“Wilderness is the training place to wean the world’s ways out of God’s people through learning the life of faith in the Word of God to adopt the ways of God.” (Pastor Brent’s summary of Deut. 8)
2 actions to take in dealing with rebellious criticism
I. Recognize the Exalted Nature of Rebellious Criticism in Yourself and Others
A. Rejects the position God has provided to gain more real or perceived prominence
Numbers 4:15 - When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is to set out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them…
B. Gathers other potential malcontents to be under self without first going to the source to solve a problem
C. Starts a process that ends in the rejection of God’s Word
Numbers 16:13 - Is it not enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey (Egypt) to have us die in the wilderness, but you would also lord it over us?
D. Hardens into an adversarial role
Numbers 16:12 - Then Moses sent a summons to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; but they said, “We will not come up.”
II. Adopt the Lowly Heart of an Intercessor amidst Rebellious Criticism
Numbers 16:4 - When Moses heard this, he fell on his face…
Numbers 16:22 - But they (Moses and Aaron) fell on their faces…
Numbers 16:45 - Then they (Moses and Aaron) fell on their faces.
A. Surrenders personal will to God’s will
B. Reminds of the properly interpreted Word of God and applies it to rebellious hearts for the purpose of repentance
Numbers 16:8-11 -Then Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you sons of Levi, is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them ….And are you seeking for the priesthood also? Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the Lord…”
C. Carries the weight of responsibility for the community
Numbers 16:22 - O God, God of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will You be angry with the entire congregation?
Numbers 16:47-48 - Then Aaron took it as Moses had spoken, and ran into the midst of the assembly, for behold, the plague had begun among the people. So he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. He took his stand between the dead and the living, so that the plague was checked…
D. Waits for the Lord to act
1. In justice—For those who persist in adversarial roles to God’s chosen
2. In Mercy—For those who repent and accept God’s chosen
Numbers 26:9-11 - …These are the Dathan and Abiram who were called by the congregation, who contended against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah… against the Lord, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up along with Korah, … so that they became a warning. The sons of Korah, however, did not die.
Psalm 49:15 - But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol…
Psalm 84:10 - …I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Our theme for this year has been Growing in Gospel Gratitude
In a national environment where outrage and criticism are the first response to any real or perceived wrong, dislike, or unmet desire, we want to spend a year on being a thankful people
We have spent the first part of our year in the book of Philippians—studying a thank you letter in essence
I know I was helped immensely by our study together and I pray you were also.
Gratitude is a rare commodity these days.
It is especially difficult in the face of criticism.
While criticism comes in all kinds of relationships, one of the most common manifestations is criticism coming from those under authority to those in authority.
- Children criticizing parents
- Employees criticizing their supervisors
- Congregants criticizing church leaders
- Citizens criticizing their political leaders
For me, I have been here at Faith Church for 25 years now.
I have never been a senior pastor
I have always been under Pastor Viars
When I got the job as an intern here at Faith Church and then was hired on staff here as a pastor, it was a dream come true.
This church changed my life more than any other that I had ever been a part of.
When the honeymoon phase was over, I realized that Pastor Viars and the rest of the pastors and staff at that time were not Jesus—I know that is shocking to all of you.
Each of the staff had discernable weaknesses.
And they all seemed much greater than mine. 😊
In my heart I became extremely critical and thought I could do better—I do not believe that now.
I remember seeking out counsel—Dr. Bob Smith a man who had been under authority of Pastor Goode and Pastor Viars for all his lay-ministry career.
He mentored me with scripture truth about dealing with imperfect authority.
He reminded me rightly that I was one also.
He reminded me that if I were ever in a greater position of authority, my weaknesses would be lit up like the noon day sun for all to see.
And he helped me realize that the way I responded to imperfect authority over me now might be the way that God allowed others to respond to me if I were to ever bear the weight of authority.
I have tried to remember that throughout my 25 years here
And every three years when we have a new cohort of pastoral students coming in—one of speeches I give them involves me telling them that they will see the good, bad, and ugly of us all.
They will have a choice how to respond.
And God is in this for the long game—He knows how to turn our responses back on us when we might be an authority someday.
So, when you see weaknesses and needed areas of improvement as you undoubtably will, please communicate the truth in love.
