As we continue to read in Numbers we find the Israelites grumbling again, this time over a power struggle. There is so much pride in these people, where there should be humility.

They united against Moses and Aaron and said, “You have gone too far! The whole community of Israel has been set apart by the Lord, and he is with all of us. What right do you have to act as though you are greater than the rest of the Lord’s people?” Numbers 16:3

Can you hear the arrogance? I can.

“We are chosen by God! You aren’t any better than us!”

Moses never actually set himself up above these people, God chose him and called him and in reality it was under protest from Moses. Moses was a very humble man, and didn’t believe much in himself, but God chose him.

And yet these stubborn people don’t see a man chosen by God, they see a man setting himself above them.

Have you ever noticed that when you are proud you don’t see other people clearly? You misjudge motives and hearts. In order to see things as they are, in order to see truth, we need to see through eyes of humility.

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What would they have seen if they had been looking through eyes of humility?

They would have seen their need.

Moses and Aaron were constantly interceding and praying for Israel, offering themselves before God on behalf of the people.

But Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground. “O God,” they pleaded, “you are the God who gives breath to all creatures. Must you be angry with all the people when only one man sins?” Numbers 16:22

Moses and Aaron, as God’s instruments, were placed so that they could help these people come to God, but the Israelites wanted to claim that they could come before God without the help of a priest, they wanted to say they were righteous enough alone.

They weren’t.

This would warn the Israelites that no unauthorized person- no one who was not a descendant of Aaron- should ever enter the Lord’s presence to burn incense. If anyone did, the same thing would happen to him as happened to Korah and his followers. So the Lord’s instructions to Moses were carried out. Numbers 16:40

How often will we be like the Israelites! Setting ourselves up as great in our own eyes, not seeing the truth.

We are all in need.

Just like the Israelites needed a priest and an intercessor, so do we, and we have one in Christ.

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But so often we hold a power struggle, because we want to be the boss of our own lives, instead of recognizing His Lordship.

We suffer from pride.

And in our lack of humility, we don’t see truth. We think we can handle our lives, that we have everything under control. The truth is that in our own power the only thing we will make of our lives is one big mess.

We need a Priest, we need an Intercessor.

Today I pray that we can learn humility before Christ. That we can set aside our pride and see the truth of our need for Him in our lives.

Joy Aletheia Stevens

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