Topic: For His Glory [November 29, 2016]
Text: Numbers 16:1-11
Key Verse: “And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?” (Numbers 16:3).
In her autobiography, My Life, Mrs. Golda Meir, Israeli Prime Minister during the Yom Kippur War in 1993 relates moving stories of the patience, bravery and sacrifices of men and women of Jewish state in the face of the aggressions of its neighbours.
She says Israel gathered from “authoritative intelligence source” that Egypt and Syria would launch an attack on her country from two fronts. Israeli Defence Forces were at their peak and primed to deliver a deadly pre-emptive strike. But Golda Meir wisely rejected the idea and went to war only after being attacked. Her restraint when provoked paid off. Israel wasn’t seen as the aggressor and this earned the nation priceless global sympathy and enormous military support from the United States which enabled her gain overwhelming victory. Israel didn’t apply her bravery and strength negatively.
Korah, the leader of the rebellion in our text isn’t so wise. His name means boldness or bravery. So he gathers co-conspirators -Dathan and Abiram along with several others – to attack Moses and Aaron, the servants of God. Believing leadership to be a carnal affair, he challenges what he sees as the domineering style of Moses. To speak out boldly-in-keeping-with his name, he reasons, would clip Moses’ wings and force him to give the rebels some personal attention and leadership roles. Little did they realise that such heady missions put people in direct confrontation with God.
When God gives us boldness, wisdom, wealth, good health, energy, authority, power, etc. He expects us to tame these attributes for Kingdom work, not for personal pursuits. When we pray for success and prosperity in family, work, career, academics and church business, we must also ask the Lord to give us the grace to manage these good attributes according to His will.
Thought for the day: Only the wise handles the “Yea and Amen” of God’s promises.
Bible Reading in one Year: Daniel 3-5
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
