Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Content or Complacent?


Content or Complacent?


Have you ever heard a friend or coworker recount a recent accomplishment that required real dedication and discipline and you were inspired? I could lose those last ten pounds. I could run a marathon. I could save my money and pay off my mortgage. For about 20 minutes. Then did you find yourself getting honest? But I won’t. I once saw a sign at a craft booth that said, “Sure, you could do it yourself, but will you?” I thought it was clever for its honesty. No, I won’t. So I’ll buy yours. And no price is too high for your creativity and discipline so I don’t have to test mine.


What is it that makes some people able to forge ahead and achieve their goals and some of us keep dreaming about them? I have a theory: we only change when our present circumstances are more uncomfortable than the effort it will take to alter them. Case in point: I was having some back issues recently so I began to visit my friendly neighborhood chiropractor. She suggested exercises, physical therapy, some x-rays and so on. I was faithful and compliant to the letter. Why? Because I was in pain and was willing to do whatever I was told to remove my pain. Pain is motivating. But as I’ve experienced some relief recently and my visits are over, the doctor has warned me to keep doing what we started as a preventive measure for the future. That will be harder. (But she’s reading this now, so of course I will be proactive in my vertebral health!)


But what about when the pain is gone? Why do we floss feverishly before a visit to the dentist but find it harder to maintain the habit for the next six months? Why do we work hard at relationships that are filled with conflict but tend to take for granted the ones that mean the most? Why is it easier to get to the gym and eat healthier food when we can’t fit into our favorite clothes? Because pain is motivating and comfort is king.


God knows this about us. He knew that the Israelites in the desert would cling to Him as long as they were wandering in the desert and depending on Him for their very sustenance and safety. He provided their food and water and protection when they cried out to Him. And as Moses neared the end of his tenure as desert leader (and of his life), God’s message to His people was a warning against complacency when the difficult nomadic life would turn into stability.


13 So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today – to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul – 14 then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil. 15 I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied. 

16 Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them.”     (Deuteronomy 11:13-16)


Deuteronomy is filled with the phrases “be careful” and “remember”. Why would God tell His people so often to be careful and to remember unless He was quite sure that they would be careless and forgetful? And why? Because they would no longer be motivated by pain, but would be experiencing physical comfort. Look at the pattern described in this passage:


1.     The people obey God. (verse 13)

2.     God blesses the people. (verses 14-15)

3.     The people turn away from God. (verse 16)


Sound familiar? When there is relational conflict or illness or financial panic, I run to God quite naturally. I find comfort in His Word and in His Presence when I’m sad or scared or uncertain. Desperation leads me – no, forces me to cling to Him. And that is a legitimate season. But when that season has passed and I experience healing, feeling His Presence in a lighter, more peripheral way, my spirits soar. For a while. Then I begin to doubt the authenticity of the relationship or my commitment to following Christ. Where is the desperation? Where is the longing? Is this feeling of contentment good for me? Will it last? What will the next trauma be?


Life, both physical and spiritual, comes in cycles. You may have noticed that. Like the meteorological seasons, life has growing times and dormant times. And if you’ve experienced both, you probably recognize that while you’re in the midst of one you can count on it changing at some point so you’ll experience the other. So how can we enjoy and take advantage of a growing season without becoming complacent and turning away from God? Part of the answer is found just a couple of verses after God’s warning.


18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 11:18-19)


How do we keep our Sunday afternoon drive from straying out of the contented neighborhood and veering into complacency? By making God’s thoughts and desires so natural in our everyday life that we can have confidence in His Presence regardless of our emotional mood or temporary circumstances. Know God’s Word in our heads and value it in our hearts. Talk about God’s activity in our lives with our family and friends. Incorporate our Father into every aspect of our being.


Easier said than done, right? Of course. Because when I am desperate and in pain, I will do whatever I can to get out of that place. I will quit bad activities and leave unhealthy relationships when I have no other option. When I’ve hurt someone or lost enough money or feel enough physical pain, then I will change. But when that’s not the case, the carnal nature in me wants to do what I want to do, and it’s harder to see the potential damage in the consequences. If I turn away from God, as the passage in Deuteronomy warns will happen, it becomes increasingly difficult to hear the quiet wisdom of God’s Spirit guiding me into life. Instead, I choose to go back into the grave from which Christ raised me. Life to the full? No, thank you. I’ll choose death. It feels really pleasant right now. And I don’t want to feel guilty about it.


