DevoBlogging – Day 55
Numbers 20
The prevalence of fallen “preachers” throughout history reminds us all just how easy it to forget from whence our power comes. “Thus saith the Lord” so easily becomes “listen to me” and “look at me.” It has become great sport to make fun of the fallen televangelists and mega church pastors. I am not talking about the media or atheists or church haters. Those who claim to be a part of the body of Christ I believe take far too much pleasure in seeing one of these “phonies” exposed. Don’t get me wrong I am all for exposing those who would use the church for purposes that are in contradiction to Christ’s call for his people. We just shouldn’t be so glee-filled.
I tend to think that these folks didn’t start out as charlatans. These people were called by God and served faithfully for a time and then lost their way. They forgot that whatever power they had was not from their own making. They forgot that they were servants of God. In Numbers 20 Moses and Aaron bring forth water from a rock for the people of Israel. Moses says, “Shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” God views this as less slip of the tongue and more taking credit that was undeserved. It was not “we” that brought water but God that brought water. This would make all kinds of headlines today in church and non-church publications. Twitter and Facebook will be filled with “two too big for britches” type posts. We should all be careful not be indicted by our judgment of others
A big lesson for all of us in this passage is: the more credit we take for ourselves the less we are able to lead others. God does not immediately strip Moses and Aaron of their leadership positions but he does remind them and us that the time of leadership for each of us will end and that God will continue on for all time.
