How do you handle oppositions - people who do not like you, make fun of you, and always coming at you, with or without good reasons.
• And worst still, you can’t run away from them; you are called to serve them. That’s Moses’ experience. And that can be our experience in ministry.
• A group of leaders came against Moses. This was not the first time, but probably the most difficult for him. They questioned his authority to lead.
Come to think of it, we have no record of any compliment given to Moses by these people except complaints.
• I was curious, and so I flipped back the pages and tried to find something nice that was spoken about Moses, and I found none.
• In fact, what I got was this common refrain: “Why did you bring us out here to die?” And one word kept coming up - Egypt.
EXPECT OPPOSITIONS BUT STAY FOCUSED
Moses was called into this ministry, but looked at what he was facing.
Exo 15:22-25 – 3 days after crossing the Red Sea, water at Marah but it was bitter.
• God asked Moses to throw a piece of wood into the water and it became sweet.
Exo 16:1-4 – Shortly, at the Desert of Sin: "If only we had died by the LORD's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death."
• And God rained down bread from heaven and sent in quail from the sea.
Exo 17:1-2 – At Rephidim but no water. "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?"
• And God provided water from the rock.
Num 14:1-5 – The scouts came back with report: "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt."
Num 16:1-3 – we have a few men plus 250 community leaders opposing Moses: "Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD's assembly?"
It got PERSONAL. They questioned his authority. Who are you to stand above us? Who gives you the right to rule us? (… lord it over us? v.13)
• This was tough for Moses. If you have a committee that can vouch for you, that’s fine. Here, look, this is the minutes of the meeting. The committee appointed me and elected me.
• But Moses only answer would be: God appointed me! He called me to do it!
• “Yah, right. Where is God? When did He say that? How come we didn’t hear it?
God has to vouch for him, there was no other way. And He did. God did a one-of-a-kind miracle.
Num 16:28-30 – Then Moses said, "This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea: 29If these men die a natural death and experience only what usually happens to men, then the LORD has not sent me. 30But if the LORD brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the grave, then you will know that these men have treated the LORD with contempt."
Num 16:31-35 – 31As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart 32and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, with their households and all Korah's men and all their possessions. 33They went down alive into the grave, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. 34At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, "The earth is going to swallow us too!" 35And fire came out from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.
God stamped His approval of Moses, beyond a shadow of doubt.
And you know what happened next? Num 16:41 – The next day the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. "You have killed the LORD's people."
• There is no end of man’s criticisms and accusations. Man’s eyes can be so blinded to God’s will that they see nothing else except their own self will.
• The world, and the one in the world, will come against you, with or without good reasons. They don’t need any, actually.
• We are in SPIRITUAL WARFARE and fighting an enemy in the spiritual realm (that’s what we covered in last week DG time)
EXPECT OPPOSITIONS BUT STAYED FOCUSED on God and what He has called us to do.
• Even if you are as innocent as Moses, or as perfect as Jesus, you will have people coming against you.
• Learn from Moses. Each time he was persecuted, he turned to God. He had a word from God.
Take a look at these two words that appeared many times.
• Num 14:5 “Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there.” That was after they said they wanted a new leader to bring them back to Egypt (after the spies came back).
• Num 16:4 “When Moses heard this, he fell facedown.” (Kohathites rebelled)
• Num 16:22 Moses and Aaron fell facedown and cried out, "O God, God of the spirits of all mankind, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?" (God wanted to judge the whole assembly)
• The remnant complained – Num 16:44-45 “And the LORD said to Moses, 45"Get away from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once." And they fell facedown.”
The first response is the most important response.
• Moses did not defend himself nor try to explain things, at the first instant. His posture was different. His stance was not to fight but pray.
LISTEN TO WHAT GOD HAS TO SAY, NOT MAN
Moses called for a time-out. In the most crucial moments, the players need to hear from the coach.
• A time-out is a momentary stillness before God. Moses sought God each time he was opposed. That was the source of his strength and wisdom.
• Each time he returned from such times, he came back stronger and confident. He knows what God wants him to say and do.
In the past, I tend to react to opposing opinions very quickly. I am defensive. I want to prove my point, or prove myself. Emotions run high.
• I’ve learnt now that reacting to the situation always end up with little good. We need time out, even for a short while, to be with God. To pause and orientate ourselves, and seek to see things from God’s point of view.
Last part of Numbers 16 tells us the rebellious lot remained defiant.
• God’s judgement came. He sent a plague. What was Moses immediate response?
Num 16:46-50 “Then Moses said to Aaron, "Take your censer and put incense in it, along with fire from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the LORD; the plague has started." 47So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people, but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them. 48He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped. 49But 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah. 50Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, for the plague had stopped.”
He prayed for their salvation! This wasn’t his first time praying for them.
• At the foot of Mount Sinai (Exo 32) when they worshipped the golden calf.
• After the recce trip (Num 14) when the people wanted a new leader to bring them back to Egypt, and God wanted to punish them.
• And now in Num 16. Moses was always standing in the gap for them.
REPAY WITH GRACE, NOT JUSTICE
There will be people who will misunderstand us, unhappy with us, and criticise us, in ministry and in life.
• If the problem is with us, then we must humble ourselves, learn and change.
• And if it is not, stay focuses on God and continue to do what He has called us to do.
• Do not be discouraged and do not take revenge. Extend grace and love them.
Why do you think Moses prays for them, when they had been so bad to him?
• That’s the mark of a child of God. We do what our heavenly Father would do.
Jesus says in Matt 5:11-12
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matt 5:43-48 “You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
When we love our enemies, we prove ourselves to be truly the sons of God.
• It is not about doing good works but bearing the fruit of the new life we have.
• We are not called to live on the same level as the world. We are called to be like our heavenly Father and do what He would do.
Jesus prayed: “Father, forgives them, for they do not know what they’re doing.”
• Moses did the same. To pray for those who persecute you is the LOVE THEM.
Who, in your experience, come closest to being “your enemy”, someone you do not like?
• Start to pray for them. You cannot hate the one you pray for. How can I be asking for something good for the one I hate?
• As you pray, you find yourself loving them. God changes our heart as we pray. Prayer changes the pray-er!
We have been praying for the situation in Iraq and Syria. My tendency is to pray for the refugees, armed forces, leaders, the churches… all the “good people”.
• It dawned on me that the people that has the greatest need, those who needed our prayer most, are “our enemies” - the terrorists.
• They are blinded by the evil one to believe in his lies, they are the one who desperately need to see the light and be rescued from the dominion of darkness.
• Yet they are not usually in my mind when I pray. Why? They are our enemies.
Jesus says pray for them. Moses modelled that kind of life.
• Let’s be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
LOVE THEM BACK even when they oppose you.
• Expect oppositions, but stay focused
• Listen to what God has to say, not man
• Repay with grace, not justice
