's some truth to that. ”And the Lord is in their midst.” Is that not right that the Lord was with every one of His children? Sure, it is. Most rebellion is based upon half-truths. But then comes this last part, the accusation hidden in a question: ”Why do you exalt yourselves above the a.s.sembly of the Lord?” There's the lie. Far from self-exalting, Moses was self-abasing. Moses was the guy who G.o.d had to basically knock down and drag into this role. Remember the burning bush in Exodus 2 and Moses' reluctance to lead? We've also learned in Numbers 12:3 that Moses was more humble than any man on the face of the earth. He was the guy saying, ”I don't want this job. Does anyone else want it? Come on, you can have it.” Moses did not exalt himself.

WE'RE ALL EQUAL ,BUT ...

If you don't know the whole story, it's easy to get carried away. After all, Moses was uniquely called by G.o.d, powerfully used by G.o.d, and clearly appointed by G.o.d. While these rebels were right in saying that they were equal with Moses on one level, they were wrong in what they meant. They confused equality with sameness. They a.s.sumed that their equality as children of Israel made them the same as Moses in every way. But equality does not equate to sameness. Moses was the ordained-by-G.o.d leader. They were not.

This principle is true in the body of Christ. Are we not all equal? We are all equal, but all are not the same. You are equal with your boss, but you are not the same as your boss. Wives are equal with their husbands, but they are not the same as their husbands. If we are students, we are equal with our teachers in our ponhood before G.o.d, but we are not the same as them. Similarly, we are equal as followers of Christ, but we are not the same as our elders. G.o.d appoints and places people over us. Some are leaders, and some are followers who should submit.

Korah and his little club were way off base on this one. They were equal with Moses, but they were not the same. To suggest that they were was rebellion.

SIX SOURCES OF REBELLION.

So where did their rebellion come from? There were six sources, and they can appear in our lives today. The first source of Korah's rebellion was jealousy. jealousy. It's so clear when they say, ”Why do you exalt yourselves above the a.s.sembly of the Lord?” Like most rebellions, this one was about control. Korah and his agents wanted to be in authority over Moses or at least equal with him in authority. ”I don't want to submit to you because you have a position that I think I should have.” It's so clear when they say, ”Why do you exalt yourselves above the a.s.sembly of the Lord?” Like most rebellions, this one was about control. Korah and his agents wanted to be in authority over Moses or at least equal with him in authority. ”I don't want to submit to you because you have a position that I think I should have.”

Several years ago, I had a lunch meeting with a man in our church. I sat down with him, just trying to encourage him and care for him. All of a sudden, he began a series of questions. ”How come you you get to be the pastor at Harvest? How come get to be the pastor at Harvest? How come you you get to be in charge of such a cool church? I've known the Lord longer than you! I've been serving Christ longer than you! How come get to be in charge of such a cool church? I've known the Lord longer than you! I've been serving Christ longer than you! How come you you get to...?” get to...?”

His questions surprised me. In fact, I almost choked on my food. I thought, ”Where did this come from?”

Well, a few months later, this person got bent-really upset-and injured a lot of people in his own version of ”Korah's Rebellion.” And I knew the entire time that the source problem was jealousy.

Whether it's in the home or in the marketplace or in the church, if you set your eyes upon those whom G.o.d has placed in authority over you and begin saying, ” I I should be the one-that should be my place!” That's jealousy, one of the sources of rebellion. should be the one-that should be my place!” That's jealousy, one of the sources of rebellion.

Here's another source: delusions. delusions. Look at verse 4, Look at verse 4, ”When Moses heard this, he fell on his face.” ”When Moses heard this, he fell on his face.” Now if that's not a confirmation of the good-heartedness of Moses, I don't know what is. If he had lashed out and attacked the people who were rebelling against him, it would have been a confirmation that there was a big problem on his part. Instead, Moses humbled himself and got on his face before G.o.d. Clearly, Korah and his club had delusions of grandeur about Moses. How could they think Moses had any grand schemes? Notice Moses' response. He called up Korah and the others to a.s.semble the next day with the censers. Now if that's not a confirmation of the good-heartedness of Moses, I don't know what is. If he had lashed out and attacked the people who were rebelling against him, it would have been a confirmation that there was a big problem on his part. Instead, Moses humbled himself and got on his face before G.o.d. Clearly, Korah and his club had delusions of grandeur about Moses. How could they think Moses had any grand schemes? Notice Moses' response. He called up Korah and the others to a.s.semble the next day with the censers. ”Then Moses said to Korah, 'Hear now, you sons of Levi'” ”Then Moses said to Korah, 'Hear now, you sons of Levi'” (verse 8). He was saying, ”Do you all think you want to do what I do? Do you all think you want this responsibility? You don't know what you're talking about!” They had said to him, ”You've gone too far,” in verse 3. Now he's like, ”No, (verse 8). He was saying, ”Do you all think you want to do what I do? Do you all think you want this responsibility? You don't know what you're talking about!” They had said to him, ”You've gone too far,” in verse 3. Now he's like, ”No, you've you've gone too far!” gone too far!”

