LORD’S DAY, JANUARY 29
NUMBERS 16:12-15
MATTHEW 20:27-28

"… whosoever will be chief among you,
let him be your servant."

DISCONTENTMENT LEADS TO REBELLION

Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, also complained and asked Moses: "…thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?" (Num 16:13). Their intention was to seize the government of the nation and have a self-elected high priest. They had in mind to force Moses and Aaron out of the posts assigned to them by God. They wanted to overthrow the constitution which God had given to His people. They accused Moses of seeking to rule over them. This discontent is a symptom of an apostate heart which cannot submit to the sovereignty of God over the appointment of offices. They could not see the design of God and wanted to be leaders themselves as well. Apostasy sets in when the appointed hierarchical order of God’s servants is rejected by men.

Their grievance was directed at Moses’ failure to deliver the nation into the Promised Land. Their complaint was obviously misdirected because it was the people’s unbelief, grumbling and rebellion that had prevented them from proceeding directly to their destination. Looking at the situation from a higher plane, it was the sovereign God who kept them from moving.

Discontentment of leaders surface when supposed-to-be followers have their own agenda. Once the leaders cannot meet their desires, they imagine they can do far better if they were piloting. This is one of the symptoms of those with natural minds but without the spiritual eyes to recognize that there is a higher, all-wise Being who is on the throne and in control of all the affairs of life.

Dear Reader, the Lord of lords and the King of kings came to this earth not with pride and pageantry, but in servanthood and humility. He came not to be served, which He deserves, but to serve, which we do not deserve.

THOUGHT: Am I content with what God has assigned to me?

PRAYER: "Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!" (Ps 113:5-6).