The flip side of this dilemma is that we can’t enjoy the season of grace and blessing that God gives us. We try to make it harder than it is. Am I missing something? Why is this so easy? What should I be doing for God so I can feel more challenged in my spirituality? What tragedy is around the corner? I used to do this when my husband and I were dating. We lived in different cities so our monthly visits were always over too quickly. But instead of enjoying every minute together, I would start whining on the last day about how much I would miss him and ruin part of the little time we did have together! Now I find myself tempted to do the same with God! I am still negatively affecting my enjoyment of a lovely relationship that will naturally have its ups and downs, but within which I can take great pleasure and grow to be my very best self.


So whether our tendency is to wait for the other shoe to drop or drop our defenses and turn away from God, these words Moses passes along are as relevant to us as they were to the Israelites thousands of years ago. God wants our hearts. He wants our devotion. And He wants to bless us in the context of relationship. How will we respond?


•  Read Romans 6:11, Galatians 2:20 and Galatians 5:1. How do they shed light on the topic discussed in this lesson?


• How do you react to times of grace and contentment? Do you tend to turn away from God and find yourself in old patterns? Or do you have to remind yourself to enjoy the season and not focus on something bad that might happen soon?

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Back to Basics


Back to Basics


If you’re like me, you can hear an adult’s voice from your childhood in your head every time certain situations present themselves. Words of wisdom or warning that ring in our ears, reminding us of timeless truths that have been passed from one generation to another. From the messages we send the opposite sex by the way we dress to dinner etiquette when there are more forks than guests at the table, someone has ushered us into new frontiers of knowledge and those teachings stay with us. And, if we’re honest with ourselves, we wash our hands and brush our teeth because someone told us to do it a million times! (Anyone have kids?)


The apostle Peter had the heart of a teacher and wanted his learners to really, really get it. He seemed to love knowledge as much as he loved the ones he was teaching. Knowledge in the context of relationship, seeing growth and understanding, is one of a teacher’s most satisfying gifts. And what I’ve been experiencing lately is that it’s not always about new knowledge. Sometimes, like in 2 Peter 1:12-15, it’s the determination to keep alive the basic building blocks of learning – or faith – that’s necessary for effective education. Say it one more time, and maybe it will stick.                       



12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.


Reading the preceding verses of chapter 1 gives the context, of course, for his phrases like “these things”. And notice that he is not spending every ounce of ink to present new facts to his students; he is telling them that until he dies, he will remind them of the same things he’s been teaching, and that he wants them to remember it all even after he’s gone.


The Old Testament book of Deuteronomy is similar. Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers are Moses’ story of trying to pass along the law, as God has given it to him, to the sometimes responsive, mostly rebellious, Israelites. The phrases “remember” and “be careful” are liberally sprinkled throughout Moses’ final book. And why tell the people to remember and be careful of the same things they’ve already heard if not for the fact that God was quite certain they would forget and be careless? (In high school a friend and I had an imaginary passenger in the car named “Care” for when our parents told us to “take care” when driving. We made sure to bring her everywhere since we were told to a million times!)


These basic building blocks of faith are good for us to remember. We don’t need to stop there and learn nothing further, but we do need to be careful and remember the foundational truths of our faith. They are the “spine” issues that hold up the body and create joy and unity in a community of Jesus followers. I’ve been reminded of these Christianity 101 lessons this week as I’ve been meeting with a college student who is discovering them for the first time. What joy for me to rediscover what she is learning as she approaches a relationship with Jesus. The kind of joy that one of my sisters-in-law (and sisters in Christ) expressed perfectly in a letter I received from her this week as she told me about a particularly impactful message she heard. She wrote,

“Ever since I heard this lecture I keep going back to Ephesians 2:8…it is still fresh to me. It brings me to tears as I take it in, as I grow in understanding of the completeness of the cross and resurrection. My salvation is a gift from God to me. I had really no part in the gift other than thanking Him for it…I treasure my salvation and the grace God has shown me.”


Don’t you love it?! It’s exactly what Peter is hoping his readers will take away: the impact of what we’ve already learned about following Jesus is exponentially satisfying as the relationship with Him grows and we change to be more like Him. Thanks be to God!


So what are those basic truths – those “spine” tenets – that can keep us going and lead us to deeper relationship with Christ as we fully appreciate them? Here are a few passages to ponder this week and keep in mind, looking for God’s confirmation and the joy of the Holy Spirit as we take them in again – or for the first time…



~Now brothers, (and sisters!) I want to remind you of the gospel… which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. (1 Corinthians 15:1; 3-5)


~
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that on one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)


~
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)


~
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)


~
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1)


~If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)


~
He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14)


I don’t know about you, but I never get tired of hearing that I’m loved, I’m forgiven and I’m free. And that is what we are, dear sisters. That is what we are.



