Corona Devo 372

Join me today as we meet up with Moses and the Israelites in the Book of Numbers as they journey toward the Promised Land.

See if you can relate to the characters, their attitudes and the firm foundation and truth that God brings to our lives, even when everyone around us seems to be in an alter-reality.  

Do you ever feel that others see reality completely different than you?  Their interpretation of life revolves around themselves and how they are affected, rather than revolving around Truth and how God is seeking to shape us by it.  

Or perhaps we are in the alter-reality today: We feel victimized and as if the world is against us.  Circumstances may challenge us, but God is for us.  Taking the "Woe is me" stance always causes bitterness and pain for us and others.

But Moses models devotion to God, and also devotion in being a mediator between others and God.  He (amazingly) does not let their slander and criticism wound him or break his spirit for God.  We have a lot to learn from Moses and his leadership.  God had His hand on him for a reason.  God has His hand on us today too.  

One day Korah..., conspired with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab... (2) They incited a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 other leaders of the community, all prominent members of the assembly. (3) They united against Moses and Aaron and said, “You have gone too far! The whole community of Israel has been set apart by the Lord, and he is with all of us. What right do you have to act as though you are greater than the rest of the Lord’s people?”  ~Numbers 16:1-3

Are you seeking God and doing the best you can to serve Him, but certain people (we all have a "Korah, Dathan and Abiram" in our lives) are attempting to slow-your-roll or steal your Jesus-mojo because of their jealousy, insecurity or meanness?  From time to time, we all have people who can be thorns in our side.  

(Side Note -- To those-of-us who are being a thorn in someone's side: STOP IT.  I am honest enough to admit that I have been the jerk sometimes, and not only does it not gain us any ground, it feels ugly, and it does not represent Jesus and His character in any way.  The main purpose of our life on earth is to represent Jesus and His character to others.)

When Moses heard what they were saying, he fell face down on the ground.   ~Numbers 16:4

Notice the reaction of Moses to the people who are persecuting him: prayer.  He falls prostrate before God, submitting himself and his attitudes before the Lord.  And we will see in the coming verses that he will also proceed to pray and intercede for those that are defaming him.  

How do we react when people attack our motives or our walk-of-faith?  

(11) The Lord is the one you and your followers are really revolting against! For who is Aaron that you are complaining about him?”  ~Numbers 16:11

Moses and Aaron are just doing their best to obey what God tells them and they didn't ask to be in positions of leadership (in fact they tried to back out of them on multiple occasions).  The jealousy and conspiracy that others feel is a result of what God had called Moses and Aaron to do, not what they have self-proclaimed. God's authority over our lives is without earthly influence, but the Korah, Dathan and Abiram's of the world will try...

(12) Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they replied, “We refuse to come before you! (13) Isn’t it enough that you brought us out of Egypt, a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us here in this wilderness, and that you now treat us like your subjects? (14) What’s more, you haven’t brought us into another land flowing with milk and honey. You haven’t given us a new homeland with fields and vineyards. Are you trying to fool these men? We will not come.”  ~Numbers 16:12-14

What?  Talk about an altered reality!   Korah, Dathan and Abiram called Egypt "a land flowing with milk and honey" (Numbers 16:13), but the Israelites were slaves and severely mistreated and overworked in Egypt!  

When we are focused on ourselves and not God, we create a false reality.  We excuse the truth and make-up our own, and in sin we attempt to gather others with us, but God is not fooled by the realities we "choose" to see for ourselves.    

Meanwhile, Korah had stirred up the entire community against Moses and Aaron, and they all gathered at the Tabernacle entrance.  ~Numbers 16:19-21

The names have changed (I don't know any Korah, Dathan or Abiram's), but people apparently have not.  We are still jealous of one another and God's varying call on our lives, and we stir one another up.  There was gossip and slander amongst the Israelites and it lives and breeds amongst school parents, on sports sidelines, within our neighborhoods, on our social media pages and at our family get-togethers today.  

But another ever-present factor is the Lord Jesus Christ and his effect on our character, our attitudes, and our lives.  Life with Jesus is an altered reality.  

(22) But Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground. “O God,” they pleaded, “you are the God who gives breath to all creatures. Must you be angry with all the people when only one man sins?”  ~Numbers 16:22

Witness the godliness of Moses, even in the face of his adversaries (who were also his family, friends, and neighbors).  Moses stays true to God and consistently prays for mercy over those who are opposing him.  I want to relate to that.

Lord, where others may choose an altered reality revolving around themselves, we live this day with You as our True Reality.  We may face criticism, misunderstood motives and hard people, but soften our hearts and bend our knees to serve you and to pray for others.  Amen.

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com