When people rise up against you, your first reaction probably is to defend your honor and your intentions. But that action, while very natural, is an effort to bring glory to you. Isn’t your life supposed to be about bringing glory to God? When you consider the sacrifice Jesus Christ made on the cross for you, bringing glory to Him out of pure gratitude is easy. But when your actions and integrity are challenged, will your motivation be self-preservation, or finding a way to glorify God in the situation?
As I was reading the passages, I had to wonder what my response would be if people were talking against me. What would I do if others were wrongfully complaining about what I am doing? Would I come out in self-defense and blame others for how I am being accused, or would I try to use the situation to bring God glory? I could sense the Lord asking me, “Are you willing to set your self-preservation aside so that I can get the glory? Are you willing to let people verbally wound you and accuse you? Would you come to their defense before me or would you focus on defending yourself?”
Numbers 14:2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!
The Israelites despised Moses for leading them into this wilderness. However, they failed to recognize that it was their sin and their decision to not cross over into the promised land and that had placed them in the wilderness. They were filled with anger, dissatisfaction, and rebellion.
Numbers 14:11-12 And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them? I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.
At this point, facing an angry mob of rebellious and angry Israelites, what would you have said to the Lord? If I was Moses, I think would have come to my defense and said, “Do what you must, Lord. Pestilence or boils would be good. Thank you, Lord, for coming to my defense. Thank you for delivering me!” But not Moses. He did not come to his own defense, he came to THEIR defense. He recognized that if the Israelites were destroyed it would not bring glory to God. Moses was more concerned about God’s reputation (God getting the glory) than his own self-preservation. Moses pleaded with God.
Numbers 14:15-16 Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying, Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness.
Numbers 14:19-20 Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now. And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word:
In order to keep going in this position of leadership, Moses needed to have the heart-desire to preserve God’s people over preserving himself, and Moses needed to acknowledge how he really felt about the Israelites. His reaction to God’s threat proved to himself that he truly wanted God’s glory to be seen and his self-preservation denied.
Through these verses, the Lord helped me to see that I need to have an increased heart-desire to preserve God’s people rather than an inflated concern over my own self-preservation. I can put aside my desire to prove my own “righteousness” in order to preserve God’s people and His work in their lives.
Psalm 65:2-3 O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.
This is the most important thing — that all flesh would come to the Lord. In order for this to happen, God must be glorified. Moses had been personally hurt and the people had spoken out against him, but he was not concerned about preserving his reputation. He was concerned about God getting and keeping the glory, and God having a good name among the nations so that all flesh would turn to Him. Moses received personal satisfaction from serving his Lord, not from being vindicated before man.
Proverbs 12:14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.
Why must God be glorified? Only God can save people from sin through Jesus Christ, and God must be glorified so that others will be drawn to Him and see the way of salvation. God’s reputation matters. Bringing glory to God matters. What are we willing to sacrifice for God to receive the glory in our situation?
This principle is seen again in the book of John, chapter 9. A man had been blind since birth and the Lord explains that this infirmity will serve a greater purpose.
John 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
Are you facing a challenge to your reputation? Are people talking against you? It is possible that this time of your life is happening so that the works of God can be made clear to others. Let God have the glory. Pray for God to get the glory so that others will be drawn to Him; not for you to get vindication. Let your goal always be to preserve God’s reputation. Let your guiding motivation be “Glory to God,” not “Glory to me.”
Related Bible Passages:
Numbers 14
Psalms 65
Proverbs 12
John 9
Have a face to face conversation with your Lord:
Lord, in what situations do I feel the need to fight or justify myself out of vindication?
Lord, has there been a time when I acted out of self-preservation and got vindication, but you were not glorified?
Lord, when I am defending myself against a personal attack, how do I act? In what way does this distract from bringing glory to you?
Lord, I want to be motivated by a desire to bring you glory. I want to act in a way to always make you look good so others will be drawn to you…
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Glory, Strength, & Beauty 