Moses was saying, in effect, ”Do you think you want to be me? Well, let me just ask you: Where were you when I was forty years out in the wilderness? Where were you when I stood trembling before Pharaoh in Egypt? Where were you when all the ten plagues were going on? Where were you when the Egyptian armies were coming behind us, and I held out my arm to cross the Red Sea? Where were you when I was up trembling before G.o.d on a mountain for how many days and bringing down the Ten Commandments? And now now you want my job?” you want my job?”

A rebellious att.i.tude is sometimes rooted in not seeing ourselves clearly.

Often people desire a position, but they don't respect the process. They want the opportunity, but they don't realize the work and energy that's gone into getting to thatplace. They covet the results without recognizing the requirements. You don't roll out of bed some morning and become a leader in any sphere in society. Leaders.h.i.+p requires a lot of work and a lot of apprentices.h.i.+p. There's a lot of brokenness and a lot of trying, failing, and trying again.

Before you set your sights on your boss's job or your husband's job or your teacher's job, and before you have some coldhearted cynical att.i.tude toward the police officers in your area, consider the real picture. Today's police officer, for example, gets no respect, no appreciation, and certainly no pay compared to the risk that goes with the job. I thank G.o.d for the men in our church who do this work. And G.o.d forgive us for our rebellious att.i.tudes toward people that He's placed in authority. You don't get to those places easily. Those who covet the positions of others are often, in my experience, a little bit delusional, not really recognizing all that they involve. So Moses said, ”You've gone far enough.” Sometimes you have to stand up to a rebellious person and say, ”Do you know what? Enough is enough! You're jealous, you've got delusions, and you're downright rebellious.”

A third source of rebellion is ungratefulness. ungratefulness. In verse 9, Moses said, In verse 9, Moses said, ”Is it not enough for you that the G.o.d of Israel has separated you from the rest of the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation . . . ?” ”Is it not enough for you that the G.o.d of Israel has separated you from the rest of the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation . . . ?” What a privilege and opportunity! Korah was serving in the tabernacle. He had a job as one of the special separated ministers. Yet he wasn't grateful for this special position as a Levite. Why? He just didn't think he had a big enough job. What a privilege and opportunity! Korah was serving in the tabernacle. He had a job as one of the special separated ministers. Yet he wasn't grateful for this special position as a Levite. Why? He just didn't think he had a big enough job.

He wasn't getting to do as much as he wanted wanted to do. to do.

Moses continued: ”...and that He has brought you near,Korah, and all your brothers, sons of Levi, with you? And are you seeking for the priesthood also?” ”...and that He has brought you near,Korah, and all your brothers, sons of Levi, with you? And are you seeking for the priesthood also?” (verse 10). Moses was saying, ”Isn't this enough for you? Do you want to be a priest too?” (verse 10). Moses was saying, ”Isn't this enough for you? Do you want to be a priest too?”

If you have a position of authority, don't ever forget that first of all it comes from G.o.d. The Scriptures tell us that promotion doesn't come from the east or the west. G.o.d is the Judge, the One who sets up one person and puts down another (see Psalm 75:67). Second, if you have a position, it came from G.o.d but it came through people. People allow people to function in positions of authority. Don't ever forget that a position of authority is a trust, given by people in the church, in the home, in the marketplace. If you start to think that you deserve it, or can demand it, then you have forgotten how you got there. And you're ungrateful. That's a source of rebellion.

Another root of rebellion can be found in verse 12: stubbornness. Stubbornness Stubbornness fuels rebellion. fuels rebellion. ”Then Moses sent a summons to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; but they said, 'We will not come up.'” ”Then Moses sent a summons to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; but they said, 'We will not come up.'”

Notice this amazing audacity. The ruler of two million people sends for these two mo-jos, and they're like, ”We're not coming!” Very few people would identify themselves as rebellious, but let me ask you: Are you hard to agree with?

Are you hard to reconcile with? If someone injures you, is it hard for them to get that worked out? Is it easy to lead you or is it hard to lead you? Are you an easy person to influence? Do you have a flexible spirit? If you have prided yourself on, ”I'm stubborn. I don't-”, that's not good. You have a rebellious heart.

”Well, my mom told me that's a strength.” Sorry about your mom's confusion, but stubbornness is a weakness. It will hurt yout came thr't confuse strength of character with stubbornness-they're not the same. Stubbornness will definitely take you a long way, but you'd better bring some food and water, because the road of stubbornness leads to the wilderness.

