Most people would skip Numbers 19 to get to the part where Moses lost it with God’s people and struck the rock. But while there’s nothing to immediately grab your attention, two words in verse 17 contain the Gospel in a nutshell.

The course of action for cleansing oneself from defilement is summarized and while nothing seems outside of the customary procedure, the fact that running water is called for seems both peculiar and significant.

In Old Testament times, just like today, it was unavoidable and inescapable that people would occasionally become defiled. Such occurrences prevented that person from entering God’s presence and would even go as far as defiling the sanctuary. Because sin was so commonplace, God made provision for any undefiled person, not just a priest, to be an agent of reconciliation for the person who sinned.

The problem of continual and ongoing sin in the life of the believer is not often fully addressed because many do not know what to do about it. Some preachers are afraid that if they preach too much grace, they’ll have an outbreak of sin in the church, but if they likewise preach too much law, the results will prove worse. While most of us believe that once we accepted Christ, our past sins were forgiven, our present and future sins remain an entirely separate matter before God. When a Christian sins, there are differing opinions inside and outside of the church as to the implications.

I might as well paint a target on myself for opening the discussion on the believer’s sin, but what happens when a Christian sins is seen as a far weightier matter than when an unbeliever sins. Because believers have accepted Christ, we feel we should not only know better, but do better. And while that is true, we are still prone to failure despite our good intentions.

While the Church has been known for shooting its wounded, the world can sometimes be even harder on the Christian who sins, using it as an excuse for why they should never take that step of faith to trust God (which btw, they weren’t planning on doing anyway). But the point of Christianity in the first place is that we are fallible people trusting in an infallible God.

I’ll never make an excuse for myself or others who have missed the mark as Christians. In each case, a conscious choice has been made. The reason we get so angry and judgemental when someone fails, other than the fact that it discredits God and His people, is that most of us secretly know we too would have fallen under the right circumstances. We hate in others what we see in ourselves and accuse others of what we’re guilty of in our own hearts, whether it’s lust for money, sex or power.

Whatever conditions led up to the failure might have been prevented in its early stages before sin gained momentum. But when you distance yourself emotionally from others, you’re skating on thin ice. The fact is, we need others and others need us to encourage one another to stay on track.

For years after committing my life to Christ, I still had too many unanswered questions about how to deal with sin as a believer. My natural mind reasoned that when I did something wrong, there was a cooling off period with God. Depending on the nature and degree of my sin, I would give Him a few hours or a few days until I felt He was no longer mad at me. If it was only a “white lie” to avoid hurting someone, it could be as soon as an hour before I could once again enter His presence, but if it was something more serious, it could mean days or even weeks before I would feel totally forgiven. Caught in the cycle of self-punishment, I was doing my own penance. Human nature is to be self-dependent, independent, other-dependent…anything but God-dependent.

It’s a common misunderstanding to think we should try to make up for our wrongdoings. The apostle Paul observed this trend in his day and addressed in his letter to the Galatians. Putting his usual tact and diplomacy aside, he said it bluntly in Chapter 3: “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”

Paul goes on to teach in Chapter 5, verse 4 that, “You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace…” It’s interesting that in Numbers 19, the running water is referred to as the water of separation, not from Christ, but from the world. This running water has the power to separate us from sin and separate us unto God.

God knew that we would be easily defiled by the world we are in, but not of. But instead of throwing us into the vicious arms of the law, He threw us into the merciful arms of Christ where our past, present and future sins would be covered. This kind of extravagant gift is hard to accept, but anyone who has a son or daughter understands the love of a Father that would make such provision for their wayward child.

The continuous waterfall of God’s love and forgiveness is available to all of us, yet many still insist on paying their own debt. The problem is, we don’t have the required payment. The bill is far too high for even the richest or most righteous person on earth to pay it themselves.

The truth is that when we sin as Christians, our debt has already been paid in advance, just like it was for unbelievers. Jesus addressed sinful people as though they were already forgiven. He did not withhold from them what they needed. From the prostitute who washed His feet to Peter when He denied Christ, Jesus’ response was the same: no condemnation. Just forgiveness.

Jesus got angry with the Pharisees and teachers of the law who pretended they lived perfect lives and then condemned those who did not, placing burdens on men’s backs instead of lifting them. When a person who sins sees themselves as dirty, they will act accordingly, but when God gives you a revelation of your true identity as a son or a daughter, likewise, you will also act accordingly.

Unfortunately, too many Christians see themselves as slaves instead of sons, working for their Master’s approval instead of walking in their royal lineage. They cannot be agents of reconciliation because they don’t have forgiveness for themselves.

The running water in Numbers 19 is just that – always running. No matter what you’ve done as an unbeliever or a believer, you don’t have to endure a waiting period to come back into right relationship with the Father. Jesus paid your debt, once and for all so that you don’t have to avoid your Creditor. Can you accept the fact that, even in your greatest sin, you are still the righteousness of God in Christ?

What was true at the moment of your salvation is also true now that you’re a believer. I’m not taking sin lightly or advocating behaviour that displeases God. What I’m saying is that God has made available to you righteousness or right standing with God that is ongoing: forgiveness, justification, and continual cleansing from sin. How you respond when you sin indicates what you really believe about who Christ is and what He came to do.

