Representatives Who Let Down Their People 

As Moses listed leaders from the various tribes of Israel, he spoke of Reuben, and noted two men from Reuben who failed in their job, “And the son of Pallu was Eliab. The sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. These are the Dathan and Abiram, representatives of the congregation, who contended against Moses and Aaron in the company of Korah, when they contended against the Lord; and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah when that company died, when the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men; and they became a sign. Nevertheless the children of Korah did not die” (Num 26.8–11).

Dathan and Abiram represented the congregation, but they used their authority and power to side with Korah in contenting against Moses and Aaron, which was rebellion against the Lord.

However, Moses quickly noted that the sons of Korah did not participate in the rebellion, but they devoted themselves to the Lord, even writing some of the Book of Psalms.

Unfortunately, the families of Dathan and Abiram backed them, unlike the sons of Korah, and so they all perished when the Earth opened its mouth and swallowed them.

Are you a representative? If so, be sure that you use it for good, and not for evil. DR

Keep Silent 

Sometimes the Lord wants us to shout the truth from the housetops; sometimes He wants us to remain silent. After He gave a blind man his sight, Mark wrote, “Then He sent him away to his house, saying, ‘Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town’” (Mark 8.26).

Why did Jesus not want the man to tell others? If the man had, people would only see Jesus for what He could do for their bodies, but He helped people in the body that they might see He could help them in the spirit. DR