Numbers 16:11 For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?
When I was a kid, I wanted dark, wavy hair. That was a problem because I had light, limp, floppy hair. It was not dark and it was not wavy. Most of us probably know what it is to wish we were someone else or to have what someone else has, yet that is no way to live. Numbers 16 is a story that reminds us of the folly of not receiving with gratitude what God gives.
Numbers 16 tells us the story of Korah and his followers who gathered against Moses and Aaron. Their contention was essentially that the whole nation was holy. Everybody was holy because they were all part of God’s people, and the Lord was among them. So, Korah said, “Wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?”
Korah’s premise was that Moses had taken this position to himself. His contention was that both Moses and Aaron had conspired to have their positions of leadership, but nothing was further from the truth. That is why Moses immediately took this problem to God. God was the One Who was in charge.
Now what follows is the self-destruction of Korah and his followers who complained and rebelled against God by rebelling against the authority and provision that God had given to them. God called them “sinners against their own souls.” The lesson we learn from this is that there is grace and contentment in receiving with gratitude what God gives.
Sometimes we have more than we want. We think, “God, I didn’t ask for this. I don’t want this.” Other times we want more than we have. We think, “God, why can’t I have more than I have.” Moses had experienced one and Korah was guilty of the other. Moses had said, “God, why are you putting these people into my arms as if I am a nursing father. I didn’t ask for this leadership and these problems.” Yet, when Moses obeyed, God gave grace.
Korah, on the other hand, wanted more than he had. Korah was a man who was privileged. He was among the tribe that carried the most sacred parts of the tabernacle furniture. He was a man of great responsibility. The Bible calls those men who assembled around him “famous in the congregation, men of renown.” But it wasn’t enough for them, and it never can be enough for you if you are not going to receive what God gives with gratitude.
There is grace, that is, power, and contentment in just receiving what God gives to you. When Moses was responding to Korah, he said, “Seemeth it but a small thing unto you?” Moses was saying that God had given Korah this great position of responsibility, but Korah acted as if it was too small for him. Moses continued, “For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD.”
This rebellion was an accusation the rebels thought was against Moses, but really they were accusing God because God is the One Who had given Moses his position and his provision. Moses later says “Know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.” There is contentment, power, and grace when we just receive what God gives.
Sometimes we have more than we wish, more responsibility or more problems. Sometimes we have less than we wish. We wish we had more opportunities. But whatever your lot, you don’t have to know the big picture in order to know there is one. If you will be faithful with what you have right now, whether it is more or less than you wish, there is grace and contentment in receiving what God gives.