Last Updated on October 21, 2020 by Stacy Averette
This morning as I was reading Numbers 16 about Korah’s rebellion, I couldn’t help but realize how easy it is for us to lose our perspective when life feels hard and our circumstances aren’t quite what we’d hoped. The temptation to complain and grumble and blame others might be an old habit we’ve justified for a long time. But there’s a lot we can learn from these complainers, the way Moses lead with humility, and how God responded.
You can click here to read the whole chapter of Numbers 16. It’s a great story!
Korah vs. Moses
A group of 250 leaders of the congregation lead by Korah rose up against Moses and Aaron and said, “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 assembly of the Lord?” (Numbers 16:3)
Korah was jealous, arrogant and greedy.
- his desire for what someone else had, made him discontent with what he already had
- he tried to raise his self-esteem by attacking someone else’s
- he used part of God’s Word to support what he wanted, rather than allowing the entirety of The Word to shape his life
- he expected to find satisfaction in power and position; rather than allowing God to satisfy him in the position he was already in.
Moses and Aaron responded with humility three times in this chapter by falling on their face before their accusors and taking the issue to God. (Numbers 16:4, 22, 45)
When Moses reminded them that they were really grumbling against God and not him they responded with:
Is it not enough that you have brought us up out of the 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. (Numbers 16:13-14)
Wow! What a distorted view of their life and circumstances!
- How quickly they had forgotten they were slaves in Egypt crying out for someone to save them!
- They had not arrived in the promised land because of their disobedience.
- What they really wanted more than anything was wealth, material possessions, and status.
When We Lose Our Perspective
Sometimes we forget we were slaves, bound by our sin, before God rescued us. Like the rebellious leaders, we complain about where we are, what we don’t have, and search for someone to blame. We thought we’d have more, be more, by now.
We have Christ in us and with us. God is in our midst. He has rescued and sustained us.
Is that not enough?
I fear it is not.
We want Jesus plus something. We pursue wealth, material possessions, and status more than we pursue God. We’re more focused on what we can see and own and be known for than knowing God and walking with Him
Don’t focus on what you own and are known for but on knowing God
and making Him known. Tweet this
The NASB Life Application Study Bible commentary says this:
One of the easiest ways to fall away from following God is to look at our present problems and exaggerate them. When we take our eyes off God and start looking at ourselves and our problems, we begin to lose our perspective as well. Overrating problems can hinder our relationship with God. Don’t let difficulties make you lose sight of God’s direction for your life.
Our present problems often look like:
- wanting more money to buy a bigger a house, a new car, or take a vacation
- worry about having enough money to send our kids to college and retire
- obsessing over our appearance, weight, and jeans size
- not enough time to do it all; some of which God never asked us to do
- feeling cheated at work; not being recognized or promoted
- dissatisfied with our relationships; selfish and self-focused
- working to keep our kids happy and occupied with more gifts, activities, and experiences
Have you lost your perspective? Do you exaggerate and overrate your problems? Are you more concerned with your physical and financial well-being than with your spiritual life?
A Right Perspective
But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing. Psalms 34:10
Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Psalm 127:1
The Lord has done great things for us and we are glad. Psalm 126:3
Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33
