Situation 1:
Num 11:1 Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD
Situation 2
Num 12:1-2 Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. "Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?" they asked. "Hasn't he also spoken through us?" And the LORD heard this.
Situation 3
Num 14:1-2 That night all the people of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert!
Situation 4
Num 16:1-2 Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council.
It seems as though Moses spent a good bit of his time fighting off one mutiny after another. This is somewhat amazing to me because after all the Israelites had been through I’m not sure how in the world they could have arrived at the conclusion that Moses was not God’s appointed leader for them. I’m not sure how they could have possibly thought that God would put up with these insurrections.
As a manger of people I can really identify with Moses to a certain extent. Whenever you lead people, especially from a Christian viewpoint you try to do what is right and best for the group. You try to lead them in the best way you know how. But there always seems to be a few in the bunch who just don’t accept your leadership. They just don’t want to be led. They typically gossip with others about decisions that have been made. They try to stir up trouble and build coalitions against you. It’s very difficult for me to not want to retaliate when these situations occur. I feel justified since I am the appointed leader. I have been placed in that position.
The first thing I want to point out is Gods response:
Situation 1:
Num 11:1b and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.
Situation 2:
Num 12:10 When the cloud lifted from above the Tent, there stood Miriam—leprous, like snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had leprosy;
Situation 3:
Num 14:12 I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation greater and stronger than they."
Situation 4:
Num 16:21 "Separate yourselves from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once."
God is quick to come to Moses’ defense. He did not leave Moses on his own to deal with these people by himself. God quickly came to his aid and was ready to destroy the whole Israelite community if need be. The takeaway from this is that when we are placed in a subordinate position under another we better think long and hard before we criticize or undermine their authority. Bible says that God places leaders in their positions for a reason and even if they are not very good at what they do, when we work against them we are really opposing God. This is not a place you want to be as is indicated in the three situations above.
Another interesting piece of this however is Moses' reaction to these issues. He probably would have been well within his rights to say, "God, you do whatever you want with them. They drive me nuts and they don’t want to be here, just kill them and I can get back to my life." But of course he didn’t do that:
Situation 1:
Num 11:2 When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the LORD and the fire died down.
Situation 2:
Num 12:13 So Moses cried out to the LORD, "O God, please heal her!"
Situation 3:
Num 14:19 In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now."
Situation 4:
Num 16:22 But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and cried out, "O God, God of the spirits of all mankind, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?"
In every case Moses intervened on behalf of those he was leading. In each case he prayed for them and asked God to spare the people who had wronged him. The takeaway from this is that to lead properly we have to have love for those who we lead. We have to be willing to forgive the wrongs of those who don’t care for us. We have to be willing to let God fight our battles. Most importantly we have to be willing to set our ego aside and simply lead knowing that God is actually the one in charge and we are simply his chosen instruments for a time. There will always be those who oppose us. They don’t actually oppose us, but in reality they oppose God and God will fight his own battles. He will defend his honor.
It would seem that God has given you this lesson "for such a time as this!" Good stuff, Ed. Glad you are listening to God and I am glad that He has put you as the leader in our home, too.
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