Steady And Unswayed In God's Faithfulness

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qjx1duoyfZA

Have you ever been blamed for actions that was meant for the good of others? Have you lost friends, even members of your own family because somehow THEY have developed an idea that YOU were the bad guy?

Story of a woman whose husband had been slipping in and out of a coma for several months, yet she had stayed by his bedside every single day. One day, when he came to, he motioned for her to come nearer. As she sat by him, he whispered, eyes full of tears, “You know what? You have been with me through all the bad times. When I got fired, you were there to support me. When my business failed, you were there. When I got shot, you were by my side. When we lost the house, you stayed right here. When my health started failing, you were still by my side. Do you know what I think?” “What dear?” she gently asked, smiling as her heart began to fill with warmth.“I think you’re bad luck.”  (from The Daily Dilly)

In today’s passage, Moses and Aaron who are appointed by God to lead the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan, from slavery to freedom, are now themselves the target, the object for blame. They are now the bad guys, responsible for all the “bad luck” the Israelites experienced in the wilderness. Bad luck or simply lack of faith?

Earlier in Exodus - “It’s better if the LORD had just killed us in the land of Egypt. At least we had plenty to eat. But now you have brought us here into this desert to make us all die from hunger” (Exodus 16:3)

First of all, Moses and Aaron did not bring them here. God did. God kept His covenant with Abraham and led the people into the wilderness so they can work on their endurance and faith before entering into the Promised Land. Second of all, Moses and Aaron were chosen by God to shepherd, to pray and to guide them. Instead of learning to trust, to thank, so to thrive, they rebelled - not only against Moses and Aaron, but against God!

Francis Schaeffer: “The beginning of men’s rebellion against God was, and is, the lack of a thankful heart.” It is when we stop feeling grateful and our heart cease to count every blessing, that our lips begin murmuring (murmur-murmur). Serving God and His Church is the greatest blessing that we can do together. And we need to guard the joy in serving because if joy is lost in the worker, the work suffers and so will the ministry.

Serve God with a Grateful Attitude

1 Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent (rude and arrogant lack of respect) 2 and rose up against Moses. 

Four men, each from significant positions. Kohathites are the most important branch of the tribe of Levi (priests). Reubenites are the firstborn of the twelve tribes. Prestigious in assignment. The Kohathite’s portion of ministry was the ark of the covenant, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary

With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. 3 They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far!

Two things to watch out for when you step into the arena called “the world”.

Disgruntled people. They are everywhere. They are simply un-happy - having something against happiness - because of their social nature, negative people kill your mood with their pessimism, negativity, and suspicion. Their toxicity is more potent than many diseases.

Negative peer pressure. A feeling that one must do the same things as other people of one’s age and social group in order to be liked or respected by them (Merriam-Webster). Can negative peer pressure affect mental health? Peer pressure can be detrimental to your mental health because you tend to lose yourself in order to fit in or be accepted by others. Here are five ways in which peer pressure affects your mental health:

It can make or break your confidence

It can affect your productivity (constantly think about it; wavers your concentration)

It can push you into bad habits (smoking, alcohol, risky behaviors - health, mental wellbeing)

It can make you indifferent towards your family (ashamed family background)

It can make you emotionally vulnerable (acceptance; pretend to be happy)

The Israelite’s Joy has been replaced with Jealousy - a type of pressure. Someone who experiences intense feelings of doubt, anxiety and jealousy will be more easily influenced than someone who displays confidence and awareness (Psychology behind peer pressure). Examples in the Bible: Cain embraced his jealousy and murdered his brother; Jealousy of Joseph’s brothers beat him and sold him into slavery; King Saul’s bitterness over the love others had towards David the future king. Jealous people are also “purpose driven” for wrong reasons - driven to tear others down.