• This week choose one or two of these truths and ask God to make it fresh and alive for you so that you can more fully experience the joy of your salvation. If you have not made that commitment to believe in Jesus as the only way to God, search these passages and ask God to reveal Himself and His truth to you as He draws you closer to Him. 

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Submission and Respect


Submission and Respect


The way this lesson hits you may depend on your reaction to a uniform or the word “supervisor” emblazoned on a jacket. Personally, I am comforted by the appearance of an authority figure and consider most SOPs as BFFs. This morning, on my way to my first experience as a potential juror for the great state of Washington, our bus driver took a wrong ramp and we ended up in a narrow tunnel with no obvious turnaround opportunity. Suggestions and pleas from the passengers were quick to be offered, but no decisive action was taken until the metro supervisor in an orange vest magically appeared and climbed on board. Someone had given clearance for something and progress was made. I watched with some interest the various interactions with our crestfallen bus driver as commuters exited the vehicle. Not all were pleasant. The woman behind me, however, encouraged the driver by saying, “tomorrow will be a better day”. Authority had rescued us and respect ruled the day. A happy ending was had by all.


The concepts of submission to authority and respect are discussed by one of the earliest New Testament writers, the apostle Peter, who elaborates on these ideas in one of his letters to the first century church. Take a look at how he makes his case:



13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

18 Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 

                        22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 

23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

  3 Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. (1 Peter 2:13 – 3:2)



Peter gives us a nice overview of his topic in the first verse of this passage:
submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority. We don’t get to pick and choose which authorities we submit to, and we’re doing it for Jesus. Then he gets more specific in mentioning government offices, slave masters and spouses. And right in the middle of his human examples that anyone back in the day or today could relate to, he drops in Jesus.


Why submit? Peter is not the only New Testament writer to exhort followers of Christ to submit to authority. Paul tells the Christians in Rome that “everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” (Romans 13:1-2) God is a God of order and of images. Just the like tabernacle and the temple were images of deeper spiritual concepts, so is earthly authority a means for God to communicate His own sovereignty and power in our lives. And in case we think it was easier in biblical times to submit to the government, remember that Christians were imprisoned, persecuted, and killed for their faith under Roman rule after Jesus’ death and resurrection. The authorities that Peter and Paul told Christ followers to obey were often cruel and unfairly biased against their faith. But submission to authority is a crucial tenet of one who follows Christ. Peter’s letter tells his readers that by being good citizens they will keep foolish people from saying ignorant things about them and the God they follow (1 Peter 2:15). Jesus also told his followers that people would see their good deeds and give glory to God (Matthew 5:16). Submission to earthly authority reveals the character of one who follows God, the ultimate authority.


How is it possible? This is key to understanding and succeeding. Peter places the emphasis of example and resource for this difficult undertaking with Jesus alone. We are called to submit under trying circumstances because Jesus set an example. And his example was twofold – He showed us what it looks like (he committed no sin; he did not retaliate; he made no threats) as well as where it comes from (he entrusted himself to him who judges justly). Therefore Jesus is central to seeing submission with respect and He is the power by which it is possible to live that way. Submitting to authority with respect, especially when we don’t agree with or support the source of authority, is only possible by looking to Jesus and relying on Him for strength.


What does it look like? Practically speaking, there are myriad manifestations of this concept. Peter gives us examples of government, employment and marriage. The idea of a governor (mayor, president) or boss having authority over us isn’t very controversial. The ones who make and enforce the rules and have the power are considered authorities. And whether you’re grinding your teeth because of the outcome of the most recent election or you were counting down the days until the end of the previous administration, we have all had a taste of chafing under a government we don’t agree with. And many of us have labored under less than ideal employment situations, as well. Yes, we toe the line when asked to do so. Yes, we obey the law. But we reveal much about our attitudes and character by how we react to what we perceive to be unfair policies or treatment by those in authority over us. Disagreement is ok. Disrespect is not.  Among peers as well as in or under positions of authority, God calls us to answer everyone with respect and gentleness (1 Peter 3:15). Jesus modeled the perfect combination of submission with respect by being sure of his calling and clinging to his Creator. We are all made in God’s image – even those with whom we disagree. So when we find ourselves on opposite sides of political, social or philosophical fences, we are still called to follow Jesus’ example and entrust ourselves (as well as the outcome of our conversations and relationships) to him who judges justly.