Over the past few weeks while in Calcutta, India, I’ve noticed how often the poor are mentioned throughout Scripture. It’s hard not to notice poverty when you’re surrounded by it. But back in Toronto, it’s easy to ignore the poor and my responsibility to care for them, help them and minister to their needs. Also in Canada, our idea of poverty is a whole lot different than India. One could be considered have a cell phone, cable television and internet but still be considered poor in Canada. While India’s economy is the fastest growing in the world, it ranks number 67 on the Global Hunger Index among 88 nations.

While most would avoid a city like this, Mother Teresa is said to have chosen Calcutta because of its extreme poverty. She saw a great opportunity to serve Christ by serving the poorest of the poor. Having lived out most of her life in a tiny room with a tiny bed and a tiny window, no one can argue the witness and legacy of her life.

Unlike many in ministry, when Mother Teresa became famous, she kept her focus on Christ. Instead of moving to a better area of the city, like Jesus, she made a conscious decision to live among those she served.

It’s easy to start off with good intentions, but when success comes, how will you respond? Will you lose your focus on serving God and people and start to serve yourself or will you do what is necessary to stay humble? It was when success came that King David fell. Don’t fool yourself into thinking it couldn’t happen to you.

Surrounding yourself with people who will challenge you and hold you accountable to live and ministry with honesty, integrity and transparency is necessary. Like Mother Teresa, follow the example of Christ: a simple life well-lived speaks volumes to the world around you.

From the moment of their first challenge in the desert, the Hebrew people begin to doubt and question Moses’ authority. Actually, it starts even before that when Moses presents himself to the people as their deliverer. But even with God backing him with signs and wonders, there’s still a niggling doubt in the minds of the people that Moses is the right one to lead them into the Promised Land.

With a stuttering problem and an obvious lack of confidence at times, Moses isn’t your most likely choice of fearless leader, but regardless of that, God chooses him anyway. After completing God’s P90X personalized training program, not even an MBA and a Doctorate in Psychology could have prepared Moses better for the task at hand. God knows exactly what He’s doing – problem is, the people don’t.

Ultimately, it isn’t about Moses. It’s about God and what He can do and the people get that, at least subconsciously because whenever something goes wrong, they take the opportunity to question whether or not God really knows what He’s doing. But their constant boundary-pushing, testing, tempting and provoking to see how far they can really go with God gets old fast.

In Numbers 16, a significant rival comes to the forefront. Korah, obviously an influential leader, rallies no less than 250 men to confront and ultimately overthrow Moses’ leadership. With his back against the wall, Moses stands up to Korah and presents him with a challenge. The scene reminds me of the prophet Elijah who dares 800 false prophets to call upon their gods to do what only God can do. At the end of the day, their false authority is exposed and the rebels are slaughtered in front of everyone, much like our story today, but with one major difference: these are God’s own people challenging His authority. How did it get to this?

Moses has no choice but to confront the rebels and call them to a showdown. First thing in the morning, Moses’ and Korah’s posses are to meet face to face at the tabernacle with burning incense as an offering to the Lord, knowing that only the ones God has chosen will be able to approach Him and live to tell about it.

Before sending them off, however, Moses gives them a chance to recant. He reminds Korah and the Levites that their role of ministering to the people is extremely significant, but they remain determined to climb the corporate ladder, stepping on Moses, Aaron and anyone else on their way to the top. The flaw with their plan is that God chose Moses, not them to be the leader. And there is no other factor which distinguishes true authority from false authority as plainly as that.

Although gifts, talents and abilities might well accompany the call of a leader, they’re more of a confirmation than a determining factor. Once a leader is chosen by God, they go through an battery of tests, trials and training before actually obtaining the position of authority. In the midst of that season or series of seasons which can last years or even decades, character development, a deep bonding and implicit trust in God should be the end-product.

Back to our story. In God’s presence, it becomes painfully clear that Korah and his men are operating under false authority. Like Aaron’s sons Hophni and Phinehas, Korah’s men pay a steep price for approaching God under false pretenses. If this was after Jesus’ blood was shed, there would have been redemption, but after warning the rest of the people to stand back and separate themselves from the rebellious, the ground opens up and swallows Korah and his men.

Even after Moses’ authority is so clearly established, the people have the nerve and audacity to criticize him and Aaron for actually killing God’s people. This daring defiance provokes a back-to-back encounter with God, leaving thousands dead at the scene. At Moses’ command, Aaron rushes in to stand in the gap and stops the plague from killing the rest of the nation. Afterwards in Numbers 17, God shows his approval of Aaron too, authenticating his leadership in hopes of putting this whole issue of authority to rest once and for all.

So how does this apply to you? We all know there are times when even true authority does not act according to God’s will. That’s because the leader is human and prone to mistakes. You may not necessarily respect the person in the leadership position, but it is wise to respect the office of authority given to them. To the best of your ability and with God’s help, submit to authority without compromising Biblical values and principles.

God may remove you from under them or He may remove them from over you. He may, however, choose to leave you there for a season to build your character or to even use you to transform them with the power of His love. Through prayer, humility and submission to God’s will via death to self, you will know exactly what to do and when to do it.

