Valuable Challenges
“Now Korah…took men and they rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation…They gathered together against Moses and Aaron…” (Numbers 16:1-3).
Everybody faces challenges throughout their lifetimes. Some will deal with debilitating diseases leaving them scarred and battered. Some will face loss of family and close friends. Others will face financial challenges that might lead to great loss possibly even into a number of future years. And, Christians will be challenged because of their faith in various ways, personally and publicly.
Korah and his associates worded their challenge against Moses and Aaron this way. “You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?” (Numbers 16:3). Their challenge is representative of all the challenges we face in our lifetimes.
We face challenges in our work. “You take too much upon yourselves...” (Numbers 16:3). This might seem to be an understandable accusation. Numbers 11 gives that account of the complaining of the people to Moses. He had faced their complaining ever since leading them out of Egypt. He seems finally to have had enough. He said, “I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me.” (Numbers 11:14-15).
Anyone who is busy doing something is going to face criticism for the some of the things they are doing. There will be people who are jealous of your success. There will be people who don’t like your ideas. There will be people opposing you because they oppose everything.
We face challenges in our relationships. “…all the congregation is holy…” (Numbers 16:3). This challenge seems to suggest that Moses and Aaron did not respect the people they were leading. These challengers were accusing them of not respecting the people they were leading. It may be that you will face this as challengers try to agitate the people to rise up against your leadership.
We face challenges in our attitudes. “…you exalt yourselves…” (Numbers 16:3). This was a challenge of arrogance. They thought Moses and Aaron were acting as though they were better than anyone else. You may find that confidence and hard work may be interpreted by some as arrogance on your part.
We face challenges to our integrity. “Moreover you have no brought us into a land flowing with mild and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards…” (Numbers 16:13). You lied to us!
One thing that we all need to keep in mind about these challenges is expressed in James 1:2-3, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” Challenges present opportunities to become more patient—and that is a good thing!
— Mike Johnson