As we start today, we are going to see an example of criticism that is not rooted in love.
It is rooted in proud rebellion.
Turn with me to the book of Numbers chapter 16
Numbers 16 is on page 116 in the front section of the bible in the chair in front of you.
If you are new to the biblical redemptive story that God is working out, the book of Numbers is primarily about God’s people rebelling against Him and His Word while they are in the desert.
Why are they in the desert?
Well God had allowed His people to be in Egypt for 400 years until they became numerous enough to form a nation.
Then He brought them out of Egypt miraculously and was going to give them what is now known as the promised land.
There in the promised land, as a nation, He wanted them to be a kingdom of His representatives, displaying to the world the glories of their rescuing and redeeming God in contrast to the various so-called gods of the world.
But before God was to give His people the land of promise, there was still much His people had to learn about being God’s people.
During their sojourn in Egypt, they saw, the great empire of Egypt lead by power, might, force, threat, and intimidation.
There in the wealthy, resource rich, area of the Nile river, they saw the powerful accumulation of wealth and material goods
There the people lived by sight in the power, pleasures, possessions of the world.
However, God wanted a nation, a people, who were different.
- A people who if they wanted to be great, would first be servants
- A people who would not live by what their eyes see but by what their ears would hear from the Word of God.
The best place for training would be—the wilderness or the desert.
In the desert, there are no obvious resources, no obvious kingdoms to possess, no obvious food or water resources—That’s where God took them!
When God takes us into the wilderness or the desert…that actually is a good thing…He is there….training His people
Wilderness is the training place to wean the world’s ways out God’s people through learning the life of faith in the Word of God to adopt the ways of God (Pastor Brent’s summary of Deut. 8)
With that context of the book of Numbers in mind today we are studying…
Handling Criticism—When Criticism Comes from a Rebellious Heart
Let’s read together starting in verse 1
1Now Korah … (out of all the “son of” language I want you to notice) . the son of Levi, (he along with) with Dathan and Abiram, …. (notice) sons of Reuben, took action,2and they rose up (exalted themselves) before Moses, together with some of the sons of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, chosen in the assembly, men of renown.3 They assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?
4When Moses heard this, he fell on his face;5 and he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, “Tomorrow morning the Lord will show who is His, and who is holy, and will bring him near to Himself; even the one whom He will choose, He will bring near to Himself. 6 “Do this: take censers for yourselves, Korah and all your company,7 and put fire in them, and lay incense upon them in the presence of the Lord tomorrow; and the man whom the Lord chooses shall be the one who is holy. You have gone far enough, you sons of Levi!”
8 Then Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you sons of Levi,9 is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them…. (last phrase of v. 10) And are you seeking for the priesthood also?11“Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the Lord; ….(opportunity for repentance)
12Then Moses sent a summons to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab (Opportunity for repentance); but they said, “We will not come up. 13“Is it not enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to have us die in the wilderness, but you would also lord it over us?
Skip vv. 14-19 (verse 20)Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,21“Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them instantly.”22 But they fell on their faces and said, “O God, God of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will You be angry with the entire congregation?” (Moses is learning God’s ways of preparing for an intercessor)
23Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,24 “Speak to the congregation, (opportunity for repentance) saying, ‘Get back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.’ ”25Then Moses arose and went to Dathan and Abiram, with the elders of Israel following him, 26 and he spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart now from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing that belongs to them, or you will be swept away in all their sin.” …
(verse 31) As he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open;32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who belonged to Korah with their possessions.33So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.
Skip 34 (verse) 35Fire also came forth from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering the incense.
Skip to 41 (verse) 41But on the next day all the congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You are the ones who have caused the death of the Lord’s people.”…(verse) 43Then Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting, 44and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,45“Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them instantly.” Then they fell on their faces. 46Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer and put in it fire from the altar, and lay incense on it; then bring it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone forth from the Lord, the plague has begun!”47Then Aaron took it as Moses had spoken, and ran into the midst of the assembly, for behold, the plague had begun among the people. So he put on the incense and made atonement for the people.48 He took his stand between the dead and the living, so that the plague was checked…
Today in our series we are not starting with constructive criticism—although there is a good place for that.
Part of our strategic ministry planning process invited that.
Also, Moses had experienced constructive criticism when his father-in-law came along side of him and offered him advice on how to lead such a massive group of people.