Do not leave in anger. Your actions will affect and influence others. his isn’t only about you. When you are 100% certain of God’s will and act accordingly, He will take care of the rest, even if others are adversely affected by your leaving. Encourage others to follow God, not you. Otherwise, you are in danger of becoming a false authority like Korah to the detriment of everyone, including yourself.

True authority is called by God. False authority is self-appointed. But even when the true leader has fallen and lost favour with God, it’s important to be like David, who respected Saul until he was removed from his throne. Your heart and how you respond to the leader in question will determine whether or not you will fulfill your own calling and destiny in due time.

Toward the end of Numbers 14, God’s people are feeling the sting of His discipline, all a part of being sons and daughters, but what unfolds next is a life lesson worth paying attention to.

Under a canopy of thick cloud and smoke, God makes His will known to the people. Under no circumstances are they to enter the Promised Land because of their unbelief and ensuing conduct. Apart from Caleb and Joshua, only those twenty and younger will go in to possess the land while the rest bear the brunt of their iniquity.

Somewhere, there’s been a disconnect. When God says, “move forward,” they move backward and when He says “step back,” they move ahead. It quickly becomes evident that knowing God’s will and doing God’s will are two entirely different things. When you hear God’s voice, you have a choice to make. You can respond in faith or you can insist on waiting for God to move first. The problem is, He’s waiting for you to make the first move.

When God instructs you to do something, what reason would there be for not stepping out in faith? Perhaps you need clarity to discern whether or not you’ve really heard from God. Fair enough. He can use Scripture, an article or even a movie to confirm His will. There’s no limit to how God can confirm His intentions to let you know that He is speaking to you personally.

You might find yourself talking to someone and out of the blue, they mention the very thing you’ve been praying about. Or God may use several people to say the same thing over and over in different ways to encourage you that you are hearing from Him. While God will often send a person or several people across your path to confirm His will, first and foremost, He wants you to be led by His voice. Ultimately, everything must stand the test of Scripture before you move forward. Please note: God is not going to tell you to go and shoot someone, as we often hear Him accused of by some psycho on the six-o’clock news.

After you know you’ve heard from God, it is critical to know and understand His timing before stepping out of the boat. When God tells you to do something, it’s either for the immediate moment or for a set time in the future. As you pray and ask Him for wisdom, you will know with certainty when the time is right. Don’t step out because of your feelings or circumstances. It’s easy to quit a job in anger and go start that business or ministry you’ve been praying about, but if you step out too soon, you could miss God completely. He may have you meet a specific person on your job who is key to your success later on. That’s why you must trust God implicitly.

In the case of the Hebrews, they didn’t miss God because of timing or lack of confirmation. They missed Him because of downright disobedience. The captain of an army must sure that his troops will follow his every command in the battle. They must trust him to know what they don’t know and see what they can’t see in the battle. If they do not listen and obey, chaos erupts and lives are lost.

Before God opens a door of opportunity, He has to be certain that He can trust you to follow His lead. A captain cannot lead an army into battle with them doubting, hesitating and questioning his every command. God’s people did not know Him enough to know they could trust Him and He knew they were far from ready to face the battles ahead. He held them back for their own good.

After God tells the people they’re not going anywhere, they defy Him and presume to go ahead without Him. The word presume in Strong’s Concordance implies that they made a conscious decision to disregard His orders.

While it’s wise to seek clarification and confirmation of God’s will, the bottom line is that when God speaks, ultimately, He fully expects you to obey. God is not a dictator. He’s the Director of a huge, universal production. God knows exactly when certain people, places and things are to arrive on the scene of your life. He also knows exactly when they are to exit stage left. If you can trust God as the Director of your life, then you will experience the fulfillment of His plan and purpose for you.

The opening scene of your life might have started with a tragedy, but God can turn the plot around and give you a happy ending. Or your life may have started well and a catastrophy turned everything inside out and upside down. Choosing to trust and follow the guidance of the Director will determine how your story ends.

The Hebrews did not live happily ever after. Instead of trusting God, they chose to go ahead of Him. The real tragedy is that it didn’t have to be that way. If you’ve heard from God, what’s stopping you from following through? Once you’re 100% certain you’ve heard from Him and have His peace, go ahead and step out in it.

If you don’t trust Him, I dare say you don’t know Him—at least not well enough. When you’re faithful and obedient to His will, God will come through for you again and again.

For what seems like an eternity, there is a holy hush in Numbers 13. Caleb has just challenged the people to rise up in faith and take the land God has promised, but while they are processing his request, ten of the men who went with him rise up against him.

Just because everyone had a window seat on their trip to the Promised Land doesn’t mean that everyone saw the same thing. Caleb wasn’t denying the fact that the inhabitants of the land were as intimidating as Sumo Wrestlers. He just chose not to focus on that fact.

It’s like when God tells you to do something and you start to look at your bank account to see if it’s workable or not. Usually, the answer is not. At this point, you can do one of two things: make sure you heard from God and then step out or wait for God to do everything while you do nothing. Having been down Faith Avenue a few times, I don’t think it generally works that way—99% of the time, you have to move before God makes His move. And what you choose to focus on usually determines what you will or won’t do.