Disappointment is the fifth source of rebellion. Verse 13 reveals this aspect of the rebellion, is the fifth source of rebellion. Verse 13 reveals this aspect of the rebellion, ”'Is it not enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey ...?'” ”'Is it not enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey ...?'” Their twisted view is laughable! Look at how they describe Egypt. How would you respond? Moses could have correctly responded, ”But you were slaves! You made Their twisted view is laughable! Look at how they describe Egypt. How would you respond? Moses could have correctly responded, ”But you were slaves! You made bricks bricks in Egypt! You've hardly been gone a year but you forget what you were!” in Egypt! You've hardly been gone a year but you forget what you were!”

Notice how rebellion distorts the picture and leads to accusations. ”'Is it not enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to have us die in the wilderness, but you would also lord it over us? Indeed, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor have you given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards'” ”'Is it not enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to have us die in the wilderness, but you would also lord it over us? Indeed, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor have you given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards'” (verses 1314). Do you see what's going on here? They are expressing disappointment. Now what the rebellious person feels is real. It's not right, but it's real. What happened? (verses 1314). Do you see what's going on here? They are expressing disappointment. Now what the rebellious person feels is real. It's not right, but it's real. What happened?

They were disappointed, and disappointment often leads to rebellion.

Maybe there has been a church leader in your life who didn't live up to some of what he professed, and the person disappointed you. Have you used that as an occasion to rebel? It's wrong (both what he did and how you have responded)! Or maybe your boss has done some dishonest things. Now you've disqualified him and have said, ”I don't have to be under his authority. I don't have to respect him because he did some things that aren't right.” You're wrong. G.o.d has placed you there, and you need to find G.o.d's purpose in that place. As long as the person is not asking you to sin, you need to find a way to be under that authority.

I wonder how many wives I speak to each week whose husbands have disappointed them so that they think, ”Well, I don't have to live under his authority.” No, they're wrong. I know there are children who say, ”Well, my parents aren't perfect. I know their inconsistencies, so I'm going to do what I want.” All those are very bad decisions. Disappointment with others is one of the things that fuels rebellion.

Here's the final source of rebellion: distrust. distrust. Notice what verse 14 says: Notice what verse 14 says: ”'Would you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up!'” ”'Would you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up!'” When Moses told Dathan and Abiram, ”You all get up here,” they said as part of their answer, ”Would you put out the eyes of these men also?” They're saying, ”Hey, do you know what, Moses? The only people who really support your leaders.h.i.+p-they're blind. They are a bunch of yes-men. The only people who can really support you are the people who you've duped into blindness. They don't see your faults. But we see them, Moses! We know what you want to do. You want us to come up there and meet with you, so you can brainwash us like you have the others.” So the way they say it is, ”You're going to poke out our eyes,too.” When Moses told Dathan and Abiram, ”You all get up here,” they said as part of their answer, ”Would you put out the eyes of these men also?” They're saying, ”Hey, do you know what, Moses? The only people who really support your leaders.h.i.+p-they're blind. They are a bunch of yes-men. The only people who can really support you are the people who you've duped into blindness. They don't see your faults. But we see them, Moses! We know what you want to do. You want us to come up there and meet with you, so you can brainwash us like you have the others.” So the way they say it is, ”You're going to poke out our eyes,too.”

Wow, how distorted can you get? They distrust Moses-his judgment and his supporters.

The headlines of the daily news might have read: Moses Not Perfect, But G.o.d On His Side.

Of course, Moses may not have been perfect. But wait 'til you see how G.o.d feels about the critics' att.i.tude. Korah's group felt like Moses had disappointed them and let them down. So they built up a lot of things in their minds, and they decided, ”We're not trusting you anymore, Moses.” Once they stopped trusting him, once they stopped believing in Moses' heart despite his weaknesses, whatever they were, once trust was gone, rebellion was on the way. There is a fourth biblical truth about rebellion in this pa.s.sage: Rebellion has many consequences.

At least four consequences await those who rebel, according to this portion of G.o.d's Word. After Moses told Korah and his company to meet with Aaron and him the next day with censers, the rebels returned to learn of G.o.d's displeasure and the consequences of their murmuring.

And the glory of the Lord appeared to all the congregation. Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, ”Separate yourselves [there's the first consequence] from among this congregation, that I may consume them instantly.” But they fell on their faces and said, ”O G.o.d, G.o.d of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will You be angry with the entire congregation?” (verses 1922) And the glory of the Lord appeared to all the congregation. Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, ”Separate yourselves [there's the first consequence] from among this congregation, that I may consume them instantly.” But they fell on their faces and said, ”O G.o.d, G.o.d of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will You be angry with the entire congregation?” (verses 1922) G.o.d's impending judgment is just, yet the compa.s.sionate Moses pleads with G.o.d on behalf of the people. And G.o.d showed mercy. ”Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to the congregation, saying, ”Get back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram”'” ”Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to the congregation, saying, ”Get back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram”'” (verses 2324). Get back from around their dwellings. It's too late to change att.i.tudes; G.o.d is about to judge. (verses 2324). Get back from around their dwellings. It's too late to change att.i.tudes; G.o.d is about to judge.

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