What about submission in marriage? This topic is a little like apostrophes: sprinkling it around without understanding it causes more confusion than taking the time to understand it and put it into practice properly. (Apostrophes are one of my major grammatical pet peeves; don’t get me started…) And don’t even think we’re going to cover all the implications here. The one thing we can take from this passage is part of the first verse of chapter 3: in the same way… What way is that? The way of the previous verses, which describe Jesus’ example of entrusting himself to him who judges justly. Submission in any context is only possible by keeping our eyes on Jesus. Whether or not we are in complete agreement with a spouse or a boss or a government, we are called to submit with respect and that requires that I lay my prejudices, agendas, and timing aside to see people the way God does. And to trust Him with my circumstances. Even when I don’t see eye to eye with the authority over me, I can trust that God loves me and will work things out for my good and for His glory. And I am only responsible for my behavior and attitudes. When I’ve mastered those and can no longer find fault with the way I treat others, then I can start worrying about their behaviors.


Our reactions to people and circumstances in our lives that rub us the wrong way show the world what it’s like to live by God’s standards. How did Jesus not retaliate against the men who beat and mocked him? How did he bear the physical and spiritual pain of the crucifixion and separation from God for the sake of people who insulted and injured him? By trusting His Father. He himself bore our sins so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness. Submitting to and respecting those in authority is possible because Jesus lives in us. We choose respect and submission in relationships and we can only do that by looking to Jesus.



• How do you view authority? Are you like a golden retriever who rolls over and submits to anyone bigger than you? Or are you more like a wild horse who refuses to allow the bit in her mouth or a saddle on her back? Maybe somewhere in between? What past experiences or ideas lead you to view authority the way you do? Is it a biblical view? Ask God to show you His truth in this area.


• Is there someone in authority with whom you have a grievance? Are you treating him or her with respect? How can you be praying for a better outcome to your situation? 

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Korah vs. Moses


Do you remember the verse from last week’s lesson in Jude that referenced some Old Testament characters named Cain, Balaam and Korah? It was verse 11 and this is what it says:


“Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.”


The point about Jude’s letter to the churches was that there were men in the community spreading doctrinal lies and causing dissension . To make his point, Jude referred to three Old Testament examples of men who wreaked similar havoc among God’s people. Since I just happened to be reading through the book of Numbers this week, I got to discover that God wanted me to revisit Korah’s story in particular!


Because the format of these lessons is short, there’s no way we can explore all the references from one part of Scripture to another. However, when God makes His timing so clear and combines it with a life lesson I’ve been learning personally, it certainly merits circling back and taking a second look.


Korah’s whole story is found in Numbers 16 and it rivals any Lifetime Channel made-for-TV movie you’ve ever had the horror/pleasure of watching, I assure you. The Israelites are still in the desert, escaping from Pharaoh and heading to the Promised Land. With manna for breakfast, lunch and dinner, desert temperatures soaring, and all the laws God has mandated for His people, tempers are apt to flare. And although God has delegated all the leadership and service responsibilities perfectly, some are not happy with the present situation. Korah comes from the tribe of Levi so his family’s job will have something to do with the Tent of Meeting – God’s desert precursor to the temple in Jerusalem. Because Korah is a son of Kohath (Numbers 16:1), his family’s job is to be in charge of transporting all the holy objects in the Tabernacle from one location to another when the cloud of God’s glory moves them. They are not allowed to see or touch the sacred items (the priests alone are allowed into the presence of God’s holy objects and they alone can wrap them and prepare them for travel), but they are called in when the items are ready to be moved. (Numbers 4:1-20)


When we first encounter our antagonist it is as an insolent rebel, leading other disgruntled Israelites against Moses. Here is his complaint:


Korah, son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites…became insolent 2 and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. 3They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD’s assembly?” (Numbers 16:1-3)


Bottom line: who do you think you are, Moses? What’s interesting to note is that part of what Korah comes at Moses with is accurate. The LORD was with the whole community. And part of what Korah comes at Moses with is his own junk that he projects on Moses, namely that Moses thinks he’s better than the rest of the people and placed himself in a position of leadership and superiority. If you know Moses’ story at all you know what a reluctant leader he was. So how does Moses react? Look at verse 4:


When Moses heard this, he fell facedown.


Then he tells Korah that God will decide who is right in this situation and who is wrong. He doesn’t defend himself. He doesn’t run away from the confrontation. And he doesn’t try to minimize or smooth over the differences to keep a false peace. Moses goes into a physically humble position to hear from God and pause before answering the accusations coming at him.