This is the challenge God’s people are struggling with in Numbers 13. Unfortunately in Chapter 14, Verse 1, they’ve already made up their minds. We don’t see them seeking God, praying or asking Him what they should do next. We just see them going through an entire box of Kleenex because all hope is gone of ever being able to beat the bad guys in the Promised Land.

In just one verse, tears have dried up and hearts are hardening against God. It makes you wonder how close to the surface bitterness and rebellion were before hearing the report. Nothing like a crisis to reveal what’s really in your heart.

The Hebrews start talking behind Moses’ and Aaron’s backs and convince themselves that they would have been better off to have died in Egypt or in the wilderness. Notice God doesn’t argue with them on that point.

The bellyaching is relentless and before long, some idiot suggests that they make another idiot captain to lead them back to Egypt. Like they’re going to Niagara Falls for the weekend. Did they forget they’re the housekeepers and not the guests of Hotel Egypt?

When Moses and Aaron catch wind of the plan, they fall on their faces while Caleb and Joshua rip their garments in repentance for the people. Like a mother trying to bribe her unruly child at Walmart, Moses tries to coerce the Hebrews to be on their best behaviour but once again, they refuse to listen.

By this point, it’s a scene from the G-20 riot, with the mob threatening to stone the leaders to death. Just as it’s getting out of control, God steps in. The fiery spotlight of His glory beams down onto the scene and like a bunch of kids, they straighten out when Dad enters the room. But God knows exactly what they’ve been up to and there’s no hiding from Him.

God calls Moses aside and makes him an offer he can’t refuse: the people will be hit hard with a pestilence. God will then start with a fresh batch of people. This new nation will grow up to become even greater and mightier than their predecessors and everyone will live happily ever after in the Promised Land.

It’s sounding like a dream come true, that is, until Moses’ conscience kicks in. This is nothing more than a test of his leadership—not so much the ability to lead, but the ability to love those he leads. Although he passed with flying colours the first time in Exodus 32:10, can he do it again, especially after an attempted assassination?

Moses, knowing God, appeals on the basis of His character and compassion. Without hesitation, God pardons their iniquity, but chooses not to scrub the consequences. Due to the fact that they provoked God no less than ten times and refused to listen despite all the signs, wonders and miracles He performed for their benefit, the trip to Disneyland is off.

God makes it very clear that Caleb, however, will still be going to the Promised Land. Why should he be punished with the rest when he was ready to step out of the boat? And not only him, but Joshua believed too that God would do what He said He would do.

But aside from these two, the rest would live out their days in the wilderness. As disappointing as that is to both them and God, the people have rendered themselves useless. God was willing to work with them, but they gave Him nothing to work with. A herd of donkeys would have been more cooperative.

When I worked with thoroughbreds, if an animal was not trainable, it didn’t matter what its bloodline was or how much they paid for it. On the other hand, if a horse was willing and teachable, its bloodline or price tag didn’t matter—the horse had potential to win. Here’s a warning: after the excitement of salvation has worn off, you too can eventually become unteachable and unwilling to change. When that happens, God will only prod you so long before retiring you to pasture. When that happens, you miss out on your purpose and destiny and no one but you is to blame.

After the tears have stopped flowing, a second rebellion erupts, though less volatile than the last one. Early in the morning, the people hit their alarm clocks, finish their corn flakes and make their way to the top of the mountain as though nothing ever happened. Fearless, they declare to Moses that after sleeping on it, they’ve decided they’re ready to go in and take the land. Say wha…?

Moses is as stunned as I am and asks them outright how they can be so bold to go up against God a second time and think they can just go ahead and do whatever they want. He strongly advises them that if they go out on their own, things will not go well because God is not with them. But like a rebellious teenager, the Hebrews do whatever they feel like doing, regardless of the consequences. And sure enough, they are crushed by their enemies.

How many times do these people have to be told? It makes God sad to see people get hurt needlessly, especially at their own doing, but when you don’t or won’t listen, the consequences speak for themselves. Have you been trying to push down a door that God has closed? If so, don’t make it harder for yourself. If God is not in it, you will not succeed long-term.

God is not Hitler. He is good and His plan for you is good. If there’s something in you that refuses to believe that, examine your heart for bitterness. A past experience with authority could be your root of rebellion. Forgive and learn to dissociate that experience from God. Get to know the Father’s heart and understand that He loves you deeply and unconditionally. If you are willing and teachable, He will work His perfect plan as you learn to trust and obey, one step at a time.

Numbers 13 and 14 show us what’s really going on in the hearts of God’s people in the heat of the desert. According to Deuteronomy 1:22, it’s not God’s idea to spy out the Promised Land but because the kids ask Dad for the car, He relents and lets them take it out for a spin.

Twelve chosen leaders, one to represent each tribe, are singled out and ready for some high risk-taking adventure. Moses lines the men up and gives them orders to check out the Promised Land, size up the people and note any possible risks or challenges they might be up against in taking the land. Before sending them off, Moses dares them to be brave and bring back some of the fruit of the land to encourage the people.

The wives pack some manna sandwiches for their men, who head off courageously with a mission from God. In enemy territory, they search high and low, taking notes and making observations along the way. The men take their time evaluating, measuring, scoping out and appraising the land, its occupants and their habitat.

