It Starts Small

I believe part of the purpose for the current situation in my life is that God wanted to reveal something awesome and amazing. I used to have this vain hope that because my life was messed up, I was messed up, that somehow my kids could be spared, and they could change things. I never believe for one minute God could ever use someone like me, but I hoped in my kids.

Have you found yourself there? I’m never going to be used, but maybe, just maybe God can change things with my kids? If I tell them the don’ts, maybe they will listen and not?

Can I tell you that you are wrong? It can start right here, right now, in this moment and in you? I wrote a while ago about generational sins. Generational curses. We do not like that word, curse. I think we shy away from it because it carries the notion of witchcraft and sorcery. But, we have curses passed upon us. Sin that creates stumbling blocks and strongholds that are passed down to us, most times inadvertently, from one generation to the next. It is the sinful behaviors that are imprinted upon us. I know some of my behavior and patterns have left a dent in my kids.

Is it possible for a generation to change the next?

God’s Word holds the answers and key!

16 Now Korah son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took ² two hundred fifty prominent Israelite men who were leaders of the community and representatives in the assembly, and they rebelled against Moses. Numbers 16:1-2

SO if you read this entire chapter, something awful happens! Korah, a Levite, from the line of Levi leads a rebellion against Moses and Aaron. Have you ever noticed, that when you have a group of people, you feel empowered? Man, you get one or two with you and a the mob mentality starts. This is what is happening here. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram are leading 250 others against Moses, saying that Moses has gone too far.

³ They came together against Moses and Aaron and told them, “You have gone too far! Everyone in the entire community is holy, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?” Numbers 16:3

The Levites were a special tribe to God. I hope to write about why, but let us stay focused on this event. The Levites were not all together as one like the other eleven tribes. They were dispersed throughout the tribes to minister to the Hebrew people. The Levites were chosen as ministers to do the work of God in His people. SO this explains why Moses replies:

⁸ Moses also told Korah, “Now listen, Levites! ⁹ Isn’t it enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the Israelite community to bring you near to himself, to perform the work at the Lord’s tabernacle, and to stand before the community to minister to them? ¹⁰ He has brought you near, and all your fellow Levites who are with you, but you are pursuing the priesthood as well. ¹¹ Therefore, it is you and all your followers who have conspired against the Lord! As for Aaron, who is he^[a] that you should complain about him?” Numbers 16:8-11

Moses is confounded that the very elect among the people would rise up and grumble against Moses and Aaron with such blasphemy. Moses extends the invitation to them all to come and let us put this to bed. Except, they do not take up the invitation as they fear they’re going to be killed for challenging Moses. Moses goes to God about what to do and God tells him:

¹⁹ After Korah assembled the whole community against them at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the glory of the Lord appeared to the whole community. ²⁰ The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, ²¹ “Separate yourselves from this community so I may consume them instantly.” ²² But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and said, “God, God who gives breath to all, when one man sins, will you vent your wrath on the whole community?” ²³ The Lord replied to Moses, ²⁴ “Tell the community: Get away from the dwellings of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.” Numbers 16:19-24

Korah assembled to overthrow, forcefully, Moses and Aaron. This is when God intervenes.

³¹ Just as he finished speaking all these words, the ground beneath them split open. ³² The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, all Korah’s people, and all their possessions. ³³ They went down alive into Sheol with all that belonged to them. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly. ³⁴ At their cries, all the people of Israel who were around them fled because they thought, “The earth may swallow us too!” ³⁵ Fire also came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were presenting the incense. Numbers 16:31-35

God destroyed them. Can you imagine the line of Korah, and how they would be seen. He destroyed the people associated with the rebellion, but the line was not completely killed.

(It was Dathan and Abiram, chosen by the community, who fought against Moses and Aaron; they and Korah’s followers fought against the Lord. ¹⁰ The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them with Korah, when his followers died and the fire consumed 250 men. They serve as a warning sign. ¹¹ The sons of Korah, however, did not die.) Numbers 26:10-11

Those who remained, can you imagine the shame of this event brought down upon them? They would be forever known as the Levite line that brought shame, so much sinful shame that God swallowed them up in the earth.

