February 9

Numbers 16-18

Challenge to Leadership

In yesterday's reading, the Israelites were not permitted to enter the promised land because of their lack of faith in God. God promised to be with them, but they did not believe that He would help them enter Canaan safely. Because of their grumbling and complaining, they were forced to wonder in the desert for 40 years.

A Levite named Korah (along with 250 others) decided not being allowed to enter the promised land was Moses's fault. Numbers 16:13-14 says, "Isn't it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the desert? And now you also want to lord it over us? Moreover, you haven't brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards." They blamed Moses for something that he did not do. It was the people's lack of faith that caused the loss of the promised land, not (supposed) poor leadership on Moses's part. God had given them a valuable prize, and they let it slip through their fingers. Naturally the people would be disappointed, but God made it very clear why they could not enter Canaan. They should have used this opportunity to learn from their mistakes, not to blame an innocent person. By the end of today's passage, all those who opposed Moses had been put to death, and God made it clear that Moses and Aaron were the chosen leaders of the Israelites.

It's important for us today to learn from the mistakes of Korah and his followers. It's so easy to blame someone else when something goes wrong. But that's clearly not what God wants us to do. God is a gracious God who will gladly and freely forgive anyone who repents of their sins. However, God will not forgive our sins if we instead try to pass the blame.