When the men come to a brook called Eshcol, they skip the Souvenir Shop and take home a sample of figs, grapes and pomegranates, crossing their fingers that they won’t get stopped at Customs. As the band enters the camp after 40 long days, they’re greeted with more excitement and fanfare than Justin Bieber.

As the people gather around the campfire for story-time, the men leave no detail to the imagination as they describe their trip to the Promised Land. The tales get bigger and better and eyes and mouths grow wider as the microphone passes down the line. Suddenly, Caleb stands up to silence the ooh’s and ah’s of the crowd. Why should they sit around talking and shaking sand out of their skivvies when they could be enjoying the Promised Land? After all, God said they could have it — why wait a minute longer?

But just as Caleb is ready to lead the way to the Promised Land with Joshua right behind him, the rest of them stand up in protest. Spying out the land is one thing, but taking it is quite another. After all, they were just talking. Nobody was actually going to do anything just yet.

Here is where the rubber meets the road. God informs His people that He’s giving them the Promised Land. They check it out and decide it’s a nice idea, but for the most part, unrealistic. When Caleb said, “We are well able to overcome it,” he meant ‘we plus God.’ When the men replied, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than us,” they meant ‘we minus God.’

This is a pivotal point. When God gives you a promise or instructs you to do something for Him, it is always bigger than you. In fact, if it’s impossible without God, you’re probably right on track. God does this to freak you out a little and cause you to realize that you are, in fact, dependent on Him. He wants you to lean on His strength, not your own, and watch Him do something beyond your ability. That’s why it’s called a miracle: you can’t do it — only God can.

That doesn’t mean you should put on a red cape and jump off of a building because you can’t succeed without God intervening. That would not be smart. First, you need to hear from God. Then, here’s how it normally goes: you freak out, calm down a bit only to face reality that you don’t actually have the money, people or resources to do what He’s calling you to do and will have to risk looking like a fool if He doesn’t come through. You may freak out another couple of times before coming to the conclusion that you will have to trust God step by step in order to accomplish what He has told you to do. This crisis of belief is essential to all acts of faith because it challenges you to trust in God and not in yourself.

This is where God’s people went wrong in the desert. They got stuck on the reality part, causing them to forget what God had said in the first place. He didn’t say He might give them the land – He said He would give them the land. Since the devil in Genesis questioned Eve, it’s been his game to make us forget, question, doubt and even rebel against the last thing God told us to do. That’s why I use a journal to write down those things I hear from God, not only to remember them, but to do them.

Entertaining doubt and fear can rip God’s promises from your heart and mind and keep you pacified in the comfort zone. All the while, with a simmering frustration, you know there’s more for you than a quiet, mediocre existence. But to fulfill your purpose and destiny, you will have to face more than a few giants along the way. Will you let that stop you or allow it to spur you on?

That depends on your focus. Are you going to concentrate on a step by step plan to move forward or numb yourself by staring into a television until the feeling fades? Many destinies have died in the desert. Don’t let yours be one of them.

You may know exactly what God has told you to do and exactly why you haven’t done it yet. I’m with you on this. The first step is to go back to where you left the path. Moses couldn’t escape his calling and neither can you. Whatever it is, go back and do it, despite how you feel. Faith equals obedience. I don’t see the word “feelings” in that sentence. That means you have to ignore your fear and doubt, bite the bullet and step out in faith.

If you have a growing frustration, but aren’t sure why or where it’s coming from, that’s a sign for you to pray. Ask God what He would have you to do, but be prepared for the answer. You might like it and you might not. But since you asked, you’re obligated to follow through. This is why many people do not seek God—they’re afraid He’ll take them out of their comfort zone. And they’re right. But what’s the alternative?

Living a life of comfort doesn’t amount to much in the end. Your definition of comfort will lead you to a wilderness of your own. You might have cushy furniture and a big screen, but absolutely no meaning or fulfillment. Look around at all the people who have chosen that life for themselves. Do you really want to be like them? Or do you want to be more for the glory of God?

Like God’s people in the desert, the decision is all yours. Desert or Promised Land, it’s up to you. What you believe about God will affect what you do. Whatever you choose, be prepared to not only take responsibility for your own choices, but to live with the results.

Even as a young girl, Moses’ sister Miriam possessed a wisdom far beyond her years. When Pharoah’s daughter found baby Moses floating down the river in a basket, it was Miriam who suggested a Hebrew nursemaid, reuniting mother and son. Then, when God parted the Red Sea and destroyed their enemies, it was Miriam who led the people in singing and dances of praise.

Miriam was recognized as a prophetic leader, but in Numbers 12, we see a glimpse of Miriam unplugged. The scene opens with Miriam ranting to Aaron about her brother’s choice of bride, but as we read a little further, it becomes increasingly obvious what’s really bothering her. The text clearly states that Moses is meek, he’s humble and he’s faithful in the things of God. As a leader, his hands are clean. So then what’s up with Miriam’s attitude toward her brother?