Can I ask an honest question? How many of you are living with the “ghosts” of your family’s past? Maybe everyone knows your dad was a drunk, and he was mean and cruel, so they look at you with suspicion that you are a drunk. Maybe your mother felt all she could do to put food on the table was sell her body, and now everyone looks at you as and expects you to be the same. How many of you think, this is what everyone thinks of you? How many of you are carrying the shame of others, the responsibility of someone else’s sin as your own? How many of you are trapped in the mindset that my family was this way, so I guess I am this way, too?

Friends, can I tell you God is the God of possibility and today you can do something that can change not only you, but the generations ahead of you for 1000 years? Lets take a peek at something interesting in Psalms:

For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.
¹ As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so I long for you, God.
Psalm 42:1

For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.
¹ God, we have heard with our ears—
our ancestors have told us—
the work you accomplished in their days,
in days long ago:
Psalm 44:1

For the choir director: according to “The Lilies.” A Maskil of the sons of Korah. A love song.
¹ My heart is moved by a noble theme
as I recite my verses to the king;
my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
Psalm 45:1

How did a seemingly cursed people go from cursed to blessed? Well, lets back up all the way to Genesis 49 when Jacob is blessing the 12 sons.

⁵ Simeon and Levi are brothers;
their knives are vicious weapons.
⁶ May I never enter their council;
may I never join their assembly.
For in their anger they kill men,
and on a whim they hamstring oxen.
⁷ Their anger is cursed, for it is strong,
and their fury, for it is cruel!
I will disperse them throughout Jacob
and scatter them throughout Israel.
Genesis 49 5:-7

That is some pretty harsh words. What happen? Back up even further. The 12 brothers had a sister who had been raped. Instead of bringing the man responsible to judgement, Levi and his brother killed an entire town of people. They went too far! Notice Moses tells Korah, you have gone too far. Their father, Abraham said you have brought shame upon us because you went too far. So, this generational sin of “overkill” started with Levi.

Now move forward to when Moses is blessing the 12 tribes before he dies:

⁸ He said about Levi:
Your Thummim and Urim belong to your faithful one;
you tested him at Massah
and contended with him at the Waters of Meribah.
⁹ He said about his father and mother,
“I do not regard them.”
He disregarded his brothers
and didn’t acknowledge his sons,
for they kept your word
and maintained your covenant.
¹⁰ They will teach your ordinances to Jacob
and your instruction to Israel;
they will set incense before you
and whole burnt offerings on your altar.
¹¹ Lord, bless his possessions,
and accept the work of his hands.
Break the back of his adversaries and enemies,
so that they cannot rise again.
Deuteronomy 33:8-11

What happened between this time to go from cursed to blessed?

When Moses says they did not regard their family, it did not mean they did not love them. This is reference to what happen at the bottom of the mountain when the people rebelled against God and Aaron built the golden calf (Exodus 33).

²⁶ And Moses stood at the camp’s entrance and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites gathered around him. Exodus 33:26

When Moses is speaking a blessing over the tribe he is specifically recalling this moment! They had left their families and ran to Moses’ side. Not everyone joined the Lord’s side that day. It is like when Christ said:

³⁷ The one who loves a father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; the one who loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸ And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ Anyone who finds his life will lose it, and anyone who loses his life because of me will find it. Matthew 10:37-39

It was an obedience to God over all other things. SO when Moses called to the people and said, who is with God, come and stand with me, God’s Word specifically mentions, the Levites came running.

Look how much this blessing had changed! From the end of Genesis to the end of Deuteronomy they had a whole new blessing over their line. One generation in a lineage can completely change the identity of the future generations.

Friend, whatever has lead up to you generationally, whatever is in your line, realize this is your time to be commissioned by God to allow Him to create the change needed to rewrite the history of the future generations. We, you and I can literally be used by God to change the entire direction and identity of an entire family line.

⁹ Know that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps his gracious covenant loyalty for a thousand generations with those who love him and keep his commands.  ¹⁰ But he directly pays back and destroys those who hate him. He will not hesitate to pay back directly the one who hates him. Deuteronomy 7:9-10

Friends, can I encourage you today to take up the calling and purpose of Christ. Just as Moses says, who is with God, Christ is asking, who is with me? Do you really want a real change in your life, the life of your family? relationships? Do you really want an end to the cycles spiraling from generation to generation?

Take us Christ’s calling. Let Him show the true power of God in you and through you that he can take what was once broken and rebuild it into something that will pass from generation to generation. Christ is what will pass from generation to generation. Stop thinking maybe your children can be the change and realize, you are the change God looks to make.