Today, however, we are starting with rebellious criticism—which is not to be a part of God’s people.
If you are fulfilling God’s purpose in your life, you will be someone of influence in some way—and you will be someone with weaknesses. So, what will you do when you encounter rebellious criticism when you are carrying the weight of that position of influence?
Two actions to take in dealing with rebellious criticism
The first action to take is
I. Recognize the Exalted Nature of Rebellious Criticism in Yourself and Others.
We cannot possibly exhaustively with a text of this size and richness in the time that we have.
But I want to give you a non-exhaustive list of four indicators to help us as God’s people today learn from what happen to God’s people over three millennia ago.
The first indicator to help us recognize the exalted nature of rebellious criticism is that rebellious criticism
Rejects the position God has provided to gain more real or perceived prominence
You may be asking yourself, who is Korah and why do I care?
Korah’s identity is an important consideration in this story.
Korah was the first cousin to Moses and the high priest Aaron.
As such, Korah was of part of the family of the Levitical priest.
All the Levite family had been given a special role of attending to the earthly dwelling place of God’s glory—the tabernacle.
Specifically, Korah’s family literally bore the weight of the tabernacle.
In Number 4:15, The Scriptures say,
Numbers 4:15 “When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is to set out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them….
Korah had a hugely significant job.
If his family did not move God’s dwelling place…guess what?? God’s people were not going to be on the move to their ultimate destination.
Yet, you can imagine— as we so often become discontent in the role that God has given us—Korah sitting back and thinking…
- “Why does cousin Moses get all the attention and all I get sore muscles?”
- “Why does Aaron get to go inside the house of God and all I get is to stare at the outside?”
Korah’s eyes were deceived by the perceived power, preeminence, and influence of the priests inside the tabernacle.
He was missing something entirely!!
While he was disdaining the physical weight he was carrying, he did not understand that the more prominent priests were carrying something more than physical weight—and that was—the weight of all of God’s people’s sins.
Those dwelling nearest the presence of God in the tabernacle had more weight, more burden, more regulations than Korah simply carrying the holy objects.
Friends rebellious criticism is born from a lack of thanksgiving for the position God has given you—rejecting the position God has provided to gain more real or perceived prominence—all the while missing the weight of that coveted more prominent position.
The grass is greener mentality?
Never content with the role God has given me?
How are you doing with that?
The second indicator to help us recognize the exalted nature of rebellious criticism is that rebellious criticism
Gathers other potential malcontents to be under self without first going to the source to solve a problem
First, let’s admit that we are all potential malcontents. Okay?! 😊
And we have all been guilty of rebellious criticism.
One of the easiest ways to recognize rebellious criticism is the accompanying gossip among others who may be potentially disgruntled.
Misery loves company
So, another significant detail of the narrative is that Korah enlists Dathan and Abiram.
These men are the descendants of Reuben.
Who is Reuben you ask?
He was the first born of the man Jacob, also known as Israel.
Reuben as the first born was entitled, culturally, to a weighty leadership position,
But because of character issues, he was passed over in lieu of Judah—the fourth born.
Judah’s descendants (NOT REUBEN’S) were destined and predicted to bring forth the king, the Messiah
In fact, the family of Judah was placed as the front of the camp of Israel leading the way
Do you know where Reuben’s family was located in the camp arrangement of Israel as they traveled through the desert?
—Right next to Korah’s family!!!
Wow! Two next door disgruntled neighbors sharing their discontentment.
There you have the ripe situation for the spread of rebellious criticism
And that even spreads to 250 other prominent leaders in Israel.
Friends, rebellious criticism that involves gossiping to others has never and is never the way to solve problems.
Quick point of application here, if you find yourself the recipient of gossip on a regular occasion, ask yourself the following question—why do people come to me to share?
First, consider this, a rebellious critic can never find a place for his story in a thankful person (repeat). So that leads to the question, are you a thankful person?
Second, if you find yourself the recipient of rebellious critical gossip on a regular basis, you most likely tolerate it and entertain it.
Instead of tolerating it we should say, “Woah, we have so much to be thankful for, if you have not talked to the appropriate person, then please stop right now. I am not a part of the problem or solution, And I’m going to hold you accountable in going to the appropriate person to solve that problem.”