In Verse 2 of Numbers 23, Miriam raises the question of Moses’ authority — not over the camp — but over her and her brother, in particular. After all, Moses is the baby of the family and as such, he’s not the only one who can speak God’s words. Joseph, also the youngest of his family, had a similar problem when his brothers questioned his authority — again, not over the nation, but over them. Jesus’ brothers, although they were younger, still questioned His authority over them as well. We’re beginning to see a pattern.

It’s not that Miriam doesn’t recognize Moses’ leadership — she does. What she’s having trouble with is separating the natural order from the spiritual order God has ordained. She and Aaron took turns changing Moses’ diapers, and now they just can’t seem to get over the fact that their baby brother is in authority over them, making it almost impossible for them to submit.

The more you know someone in leadership, the more you see their faults and weaknesses and the harder it is to come under their authority. So what do Miriam and Aaron do? Trash-talk their brother. If he had done something wrong, there might have been something to talk about, but this is clearly a case of ‘familiarity breeds contempt.’

Like three kids getting hauled off the school yard and into the Principal’s Office, God gets on the intercom and calls Miriam, Aaron and Moses onto the carpet. God is not happy and He makes it crystal clear that Moses is not the problem in this equation. One plus one equals two and Miriam and Aaron are indisputably confronted with their crime. It brings back memories of the furrowed brow on my Grade 1 teacher’s face as she raised the strap over my reluctantly outstretched palm.

After vindicating Moses, God walks out of the room, leaving them standing there staring into the sky. At the moment the cloud departs from the tabernacle, Miriam turns white. Aaron gasps in horror to find his sister stricken with leprosy. He cries out and repents for the two of them and Moses in turn, calls out to God on his sister’s behalf.

God responds immediately and indicates to Moses that this is not a permanent judgment but a temporary affliction. The traditional Hebrew custom for a father to rebuke his child was to spit in their face, followed by a period of shame. Instead of time-out or taking away the play station, the need for correction called for punishment. If the offense was public, it called for public punishment and the humiliation that went with it. While this may seem harsh to us, it was commonplace and fully expected in their culture.

Because of the laws concerning leprosy, Miriam is shut out of the camp for seven days while the people wait for her return. And God’s mercy prevails. He corrects Miriam and everyone is able to moves forward, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in (Proverbs 3:12).

Hebrews 12:8 in the Amplified Version reaffirms this truth: Now if you are exempt from correction and left without discipline in which all [of God's children] share, then you are illegitimate offspring and not true sons [at all]. It’s not when God disciplines you, but when God stops disciplining you that you should be worried.

Back to the issue of submitting to authority. It’s okay to have questions and to ask those questions, but make sure you ask the right person. If the leader is open and honest, they won’t mind giving you an answer, but if they’re defensive and accuse you of disloyalty or gossip, these might be signs of a cover-up. The only counsel I have is to take it to prayer and make sure it’s not something in you that’s rising to the surface.

Every one of us has been hurt by a person in authority at one time or another, but if you don’t deal with that issue, bitterness can cause you to question every word and decision that comes from a place or person of authority in your life. Speaking against government, church leaders and other forms of authority is mainstream today and if not corrected, it can hinder and even destroy your relationships, family, career and spiritual life.

Holding leadership accountable is appropriate and Biblical. Attacking them is not. If you’ve been hurt or abused by someone in authority, talk to someone you can trust and get the help and resources (ie. books, courses, support groups) you need to get past it.

Recognize that people in authority are just that: people. Like you and like me, they are prone to making mistakes. When they do, pray for them, confront them if needed, forgive them and give them opportunity to learn and grow. If they don’t, then you may need to make a change. That could mean leaving your job or your church, not in anger or bitterness, but as a resolve to build healthier relationships with authority figures in the future.

Before you make a move, pray about it. There are seasons when you are called to sit under less than stellar leadership in order to prepare you for greater things. You can learn valuable lessons by observing and even submitting for a season to poor leadership. How you respond, even to abusive leaders, will shape and mold you as a leader. The bottom line is knowing where God has called you, when to stay and when to leave, regardless of the circumstances. Choosing to submit to authority until God releases you and calls you out is essential to your leadership development.

Toward the end of Numbers 11, Moses has had his little rant and feels good about his job again, especially after recruiting seventy elders to share the workload. This means no more late dinners and working til the wee hours for Moses. The seventy men share more than just the responsibility of leadership — they also get to share in the anointing.

When God takes the spirit that is on Moses and places it on the elders, I get the picture of a cape or cloak being placed over each one’s shoulders. This mantle represents the role, burden and responsibility of leadership. It is a covering, canopy and shield over the sheep, literally to protect them from harm’s way.

Like a good shepherd, God sets overseers over His people, not to control, oppress or restrain them, but to feed, lead and protect them. I’ve heard once too often the analogy of a shepherd breaking the leg of a sheep to keep them from wandering. While this may be true in practice, it is often taken out of context by an insecure leader afraid to release a better leader. He/she may be afraid for his own reputation or feel threatened by the talents of another. But holding back good leaders only holds everyone back, including you.

The scarcity mentality goes back to the playground where we believed that giving to someone else meant getting less for ourselves. But with God, that’s not how it works. As Pastor Tommy Barnett once said, “It takes teamwork to make the dream work.” It’s only in releasing to others that we are released.