There are many lessons to learn here about confrontation. Here are a few that God has given me the opportunity to witness and practice a lot lately.


1. Truth is often mixed with fiction. When someone comes at me with intense emotions or a problem in the relationship, there may be some truth in what they say. Korah started with a piece of truth to his confrontation, but then he went astray and took others with him. Only going to God for His perfect perspective will allow us to sort out what’s true and what someone is projecting on us based on their own issues, feelings and past experience. We can look for the truth, address it, and leave the rest in God’s hands. Helpful verse: If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18) Implication: sometimes it’s not possible and sometimes it doesn’t depend on you.


2. Humility is a good response to conflict. Moses didn’t fall on his face because he was submitting to Korah’s leadership or authority in any way. Moses’ posture reflected his willingness to seek God’s truth and release the results. The relationship Moses had with God had been tested and refined to such a degree that Moses knew God wouldn’t let this threat to the community go with impunity. And Moses had seen God’s power and knew it would be effective in a way that mere words or human reaction could never be. Moses and Aaron fell facedown 3 times in this chapter. They sought God’s direction at every step of the confrontation, each time choosing to put aside their own reactions, feelings and agendas to hear from God.


3. One unpleasant (and in this case deadly) confrontation, done well, can preserve real unity. The converse is also true: if we choose false peace by refusing to engage in a fierce conversation, with God’s help, it can be poison to a group. Korah and his cohorts had grumbled long enough and loud enough to have rallied 250 other men to their cause. And these were well-known leaders of the community who had been appointed to the council. What would have happened if Moses hadn’t chosen to go to God and face these guys head on? Leadership vacuum, factions, outright rebellion and mutiny among the million or so people traveling together. As it was, the death toll was pretty high (please read the whole chapter. It’s fascinating…), but it was a classic case of short-term sacrifice for long-term gain.

Bottom line, my junk is my junk, but I’m not taking on yours. And vice versa. When I’ve been in conversations with my husband or friends who want to vent, or when I have been on the delivering end of one of those conversations, God has been gracious to reveal His truth to me and help me reach real understanding with the person I’m talking to. When I went through a recent season of not knowing what I was going to do with my life and I wasn’t feeling confident or purposeful in my middle-aged years, I wanted to lay the bulk of that at my husband’s feet. If he was different and our marriage was better, then I would be happy. I am so glad God didn’t teach me the lesson the way Korah had to learn it! Whew. But even when the tables were turned and I’ve had the confrontation coming at me, I’ve been reminded of that childhood phrase, “I’m rubber and you’re glue; whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you”. A strong relationship with Jesus is a little like that. When I fall facedown, figuratively or literally, and put myself aside to hear from Him, he reveals to me what’s really mine to own and what I can leave at the foot of the cross for Him to deal with.

There has been plenty for me to own, I can tell you. But it has been liberating to allow God to sort through what’s not mine and instead of throwing it back in the face of the one I really want to understand, I can feel empathy for their situation and hear his or her heart instead of just angry words.

We come into conflict for lots of reasons, but in Korah’s case, and in my own so many times, it’s our own insecurities and misperceptions of others that lead us to jump to wrong conclusions. If Korah had seen his role in carrying the sacred objects of the tabernacles as an honor because of the relationship he had with God, he may not have been so quick to envy Moses and Aaron the seemingly glamorous jobs they had. How many times have I looked at someone’s life and assumed it was better or easier or more fabulous than mine? Too many for me not to have some empathy for Korah, I’m afraid. Korah didn’t see Aaron’s pain in losing 2 of the 4 sons he had who were supposed to succeed him as high priest. Korah wasn’t aware of the inner struggle Moses had been through in changing his livelihood and identity 3 times during his life and becoming a leader in spite of his begging God not to give him the job. Korah’s focus was Korah. And that is another lesson altogether…


• Is there someone with whom you have an uneasy relationship or you’ve had an awkward encounter, and God is asking you to have a fierce conversation? Ask Him about it and ask Him how to begin the dialog, keeping the relationship and truth in mind as goals at all times.


• Are you content to be in the place and season of life that God has you in presently? Do you know your talents, personality and skills, and are you using them happily to serve God and others? As God fills and guides us in the unique way He’s wired us, we will see envy and misperceptions diminish.


• Are you aware of your junk? Do the same issues resurface over and over in your relationships? Are you willing to fall on your face, as Moses and Aaron did, to have God reveal your character flaws and allow Him to change you?