11/9/11 THE LORD HAS SENT ME
Numbers 16:15-35
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Key Verse: 16:28 Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF
“Then Moses said, ‘This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea:’”

Dear Lord, heavenly Father, thank you for helping me to get back to basics. Thank you for helping me to have a revival in my heart and giving me strength to recuperate spiritually. I feel that I am regaining my desire for outreach. I am beginning to want to feed your flock once again. I pray for Augustine to be healed of his sickness. I pray that Hope may have a very lifegiving and powerful Bible study with Emma today on Rev 19. I pray that Jason may study the Bible deeply with me today. May he grow as a shepherd and Bible teacher for campus students. Please grant me one word of God to hold onto. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!
1. The Lord sent me; it was not my idea! (15-27).
Verses 15-27 read, “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.” 16 Moses said to Korah, “You and all your followers are to appear before the LORD tomorrow—you and they and Aaron. 17 Each man is to take his censer and put incense in it—250 censers in all—and present it before the LORD. You and Aaron are to present your censers also.” 18 So each of them took his censer, put burning coals and incense in it, and stood with Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 19 When Korah had gathered all his followers in opposition to them at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the glory of the LORD appeared to the entire assembly. 20 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 21 “Separate yourselves from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.” 22 But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and cried out, “O God, the God who gives breath to all living things, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?” 23 Then the LORD said to Moses, 24 “Say to the assembly, ‘Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.’” 25 Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 He warned the assembly, “Move back from the tents of these wicked men! Do not touch anything belonging to them, or you will be swept away because of all their sins.” 27 So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing with their wives, children and little ones at the entrances to their tents.”

Moses brought this matter to God. He did not try to solve it in a human way. The Lord was angry and wanted to destroy the whole nation. Moses interceded for God’s people in prayer once again. His prayer was somewhat like that of Abraham for his nephew Lot (Ge 18:23-32).
It is not easy to bear when people say bad things against us, things that are not true. We want to get mad and get even. We definitely do not think about praying to God on their behalf. I did not pray for Thomas when he came to my house to tell me how much he can’t stand me or my family. I called the cops instead of praying. Jesus told us that we must love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. We must also leave all judgment to God. I want to pray for those who oppose me or the work of God, instead of getting mad and getting even.

2. God’s judgment on rebellious people (28-35).

Verses 28-35 read, “ 28 Then Moses said, “This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea: 29 If these men die a natural death and suffer the fate of all mankind, then the LORD has not sent me. 30 But if the LORD brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the realm of the dead, then you will know that these men have treated the LORD with contempt.” 31 As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions. 33 They went down alive into the realm of the dead, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. 34 At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, “The earth is going to swallow us too!” 35 And fire came out from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.”
Moses averted disaster by proposing a terrible test, a test which proved that the Lord God had established Moses as leader of his people. Along with the three rebels and their families, 250 men who had joined them were consumed by fire from the Lord.
We need to leave all judgment to God. God will deal with people in his own way and in his own time. I have seen people who opposed the work of God. I have not seen them become swallowed up by the earth. But I have seen them become fruitless people. We should be thinking about Jesus and his Gospel and the love of God instead of complaining and grumbling.
The secret is to have spiritual discernment to see what God is doing and through whom he is working. Then humble ourselves and get on board with the program. It is really our pride that is keeping us from submitting and co-working with a thankful heart. It is our pride that makes us want to criticize our leaders instead of helping them to accomplish all that God has called them to do. I repent of all pride and rebellion in my heart and pray that I may have eyes to see the movement of the Holy Spirit and humbly submit to what God is doing.
Right now God is working through the leaders at Triton, DuPage, and Chicago. God is working through Pastor Abraham Kim and Msn Mark Yang. The next thing I must co-work for is the Joint Thanksgiving program and the upcoming Christmas program at DeKalb Christian church. Lord, save us from pointless rebellion. Help us to humbly co-work and submit to you and your will.
Prayer: Lord, help me to respect the leaders whom you have appointed and through whom you are working. Help me to grow in faith through obedience to your will.

One Word: Open your eyes to see what God is doing and humbly and thankfully submit.