As the elders gather around the tabernacle, God’s Spirit drops down into their midst in the form of a cloud. Somehow, in a miraculous way, the spirit that is on Moses is spread over the seventy like a blanket and immediately, they begin to prophesy non-stop. Both God and Moses watch like proud parents as they stretch and grow beyond their natural ability to accomplish what only God can do by His Spirit. As they step out into their God-given destiny, not only are they released, but Moses is released to do only the things that only he can do. If every leader could get this, we’d all be happier.

Right on the heels of this event, Moses hears a bling and checks his email. Two of the elders have chosen to remain in the camp, prophesying to the people instead of joining the others in the tabernacle. When word reaches Moses’ young protege, Joshua, he goes straight to the boss and demands they be shut down.

Moses’ answer is laden with wisdom. He challenges his up-and-coming successor to do some serious introspection. But instead of reprimanding Joshua, Moses asks him a weighty and thought-provoking question: “Enviest thou for my sake?”

If that doesn’t evoke an “ouch” from the congregation, I don’t know what would. Every time you point out the behaviour or actions of another, God points that finger right back at you. Ever-interested in your motives, God holds a mirror in front of your face and brings the conversation back home where it belongs. When He does this, His motive is love, both for you and for His people. He will not release you into leadership without first testing the motives of your heart.

Is your concern for God’s people and the greater good or is it more about you? Perhaps Joshua just wanted to be one of the elders at this point. After all, he had a calling on his life and no doubt, he was a very gifted young man. Seeing the seventy elders prophesy while he’s left out of the picture could give room to envy. When you’re waiting for a promotion and someone else gets it instead of you, it’s not only a challenge but an opportunity to develop your character.

God wasn’t setting Joshua aside. He was preparing him for something greater. Instead of being an elder, God wanted him to be the leader. But Joshua couldn’t see his future and for now, all he could see was his loss. Bored and frustrated in the starting blocks, Joshua’s leadership skills saw no place to be used.

Leaving Joshua to ponder, Moses goes on to say he only wishes all of God’s people were prophets and the Lord would put His Spirit upon every one of them. His words are purely prophetic, as he has no idea this dream will be accomplished in the fullness of time. Jesus reiterates this in the book of John, telling His disciples that He must go to the Father in order to send the Spirit to speak God’s words and prophesy things to come (John 16:7, 13). Every believer today has that power within them.

In the book of Acts, Paul reacted in a similar way to Moses. Addressed with an almost identical report of people preaching with less than pure motives, Paul challenges the tattle-tales, saying that he’s happy that someone — heck, anyone — is preaching the good news since his hands are tied. As long as Christ is being preached, he’s happy. God will sort out the motives in the end when each one of us stands before the throne of judgement and God examines our motives for doing what we’ve done, especially for those in ministry.

Moses is overjoyed that God is equipping and releasing His people. His motives are good and his eye is on the bigger picture. Whether it’s him or others doing the work, God is being glorified and that’s all that matters. If you will take others higher, God can take you higher, meaning He will give you more influence. It’s a win-win situation.

If you’re a Moses, don’t be afraid to release people. Even if their motives aren’t 100% sanctified, God can still use them and develop them as they grow. That’s the challenge of mentoring and equipping others.

If you’re a Joshua waiting for your opportunity to lead, know that God may hold you back for a season in order to release you into something better. Great leadership takes a long time to develop. Be patient and learn the lessons. God will use every opportunity to develop your character but your job is to keep your heart right. Keep humbling yourself. Keep submitting to God and don’t allow bitterness to set in. You can rise to the top with bitterness in your heart, but it will eventually take you back down.

If you’re one of the seventy being used in leadership, remain faithful to the Cause. Find someone you can begin to coach and mentor. It will accelerate not only their leadership ability, but yours as they in turn challenge you to be and do your very best.

We open Numbers 11 to find God’s people complaining about the menu. Here is God calling His people to move forward into the Promised Land and here they are, after experiencing his daily provision for more than a year, complaining to high heaven about having to eat manna every day.

Reminiscing about the good times has everyone convinced that the future couldn’t possibly be as good as the past. Somehow they’ve managed to forget all about the chains of bondage and Egypt looks like an oasis compared to where they are now. Here is a perfect example of how acting on what you believe can prove fatal if what you believe is wrong.

Instead of gratitude, God’s people are giving Him nothing but attitude. Before long, masses of people are weeping in the doorways of their tents and as if Moses’ job wasn’t hard enough already, now he is faced with the daunting task of leading this unruly and unwilling mob forward.

Fed up with all of the whining, Moses calls for a one-on-one with God, who is equally displeased. Moses has reached his tolerance level and is beginning to lose composure.
After inviting God to his pity party, he demands to know exactly what he’s done to deserve this. Not only that, but he’s had it with trying to do what God has called him to do. After all, he never signed up for this – it was all God’s idea from the beginning to love and lead these stiff-necked people who are as stubborn as donkeys. And that’s putting it nicely.

Moses goes on a huge rant, telling God it wasn’t him who conceived these people and he won’t be nursing and carrying them all the way to the land of milk and honey. He’s also sick and tired of playing Mr. Mom every night to a bunch of kids screaming for dinner. And like a wife telling her husband she needs a break or she’s leaving him, Moses tells God this is the final straw — he cannot and will not continue to do it all without any help from Him.