If you consistently did that, what would you find? 1. Problems may get solved and/or 2) Rebellious critics will stop gossiping to you
The third indicator to help us recognize the exalted nature of rebellious criticism is that rebellious criticism
Starts a process that ends in the rejection of God’s Word
Korah and his followers use spiritually sounding words at first…Hasn’t God made us all priests Moses? “We are all priests MOSES!!!!”
Has God really said that you get to do all the prominent stuff? … You have gone too far Moses.
Now, it was true that God called them a nation of priests.
But God had also directly specified by His word the exact roles of each family unit.
Korah begins to play with and distort the word of God
But it doesn’t stop there, soon the process leads to this complete reversal of God’s word.
Dathan and Abiram say,
Numbers 16:13 “Is it not enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey (Egypt) to have us die in the wilderness, but you would also lord it over us?”
What is the reversal of God’s Word?!!—Dathan and Abiram, call Egypt the promised land!
Rebellious Criticism ultimately rejects God’s Words and promises as if it knows better than God’s word.
And that is why, the fourth indicator to help us recognize the exalted nature of rebellious criticism is that rebellious criticism
Hardens into an adversarial role
Dathan and Abiram flat out reject Moses invitation
16:12Then Moses sent a summons to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; but they said, “We will not come up.”
Korah, Dathan, and Abiram are the unholy trinity in direct opposition to God’s plan.
As you look down at the list of indicators, I hope you are recognizing something
The exalted nature of rebellious criticism
- · Rejects the position God has provided to gain more real or perceived prominence
- Gathers other potential malcontents to be under self without first going to the source to solve a problem
- Starts a process that ends in the rejection of God’s Word
- Hardens into an adversarial role
What does this sound like?
Or Who does this sound like?
All of this sounds a bit Garden of Eden— serpent’ish doesn’t it?
Satan rejected the significant position that God gave him
He gathered other potential malcontents to his side—other angels and
Then coming to Adam and Eve—You can be greater than this if you just eat the fruit
“Has God really said?” distorting God’s word
Then rejecting God’s word….You surely will not die
And Satan becomes the adversary
And we become rebellious in his footsteps
Korah, Dathan, and Abiram become the unholy trinity.
Faith family may I appeal to you?
In this broken world, there are injustices, brokenness, weaknesses everywhere we look, including our good congregation here.
Rebellious criticism, in its satanic form, simply increases all of injustices, brokenness, weaknesses.
If you have concerns, unmet needs, desires, please communicate to the appropriate people.
Specifically, if you are entertaining a decision that affects your role as a member here, I would encourage you to discuss that potential decision before it is finally set in stone.
And, instead of allowing criticism to develop into serpent like rebellion which harms all, let’s seek to strive for the unity of the faith together
The first action to take in dealing with rebellious criticism is to recognize the exalted nature of it in yourself and others
The second action to take in dealing with rebellious criticism is to
II. Adopt the Lowly Heart of an Intercessor amidst Rebellious Criticism
And as the unholy Trinity, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram are exalting themselves…in their power hungry Egyptian, worldly ways, what do we find shepherd Moses doing?
Falling on his face
16:4 When Moses heard this, he fell on his face;
16:22 But they (Moses and Aaron) fell on their faces
16:45 Then they (Moses and Aaron) fell on their faces.
The contrast could not be more striking!
In the face of prideful rebellious criticism, Moses lowers Himself.
What the rebellious critic and those following him need to see is a different way—God’s way.
Bullying the bully just reinforces the bully’s ways.
Moses had actually tried that once do you remember?
Moses was reared in Egypt.
He had some Egyptian ways of power, force, coercion in him that God wanted to root out of him.
He murdered a bullying man.
When that became known he had to run where??—to the desert for 40 years.
There he had to take the lowly job of a shepherd instead of a powerful prince in Egypt.
In his time in the desert, God was getting the Egypt out of Moses and we see a bit of a different Moses now than in Exodus 2 and 3.
So, what does a lowly intercessor look like in the face of rebellious criticism?
The lowly intercessor
Surrenders personal will to God’s will
Moses, having been clearly chosen by God to be the leader of God’s people did not grasp that position.
He did not even defend Himself!!!
