Are you a rebel? Websters dictionary defines rebel as: to oppose or disobey one in authority or in control; to act in or show opposition or disobedience;A rebel draws their characteristics from the word REBELLION.
Imagine this: your boss tells you that they need something done immediately and you sarcastically respond that there is no way you can do it now. That's rebellion. When a teenager asks their parents if they can go somewhere and the parents say "no" and the teenager responds "I am going to do it anyway, you can't stop me." That's rebellion. When we know what God's Word says and we refuse to do it...that's rebellion.
What is the definition of rebellion? I believe it is simply knowing what we should do and refusing to do it.
The Scriptures teach us that God hates rebellion and He puts it in the same catergory as Idolatry and sexual immorality. If we know that God hates it...then why do we do it?
There's an interesting story in Numbers 16 that reveals a deep seated display of rebellion by a man named Korah. Let's take a look at what caused him to become rebellious and how it relates to us, especially those who serve in ministry.
"I Should Be In Charge"
Korah and his cohorts approach Moses and Aaron and claim that their leadership isn't needed anymore and he could do just as well as them.
- Numbers 16:3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?
Korah wants to be equal in authority to Moses or over him. After watching Moses do his job, he starts to think that he could do a better job than Moses. Probably many of us have thought to ourselves, "I can do my boss' job better than he does." However, this is where the start of rebellion begins.
Working with teens for many years as well as raising one, I realize that every teenager living feels at some point in their adolesence they can do a better job running their life rather than their parents.
Rebellion stems from jealousy. Satan did the same thing in Heaven when he declared that "he would become like the most high." (Isaiah 14:14)
When I begin to think I should be the one leading, instead of the leader, that is the beginning of rebellion. Whether it is home, or work or at church.
"I'm Being Heldback"
- Numbers 16:9 Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?
Korah and his followers were feeling like God was restricting their freedom. This causes men to rebel. None of us like being told what to do. In fact, some people don't go to church routinely because they feel like God is restricting their freedom. So...they rebel.
Friend, God isn't trying to restrict our freedom. He desires us to grow in Him. Learning to submit actually gives you inner liberty.
"You Should Have Done It My Way"
- Numbers 16:13 Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us? Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.
Moses faced the challenge of dealing with a restless people because he didn't take the people where he said he was going to take them. Suppose you were promised at work that you would get a raise after six months on the job. The six months pass and nothing happens. You are going to start getting rebellious. Why? Because plans did not turn out like you thought.
Sometimes ministers get discouraged with God because their plans of entering the ministry don't turn out like they think or their vocational plans of moving into fulltime ministry are delayed. When it doesn't materialize, rebellion can manifest and as a result some leave the ministry.
Or, if you have followed a pastor or a ministry and you found out that they are not living like they preach. You are tempted to rebel against everything they have taught you because it was your plan that they should live it 100% without any failures.
What are the consequences of rebellion?
Innocent People Can Get Hurt
- Numbers 16:28-32 28And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. 29If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me. 30But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD. 31And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: 32And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.
In these verses Moses says, "this is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea..."
These three men rebelled against Moses and Aaron. Their families had nothing to do with the rebellion, however, their families suffered the consequences of these men's actions. If we choose to rebel against God today, our spouse could suffer, our church family can suffer and those in our community who know us as a Christian can suffer.
Choosing to rebel causes others to suffer the consequences.
It Will Cost Me Personally
- Numbers 16:35 And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.
Don't forget that there were innocent people who were hurt by those who rebelled. Our rebellion may not cost our life as it did in this passage but don't be deceived into thinking it won't cost you something. It always does.
Rebellion Spreads
- Numbers 16:41 But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD.
Where you leave off, someone else picks up. You start putting down your church, then everyone starts putting down their church. Rebellion spreads.
You Are Rebelling Against God
- 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?
You may think your rebellion is against your boss, or against your parents, or against your pastor but ultimately it is against God. Their problem was not against Moses but God.
