Recognizing Your Invisible MentorsSample

WHAT ARE MY MOTIVES?

Moses was chosen by God to lead the children of Israel out of the bondage they experienced in Egypt and into their Promised Land of Canaan. On their journey, the character and beliefs of the Israelites were tested. Moses relied daily on God’s guidance to direct His people on their journey, revealing the why and how of his authority. It was not so, however, for Korah, Dathan, Abiram and On, who came from the tribes of Levi and Reuben. They became self-appointed leaders with prideful spirits. 

Presuming that they, too, could do the work of priest and leader, they came to Moses and Aaron to show their capabilities (Numbers 16:1–48). Korah and his 250 followers brought their own brass censers to the court of the Tabernacle. The censers in those days were used to carry burning incense before the Lord, which only a priest could do, according to God’s instructions. While Moses allowed them to proceed with their actions, he warned them that disobeying God’s command was a perilous experiment: “‘Do this: Take censers, Korah and all your company; put fire in them and put incense in them before the Lord tomorrow, and it shall be that the man whom the Lord chooses is the holy one’” (v.6–7). Because of their pride, selfishness, and rebellion, the fire of God’s wrath fell on the altar and killed all 250 of them.

Upset with the consequences, the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron. Their actions brought on a plague that quickly spread among them. Moses interceded for the people by commanding Aaron to quickly grab a censer of burning incense and run among them, in effect offering a prayer of atonement for their prideful actions. Numbers 16:48 says that Aaron “stood between the dead and the living, and the plague stopped” (NLT). The rest of the story states that 14,700 of the Israelites died in just a few moments, in addition to those who died the day before (v.49). 

What would have happened if neither Moses nor Aaron had taken action? Could the plague have consumed the whole nation? Our world is in a similar state today, dying in the fire of its own pride and self-righteousness. We are directly influenced by the choices of others around us, resulting in a testing of our character, as the Israelites were tested in whom to follow. 

To identify our why—our motives—we can look to the ultimate example of the One “who knew no sin” yet was made to be sin for us, so “that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). That is Jesus! The purpose for which He came and lived on this earth—His why—was tested in the Garden the night before His crucifixion (Matt. 26:36–42).  

Our why and our will to accept or reject it will be tested in the hours when no one is watching—during the darkest moments when we either give in and give up, or press through and rise up. 

Jesus chose to embrace death on the cross. “‘O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will’” (Matt. 26:39). The final reconciliation between God and humanity became fulfilled through Christ, so that our why in all that we do and all that we are 

would be complete; 

would be redeemed; 

would be eternal. 

“Don’t fear: I am First, I am Last, I’m Alive. I died, but I came to life, and my life is now forever. See these keys in my hand? They open and lock Death’s doors, they open and lock Hell’s gates” (Rev. 1:18, MSG). 

Where Jesus stands, death stops and life begins.