He say’s to Korah and company if you want to have this role, then gather the priestly instruments that you so long for and perform the priestly duties and we will let God speak for Himself.
Our natural instance in the face of the exalted nature of rebellious criticism is to assert our credentials, our power, our superiority—bully the bully.
All that does is reinforce the ways of Egypt…the kingdom of men….not the ways of the kingdom of God.
Secondly, the lowly intercessor
Reminds of the properly interpreted Word of God and applies it to rebellious hearts for the purpose of repentance
Moses, reminds them of the great privilege they had been given by the precisely instruction of God without distortion.
16:8 Then Moses said to Korah, Hear now, you sons of Levi,9 is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them ….And are you seeking for the priesthood also?11“Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the Lord; ….
If the exalted nature of rebellious criticism distorts God’s word and eventually reverses it, what do we need to hear and be under?
Answer—the word of God properly interpreted
—And we should be spoken to lovingly but truthfully that our rebellion is ultimately against the Lord so that we might repent.
Third, the lowly intercessor in the face of exalted rebellious criticism
Carries the weight of responsibility for the community
Again, If you compare Moses now to Moses in chapter 2 and 3 of Exodus you will see a dramatic difference.
His years of shepherding and caring for sheep have changed him
The flock of people he is shepherding now is much more significant than animal sheep
Now, instead of lashing out in murder, instead of fleeing when exposed, you see God training him in something unusual—the supernatural ability to bear the weight for a community of people.
16:22“O God, God of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will You be angry with the entire congregation?”
16:47Then Aaron took it as Moses had spoken, and ran into the midst of the assembly, for behold, the plague had begun among the people. So he put on the incense and made atonement for the people.48 He took his stand between the dead and the living, so that the plague was checked
The weight of an intercessor—more concerned about the people than position
What Moses was to be as an individual—an intercessor for Israel—Israel was also to be for the rest of the world—a kingdom of priests
They were to intercede for the nations—us— so that God’s wrath might be assuaged and the nations might receive mercy.
Did you know the church today is also called “A kingdom of Priests” (1 Peter 2:9)
We can stand back and shout at the rebellious critics in this world
But how much time do we spend standing between the living and the dead with our prayers and putting their interests ahead of our own to check the plague of sin…
Finally, the lowly intercessor then
Waits for the Lord to act
- In justice—For those who persist in adversarial roles to God’s chosen.
Those who persist in consuming God’s chosen and His people will be consumed.
In this case the Lord’s justice was swift for the persistent rebellious critics.
This intensity and quickness is rarely the case in redemptive history.
Sufficive to say now, that the Lord had His reasons at this time to execute judgement like this. We do not have the time to go into those reasons now.
The persistent rebels were swallowed alive apparently through an earthquake and then the earth closed up again.
There went down alive to the place of the dead, Sheol
God, will one day deal with those who persist in their adversarial nature.
But remember he gave everybody the opportunity for mercy in this narrative.
The lowly intercessor also wait for the Lord to act in
- In Mercy—For those who repent and accept God’s chosen
There is an unexpected surprise in this story that you will not learn unless you keep reading in the book of Numbers…
Get this:
Numbers 26:9 …These are the Dathan and Abiram who were called by the congregation, who contended against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah… against the Lord, 10 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up along with Korah, … so that they became a warning. 11 The sons of Korah, however, did not die.
What???!! Apparently, the ring leader’s own sons recognized God’s chosen, received the word of God spoken by Moses, repented and received mercy.
And there is more….later the descendants of Korah are known for writing eleven psalms and notice two of their themes…
Psalm 49:15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol…
Psalm 84:10 ….I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
The Sons of Korah are content with their role now…and chose to follow God’s chosen.
Why? Because of a lowly intercessor standing between the living and the dead.
Friends, let’s close now with this.
Moses here was willing to bear the weight of the community, but the Egyptian ways of Moses were not completely out of Him.
Moses later would fail and not even be allowed to go into the promised land.
As I said, there being in that prominent of a position had more responsibility, more weight and Moses Himself was not able to bear it.
Who was able to go down to sheol, taking our sheol judgement for us, being consumed by the wrath of God and simultaneously bearing all the weight of our sin for us.
Who is the only one who supernatural can bear the weight of the community—We need God Himself to come
You know His Name—Jesus—He is the ultimate chosen one.
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