QUESTIONING LEADERSHIP

This post was from my notes as Linda taught our Bible Study on Sunday Mornings at Open Door Church.

 

 

 

Our study has been on the Ark in the Old Testament Tent Tabernacle.  On the cover of the ark were two angels.  They were to protect the ark and it’s contents. 

Numbers 16 records an interesting situation to represent leadership of the current church, and the importance of offering to God according to the proper method.

We are to come humbly with a clean heart, absent of pride or artificial exaltation.

Korah was not worthy to light the incense and God was displeased.  Korah was not ordained to the priesthood and he had decided to ordain himself.  Korah and 250 men conspired against Moses.  They declared to Moses that “the entire congregation is holy so why do you think you should be in charge?” 

Korah's rebellion angered God and He graphically showed his anger by opening up the earth and swallowing up Korah, his family and all 250 of his followers.  God continued to punish those who complained to God that this was not fair to punish Korah's rebellion against leadership.  God caused a deathly plague that took another 14,700 persons who were critical of the harsh chastisement.

There is a bigger picture of what is going on in our Nation – even today !!

Because of Moses interceding, God told Aaron the Priest to stand in the gap and the plague was stayed.  May we also intercede for our Nation, our church and families.

Numbers 16:19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.

The Glory of the Lord appeared in relationship to Aaron’s rod that stopped the plague.

Numbers 17 God gave specific instructions what to place in the Ark of the Covenant.

Aaron’s rod was a symbol of authority.  Aaron’s rod budded with life giving quality.  All else was counterfeit.

The children of Israel also questioned Moses and Aaron’s leadership and God had them bring a rod from each tribe Numbers 17:  And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “get from them a rod from each father’s house, all their leaders; twelve rods. Write each man’s name on his rod. And you shall write Aaron’s name on the rod of Levi.  Then you shall place them in the tabernacle of meeting before the Testimony, where I meet with you.  And it shall be that the rod of the man whom I choose will blossom; thus I will rid Myself of the complaints of the children of Israel, which they make against you.”

I Chronicles 6:31-33  David was led of the Lord to appoint musical ministers to praise and worship at the Temple.  Some of these were descendants of Korah, who were assigned life giving assignments.  There gifts and calling was to serve, but not as priests.  The sins of the fathers do not punish their descendants.

God blesses those who write the story of grace.  Psalms 45:1 My heart is overflowing with a good word: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer

As we stand before the Lovely Tabernacle our heart cries out for the living God and His anointing.

The enemy comes and says, “You deserve to be important.  You are as good as the leaders.  Go ahead and lift up yourself."  Korah listened to the enemy and agreed with him.  Recognize the loud voice for it is the enemy.  The voice of the Holy Spirit is gentle and still.

Learn to be careful not to enter into rebellion.  Our ministry is of deep humility as we worship our Lord.

Don’t be proud and say, “I would never be like those people.” 

Remember Peter who said I will never deny you - - but he did yet he was quick to repent and he wept with great sorrow.  Aaron made mistakes, but God spared him. 

How does this work for us today?  God hasn’t changed His mind.  He still demands our heart to be changed and be pleasing to him.  Take what is in the Word and apply it to our life.  Not just read the Bible, but apply it.