Moses And His Stiff-Neck Followers

I read Numbers 12 to 16 recently. God spoke to me about a bunch of people whose attitude sucks. Moses was leading this group of people for they had just come out of Egypt. Imaging being excited because God spoke about the promise land that they were about to enter. If they were not stiff-neck people, then I really don't know how to describe this bunch! Scary that even if God will to perform a major miracle in front of them, they will still be cursing at Him.

Wave after wave of complains spewing out of their mouth, making Moses miserable throughout the journey. Hey, we're not just talking about a small bunch of people, but a host of them! If I'm in Moses' shoe, I would have quitted long ago, asking why God can still tolerate such people and of all places, in the desert. Let them perish and see whether they can live without God leading them. Ha!

Then my eyes laid upon what Moses did....he pleaded on behalf of all these ingrates. What a man! I mean, has he got to do this? These are bunch of rebels, going against what God would have wanted for them. If not for the words from Moses, God would have done more terrible things to these Israelites.

Wait a minute! God spoke. "Wouldn't you be just like them? rebellious and ungrateful?" God's word really pierced my heart. I had just discover some truths about rebellion – it exists in every heart. Rebellion goes a long way back. It is as old as the Garden of Eden. What did God say to Adam and Eve about one tree in the middle of the garden? Well, you can eat any fruits of any trees, but you can’t touch this tree. Yes, they chose to rebel by eating the fruits from the only tree that God told them not to eat. The book of proverbs says, “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child” (22:15). Yes, it’s part of our sinful nature to want to do something foolish (to rebel). You know something, this is not what we have learnt, but it comes from within.

Rebellion has many sources. Most rebellion is based upon half-truths. In verse 3 of Numbers 16, the rebels fought against the idea of equality among the people of the nation of Israel. Korah accused Moses and Aaron for exalting themselves in the midst of the people. Yes, we are all equal, but we can never be the same. God gave us some as leaders, while some will be followers. Are we the same?

Six Sources of Rebellion

First source would be Jealousy.
2nd source – Delusions of Grandeur. Verse 4.
3rd source – Ungratefulness. Verse 9.
4th source – Stubbornness. Verse 12.
5th source – Disappointment. Verse 13.
6th source – Distrust. Verse 14.

And finally, rebellion leads to bad consequences. There are at least four consequences await those who rebel.
1)Withdrawal of leadership.
2)Innocent people are indirectly also affected.
3)The guilty will be condemned. Verses 28 to 35.
4)It is like a infectious disease that will spread rapidly and will infect many people. Hebrews 12:15.

Ultimately, rebellion is against God. Rejecting the authority that God has placed is actually rejecting God. It will bring huge consequences upon our lives.

Lord, remove my stiff-neck and break my spirit.