Getting The "I" Out Of It Numbers 16:8-11 - BLOGGING THE BIBLE- JournalHome.com

3/11/2010 - Getting The "I" Out Of It Numbers 16:8-11

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Getting The "I" Out Of It

Reference: Numbers 16:8-11 Then Moses spoke again to Korah: “Now listen, you Levites! 9 Does it seem insignificant to you that the God of Israel has chosen you from among all the community of Israel to be near him so you can serve in the Lord’s Tabernacle and stand before the people to minister to them? 10 Korah, he has already given this special ministry to you and your fellow Levites. Are you now demanding the priesthood as well? 11 The Lord is the one you and your followers are really revolting against! For who is Aaron that you are complaining about him?”

Observation: The idea of someone getting upset because they are not allowed to minister in a particular position of authority or power is not novel to the seasoned leader. Many of us have dealt with this kind of rebellion and grasping for position before, and we will probably deal with it again in the future. What is instructive here is that Moses recognized the real issue. It is so easy, as leaders, to have our own ego on the line and feel like it is all about us. “They refuse to follow me. They refuse to do the job I assigned them.” Notice how many times the first person is used in those responses.
Moses nails it when he says in essence; “it’s not me or Aaron you are rebelling against, we’re nobodies, it is God Himself you are opposing. He gave you the job and He is the one you’re complaining about.”

If we can get ourselves out of it, when people complain or grasp for position, we can see it for what it really is and stay at peace in ourselves.

Application/Confession: When someone is rebelling I can find myself feeling like, “How can they do this to me?” Sometimes that causes me to overreact because I am taking it personally. Other times, when I am feeling badly about myself, I under react because I figure I deserve it so how can I confront the wrong attitude. I need to remember and live Moses’ words; “Who is Aaron that you are complaining about him?” or “Who is Randy that you are complaining about him.” I have to remember that it is an issue of rebellion between them and God and handle it as such.

PRAYER: You are teaching me, Lord, how much of my ego gets wrapped up in my ministry. Heal me of that. Please heal me, first of all, by helping me to understand Your love and grace so that I don’t have to try to manipulate and react so as to get it from those I serve. I want to care for and love them with pure motives. Teach me how.

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