Numbers 16-18

February 16

Numbers 16-18

Jealousy or envy can destroy relationship, they can destroy communities. God gives different people different gifts. He gives different ministries in accordance with our gifts. When we begin to compare our gifts with the gifts of others, when we begin to compare our ministries with the ministries of others, we are on a slippery slope.

Some of the Levites, led by Kohath, were jealous of Moses and Aaron. They stirred up 250 of the community leaders and got them to also question the authority of Moses and Aaron. Instead of arguing with these rebels, Moses brought the matter before the Lord and told Korah to allow God to decide who is the rightful leader of Israel and who was chosen by God to be the priest. Dathan and Abiram refused to come before the Lord, but accused Moses by saying; "Isn’t it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the desert? And now you also want to lord it over us?" (Numbers 16:13, NIV)

When jealousy strikes our hearts, we begin to see all the wrong in life instead of seeing the good. God had used Moses and Aaron to bring the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt after 400 years of slavery. Instead of being thankful, they became angry with Moses. God had told the Israelites that He would deliver them to and give them a land flowing with “milk and honey.” Instead of being thankful, Dathan and Abiram said that Egypt was a land flowing with “milk and honey.” They rebelled against Moses and in reality against God and God struck down those who rebelled.

How are you doing with jealousy? Are there people of whom you are jealous? God can set you free of jealousy just as He set the Israelites free from Egypt if you will allow Him to work in your heart. Jealousy will cause you to miss the blessings of God. Jealousy will make you miserable no matter how blessed you may be in life. Jealousy will destroy relationships and communities. May God help us identify and destroy jealousy in our lives.