Those Rebels (Us)

Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they replied, “We refuse to come before you! 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? 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]

The rebels mentioned in today's OYCB reading, were misinformed. Such is often the case when questions arise about leadership.

Dathan, Abiram, and Korah failed to realize that their present troubles were NOT the result of leadership (Moses and Aaron), but were in fact the result of Israel's faithlessness when encountered with the 'opportunity' to conquer Canaan by faith. Simply put, when the spies brought back the report about the Promised Land, Israel, as a whole (with only a few exceptions) failed to proceed in faith.

This remains a problem among God's people today. When faced with 'giants' we conclude that God and leadership have failed instead of seeing our own gross faith-failure.

Oh my, did I just make the statement above? In light of current events in the USA, it is far too convenient to blame those in authority instead of taking responsibility for the present faithless state of all things.

Why has the Church not taken spiritual authority over abortion, homosexuality, gross promiscuity, and the likes? Why has the Church not, in faith, tended to the establishment of God's Kingdom? Why has the Church not prevailed in prayer over obvious evil?

Well, it could be because the Church has been too busy trying to be 'relevant.' Too much energy has been expelled in being like the world (trying to draw them in) instead of trying to be like Jesus and affecting the world in Kingdom fashion! And so, what have we consequently done? Blame leadership. Just like Dathan and Abiram (and Korah), we have failed to recognize our own wholesale failure to "possess the land" and now we are looking for someone (anyone) to blame besides ourselves.

Father, the difficulties the Church faces today are directly resultant to our failure to "possess the land" for You and Your Kingdom. Forgive us - forgive me - for allowing this to happen. Show us the Way (Jesus) to humbly and sincerely repent before You - not so we get what we want, but so we are found in complete obedience to, and alignment with, You and Your Kingdom.