Elevating Our Own Conceits

In Numbers 16 we find the story of the rebellion led by Korah, Dathan and Abiram. After all the difficulties the people had and with seeing God's reaction to their lack of holy fear and faith, these three still managed to recruit 250 chieftains from the various tribes and to conspire a hostile takeover. They were going to oust Moses and Aaron on the basis that all the children of Israel were holy and therefore Moses and Aaron demanded no less respect than they did. The Bible says that they became insolent. This means their intent was rude and disrespectful. "They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, 'You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD's assembly?" (Numbers 16:3 NIV) Moses did not retort in insolence. Instead he fell to the ground facedown and declared that God would declare who was holy the next morning. And so God did and when the insolent did not repent they and their kin experienced the severity of the Lord. (Read Numbers 16)

The apostle Paul wrote in Romans that we Christians must avoid these jealous insolent feelings. He points out that if God did not spare the natural branches (the children of Israel) then He will surely not spare Christians who elevate their own conceits.  Paul says,  “You stand fast through faith.”. and that faith should be accompanied by awe. It is our only position to avoid the severity of our Father. But from the awe position Paul says we have the privilege of gazing or looking upon the goodness of God, the very Giver of our faith. This gazing or looking can also be thought of as beholding. Or, pay attention!!!  "Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us" 1st John 3