When you choose to live for the Lord, you will always be in the minority. Your opposition will come from without AND within, the culture and carnal Christians. However if we choose to live for Christ, we have no reason to fear.
1. God defends His witnesses.
Num. 16:2-5a “And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: 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? And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face: And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy;”
2. God defends His word.
V28-35 “And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me. But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.
And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also. And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.”
3. God defends His way.
V39-40, 49 “And Eleazar the priest took the brasen censers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar: To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses.
Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.”
LESSON - The reasons for the opposition we face are various. For some, jealousy is a contributing factor because godly people admire their godly leaders whose lives are consistent with their message. For others, the message is problematic because it reveals their sinfulness which is in direct opposition to God‘s holiness. When God deems it the appropriate time, He performs His judgment to serve as a warning to everyone with rebellious spirits that He is not mocked. Sin has a price and the bill always comes due! The only choice for God’s people to make to avoid the consequences of their rebellion is to claim God’s ultimate sacrifice and repent. V47-48 “And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.”If you are living for the Lord, continue to do so. If your heart is in rebellion against God, repent because the bill always comes due!
~Mike