Consequences

This morning I read about Korah's rebellion in Numbers 16. He and two hundred others from the tribe of Levi decided to assemble against Moses and Aaron (vs. 3). Poor Moses pleaded with them to turn away from the direction they were going. But they refused to listen and discuss the matter. We get down to the real issue in verses 13-14, "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? Indeed, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor have you given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Would you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up!"

Alas, the truth of their rebellion comes to light. After all is said and done, they can't accept the fact that they were put through some major trials and because of their sin and lack of trust they are refused access to God's promise to bring them into a land flowing with milk and honey. It seems like they were throwing a tantrum over the fact that they had to live with the result of their sinning. Their rebellion ran thick in their blood and they refused to turn back to God. Instead, they continued to stir up trouble. Proverbs 15:18 says, "A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but the slow to anger calms a dispute." These men had a choice. They could have realize that their sin changed the course of their future and live with it. By doing so they would have ended their current dispute. But they chose another direction and became embittered by what their sin did to their future. As we continue through chapter 16 we find Korah continuing to stir up the people causing them to sin even further. The result - they all died.

Sin hurts especially when you realize you've sinned and have repented yet have to live with the consequences. You're forgiven and it feels so good that you want everything to go back to normal. But some sin has dire consequences that can't be turned back to normal. They will be played out. We are like Korah in the fact that we had the same choices he had. I love what I John 1:9 has to say about our choices, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I pray that we choose to follow the Lord and trust that He will guide us through the difficult times. Even the difficult times that we've brought upon ourselves by whatever sin we chose to fall into. No matter what, there is a lesson to be learned and growth to take place.

Malachi 3:3 says, "He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness." Being molded is painful. Sometimes it takes a long time to be molded and sometimes the molding process is quicker. It depends upon how willing we are to be molded. We are being refined and purified so that we can be presented to the Lord spotless and unblemished, "that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless." (Ephesians 5:27). Again, I pray that we would allow the Lord to purify us through the consequences of our sin so that we could be made into His image. To not turn away from him like Korah did. Let us learn from our mistakes and move forward so that we can serve the Lord to the fullest!

My life was like an uncut gem
All rough and angles sharp,
Its brilliance dimmed as by a veil
No gleam or sheen, all dark.
But the Master's hand worked miracles,
Each pain and woe or trial or test
A facet cut upon my soul,
He watched the work and blest,

And even when it seemed to me
No other facet could He add
That pain and suffering had wrought
A gleam and sheen that made Him glad.
Still other processes there were
To polish, and the gem to set,
For now become a gleaming Jewel rare,
I must be made ready for His service yet.
- Mabel M. Brown

Krista Jones
2.18.08