Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

A Daily Devotional by Kenton Cheek

1 March 2024

Reading From Numbers 16-17

“They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, ‘You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?’

Then Moses became very angry and said to the Lord, ‘Do not accept their offering. I have not taken so much as a donkey from them, nor have I wronged any of them.’”

–Numbers 16:3, 15

     When I read the Bible, the Word of God ends up reading me.  The Word is living and active, sharper than any double edged sword, cutting through all of the bologna and garbage to the heart of the matter.  God sees right through me.  Rebellion is something that comes natural to every human.  I cherish my children, but I don’t have to teach them to be naughty; in fact, one of the first words each of them spoke was “no!”  So it was with me as a baby and my parents, grandparents and every generation since Adam and Eve first rebelled in the Garden. 

     After all that Yahweh had done for the Israelites through the humble leadership of Moses, someone who did not seek power in the first place, the people of God rose up against Moses and Aaron.  Only a short time ago the Spirit of God fell upon the seventy elders causing them to prophesy.  Rather than be jealous or quench the Spirit, Moses said that he wished every Israelite would be empowered by Him.  Those who joined Korah in rebellion were partially right in saying that all the Lord’s people are holy and He is with them, but it was not true that Moses and Aaron had set themselves above the people.

     If we will remember the burning bush and the conversation between the Most High and Moses, the servant of the Lord had a speech impediment and did not think himself worthy to lead God’s people.[1]  The Lord insisted and allowed Aaron to help Moses in leading them.[2]  There wasn’t a power grab.  Moses and Aaron were not greedy dictators.  In fact, every time the Israelites griped about anything and everything and God wanted to bring judgment against them, Moses would plead for their lives and Yahweh was merciful because of his intercession.

     Each one of the children of God belong to His eternal family,[3] the Body of Christ.  Every one of us has been blessed with talents, gifts, and resources to be used for His glory and our good.[4]  We all have our roles to play. “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”[5]  The role of spiritual leadership is not to “lord it over them”[6] but to help everyone in the community of faith grow together.  As we mature spiritually, we are conformed into the image of Jesus, becoming more and more like Him.[7] 

     Moses and Aaron did not take from Israel.  They gave and gave and gave and received not gratitude, but complaint and rebellion in return.  May we, as modern believers, repent of the rebellion in our hearts and follow our leaders as they follow God.  We need to help them and appreciate their service.  If correction is needed, the greatest of care must be taken to do it respectfully[8] or else we will be guilty of speaking against the Lord’s anointed.[9]

“Lord God, forgive me for grumbling against those You have called as leaders.  Help me to submit to their guidance as You guide them.  I pray for Your Church universal.  May we all work together to do Your will in all the Earth.  Be glorified by Your people.  Give us the strength to choose honor over whining, to choose to help over lazily complaining.  Bring refreshment to those that lead the Body of Christ.  I pray that we will appreciate and build each other up in the faith.  Amen.”

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

–Mark 10:42-45

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[1] Exodus 3:11

[2] Exodus 4:10, 13

[3] I John 3:1, Matthew 5:9, John 1:12, Galatians 3:26, Romans 8:15

[4] I Corinthians 12

[5] Ephesians 4:11-13

[6] Numbers 16:13, Matthew 20:25, Luke 22:25-27

[7] II Corinthians 3:18

[8] Ephesians 4:11-16

[9] I Chronicles 6:22, Psalm 105:15