During our last family devotion we studied the rebellion of the sons of Korah in Numbers 16.  Our conversation fairly quickly turned to the lack of respect these men had for the authority dictated to Moses and Aaron by God.  We started talking about ways that we quite often will disrespect those in authority over us.  Great conversation for sure!

As the kids later began getting ready for bed, I began to think about how often I (as a role model for my kids) don't respect those in authority over me.  The times that I fail to give them their full due or rather than build them up and make their jobs easier, I backbite, complain or only begrudgingly submit.  God's response in this story to these disrespectful Israelites, was swift and unmistakable.   Throughout scripture we see that even when the person in authority seems to not get it, or they seem to be doing the opposite of what God would want, we still are expected to honor the authority given them by God.

Flip over to 1 Samuel 24,
"3 He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. 4 The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’ ” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
5 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. 6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” 7 With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.", NIV

So prior to this David had been annointed to be the next King of Israel.  For this reason (among others), Saul was not a fan of David and wanted to take his life.  So David was on the run trying to keep from dying at the hands of this current crazed King of Israel.  Saul gets an intelligence report saying that David was in the area.  While out looking, he pulls over to use the restroom in a cave.  This is when David finds him.  This man who was out to kill him was indisposed in his presence.  Rather than using self defense as the reason that he killed Saul, David cuts off a piece of Saul's robe and immediately feels bad for having done this.  Take a look at why,

"6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” 7 With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.", NIV

Clearly, David was not in agreement with all that Saul did.  His conscience wasn't stricken because of Saul, but rather the fact that Saul was God's annointed.  In other words, because God had raised this man up to be in authority over him, David honored him and for this reason alone.

I want to model that kind of honor for my children.  I want them to be the kind of people who honor and respect those in authority for no other reason than God placed them there.  

Homework:  Numbers 16, 1 Samuel 24, Romans 13

Have you ever felt insignificant?  I mean just think about how many people currently live on Earth, (according to google, you are 1 in 7.8 BILLION).  We don’t even have the capability to estimate how many people have ever lived on Earth!  I constantly struggle with feelings of insignificance, and yet for some reason I’m still here.  I choose to believe that this is by design, not accident.  I choose to believe that God has a specific reason for my continued existence, and its bigger than just me.
I thought about this the other day as my son and I were doing some study in preparation for the upcoming Bible Bowl.  (Shameless plug, start reading 2 Kings with your kids now!  We can win this thing!!)  So as is the story throughout most of the Old Testament, Israel had sinned continually by turning away from serving the one true God; so God allowed their enemies to oppress them.  Because they were His, when they cried out, He came for them even though He knew they hadn’t truly repented of their wrongs.  They were primarily crying out in their pain.  Anyway, back to the saving part.  Take a look at this verse,
“The Lord provided a deliverer for Israel, and they escaped from the power of Aram. So the Israelites lived in their own homes as they had before.”,
2 Kings 13:5, HCSB
I’m so used to seeing the heroes named that I passed over that verse the first few times that I read it.  Eventually, however, I noticed that this person who did a magnificent work for God’s people is not named in scripture!  When we get to heaven and this person introduces themselves to you, you will have no clue who they are in history!!
There are probably a great many reasons as to why God the Spirit didn’t illuminate this name for the writer.  One I can think of, is that this (along with all the great stories in scripture and life) are really about God’s ability, not some human who’s just following orders. However, regardless the reason, we can’t miss the fact that they did a marvelous work on behalf of God’s people!
Are you a nameless face?  Perhaps to some.  But you’re not nameless to the One who created you.  There is a great work placed before you.  If you are a parent, I believe that at least part of that work calls you “dad” or “mom”.  So let’s get to work!!
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