“And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron’s rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not” (Numbers 17:10).
TEXT — Number 17:1-11
Message
The periodical, Family Times, posted a story of a monk who joined a monastery and took a vow of silence. After the first 10 years, his superior called him in and asked, “Do you have anything to say?” The monk replied, “Food bad.” After another 10 years, the monk again had an opportunity to voice his thoughts. He said, “Bed hard.” Another 10 years went by and again he was called in before his superior. When asked if he had anything to say, he responded, “I quit.” And the superior promptly retorted: “It doesn’t surprise me a bit. You’ve done nothing but complain ever since you got here.”
From our text, God addressed discontentment and murmuring among the people. Some of them had voiced their unhappiness about the centralization of Israel’s leadership in the same family. With Moses as prophet and Aaron as high priest over Israel, discontent soon led to a rebellion that consumed Korah, Dathan and Abiram, with hundreds of other men of renown in the nation. To end these complaints, the Lord commanded Moses to collect the rods or staff of all heads of the tribes in Israel and place them in the Tabernacle. The next morning when the rods were examined, Aaron’s rod budded and bore almond fruits, a clear indication that God chose him.
Many people struggle for leadership positions in the church. They fail to accept that the choice of leaders comes from God. When we fail to realise this, it brings about discontentment.
Naturally, it is difficult to submit to others when one has not been sanctified and renewed by God. This is a sign that self is still dominant in one’s life. We should go to God for sanctification, instead of staging protest; thereby provoking God’s wrath.
Thought for the day
Leaders do not complain and complainers cannot lead.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