The moment Moses reaches his breaking point, God casually steps in with the answer. It’s okay to rant and let it all out to God; after all, He can handle it. But sometimes God is just waiting for us to get to the place where we ask Him for help.

God’s solution is simple, but effective. He instructs Moses to gather seventy elders and line them up beside him in the tabernacle. Then He does something miraculous. God takes of the spirit which is on Moses and puts it upon the others so they can share the burden of the people with him and he will no longer have to bear it alone. How brilliant is that?

Leaders, take lesson. If you are carrying the burden yourself and not sharing “the anointing” of leadership, you are missing it. No wonder you’re grumpy half the time — God never meant for you to carry it alone. Whether it’s a church, a mission-based ministry or a business, if you’ll ask God, He will send you help to accomplish the vision. Yes, there may be a time and a season for you to carry it alone, but sooner or later, you will need others to help you.

When God gives you a vision, you can only go so far by doing it alone. Like it or not, God’s perfect plan for you involves other people. While your independent spirit wants to do it all and get credit where credit is due, the Holy Spirit wants to show how much God can do when we all do a little.

Where are you in Numbers 11? Are you one of the complainers, reminiscing about the good old days instead of looking forward to what God has in store? According to Numbers 11, it’s okay to complain, depending on who you complain to. You can complain to others who will only make it worse or complain to God who can do something about it.

Or are you a leader who’s carrying the burden all by yourself, entertaining thoughts of quitting? Don’t give up. If you’ll ask God, He will send help from the sanctuary. Be wise and use discernment when recruiting others onto your team. But when God sends you good people, release them and delegate responsibility instead of controlling their every move. Otherwise, you’ll still end up doing everything yourself and be no farther ahead.

Maybe you’re an up and coming leader who’s waiting for an opportunity to lead. Find a place you can serve and be faithful. God uses difficult people and places to prepare you for greater things. Don’t quit or leave until He releases you. Even when He does release you, be careful and prayerful when stepping out. In a multitude of counsellors, there is safety. Get a coach or mentor and start taking steps toward fulfilling your destiny.

Wherever you are in this story, God is waiting for you to call on Him. He has the solution packaged, stamped and ready to mail if you’ll only ask Him to send it. Don’t be discouraged. This can be your turning point to a far greater plan than you had in mind. God can take you farther than you could ever go without Him and others…if only you will let Him.

Although Numbers 11 is an apparent continuation of Chapter 10, there is an unmistakable shift in mood. While God begins moving His people toward the Promised Land, something unexpected occurs: their focus suddenly shifts into reverse as they allow themselves to entertain fond memories of Egypt.

It’s been just enough time to forget how bad it really was living in bondage and now all God’s people seem to remember is the good times. Besides, they’re not really sure the Promised Land is all it’s cut out to be and it’s a whole lot safer to go back to what they know than to face the fear of the unknown. What’s more, it’s easier to remain in bondage than to assume the responsibility of living in freedom.

Even though their hearts are telling them different, the Hebrews allow their flesh to remain unruled, lamenting over flavourful Egyptian cuisine compared to same-old manna day after day in the desert. Lamenting turns to weeping, weeping turns to complaining and before we know it, the disease of discontent spreads throughout the entire camp.

We open at Verse 1 with God’s complaint line ringing off the hook with demands for a return to Egypt. “And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord…And the Lord heard it.” The text goes on to say that the God’s anger was kindled—not the reading kind of kindle but the burning kind of kindle. This is one time you don’t want to be on fire for the Lord.

When Moses sees what is happening, he quickly intercedes on behalf of the people and the fire is stayed. But because of this incident, he aptly names the place Taberah, which means “burning.” This is one of those passages that people try to use to prove God is cruel and unloving. But if a surgeon moves quickly to cut out the cancer before it spreads to every area of your body, is it considered cruel or necessary in order to save your life?

As always, God’s eye is on the big picture. Because of His love for the world, and in particular, you and me, drastic measures at different times throughout history were necessary to preserve the whole. Like it or not, you and I don’t see the big picture most of the time and therefore cannot understand God or His ways when viewing isolated situations.

There have been times in my life when I wondered why I had to go through certain things and why life wasn’t easier, especially compared to other people. But I have learned to trust that God is working a bigger plan than I have knowledge of and I must trust Him to cause all things to work together for good. While that is never easy, it is necessary.

I could go on with the text, but I think it would be more profitable to leave it here. Is there something from your past you have been trying to reconcile? Are you continually looking back instead of focusing forward on the things He has for you? If so, perhaps some healing is needed. Perhaps some forgiveness and reconciliation with God or others is necessary.

Whatever is stopping you deserves your attention today. You may be angry at God for the losses of the past, unable to see that He is working a plan of restoration. That can be difficult to accept, especially when it involves the loss of people in your life. I know that pain. But I also know that God is a loving Father who will not allow you to suffer needlessly.

Trust Him and allow Him to work His plan of redemption in your life in His way and in His timing. Instead of complaining, bring your pain to God and let Him heal you. I promise He can and will make it better. If you need to talk about anything, please feel free to contact me. I’ll be praying for you.