Introduction
In the previous session, we discussed how the Israelites were unable to enter Canaan, nor were they able to return to Egypt. God gave them a judgment, a very cruel one: the Israelites would wander in the wilderness for more than thirty-eight years, totaling forty years including the previous time. After God's judgment was declared, the Israelites were in great pain, completely without hope, wandering in the wilderness until that generation all died. If I were an Israelite at that time, my heart would be shaken. Can you imagine?
Originally, they were slaves in Egypt, and although life was hard, they could still live. Why did they have to run to the wilderness? Everyone in the Israelite camp was in great pain. Who caused this? Didn't they cause it themselves? On the way to the Promised Land, the Israelites were strewn with corpses. Only Caleb and Joshua, who wholeheartedly followed God, could enter, while all the rest died in the wilderness. Today, Christians in the church always think that they can go to heaven after they die. Speaking of this, I would like to make some comments: the Old Testament Israelites give us many revelations, which can be said to be sobering words. Only those like Joshua and Caleb can enter; those who are not wholeheartedly devoted die in the wilderness.
We cannot argue about whether we go to heaven after death, but I rarely see the image of God in many Christians. Many are content with having food to eat and a place to live. The Israelites who died in the wilderness also had food, drink, and shelter. God provided water and manna for the Israelites—these are common grace, but few see the promises of God fulfilled in people. In Jesus Christ, no matter how many promises God has, they are all true in Jesus Christ. We see this in the Apostle Paul, but why don't we see it now? It turns out that many Christians today are similar to the Christians who died in the wilderness, having experienced God's grace and then forsaking Him.
Restore the Determination to Follow God Wholeheartedly
Some time ago, I met a wealthy man who raised a very sharp question, which was said by a pastor: out of a thousand Christians, nine hundred and ninety-nine go to hell, and only one goes to heaven. I said, I have not been to that place, nor have I counted. The problem is, we must have a rough idea of what is going on. Out of the more than six hundred thousand Israelites who came out of Egypt and were counted, only two entered God's Promised Land.
There are really not many who wholeheartedly follow God. Jesus led many Israelites. In the New Testament, Jesus used five loaves of bread and two fish to feed five thousand people. The miracles and wonders performed by Jesus were unprecedented. As a result, when Jesus spoke of eternal life, many left, and Jesus asked two disciples, one of whom said, Lord, you have the words of eternal life, who else shall we follow? We must see the logical system of the world and the logical system of God. This is like a sieve, discarding what does not belong to God and treasuring what belongs to God.
Over the years, many have come and gone from the church that was built in the past, like a revolving lantern. They received grace among us, but why did they leave again? Some people say, All churches in the world are the same. All churches that belong to God are indeed the same. The problem is, those people have been to those churches, but they cannot solve their problems. We must carefully consider one thing: if out of a thousand people, nine hundred and ninety-nine go to hell and only one goes to heaven, I would reply to him, When you are alive, be like Jesus, and when you die, you will see Jesus.
Our God is the God of the living, not living like a ghost and seeing God after death. Will you emulate Caleb and Joshua and wholeheartedly follow God? All six hundred thousand Israelites were to fall in the wilderness, and only Caleb and Joshua were to enter the Promised Land. If I were Joshua and Caleb, I would also feel very uncomfortable, having to wander in the wilderness with you for thirty-eight years. I have a friend who rents out second-hand houses. He said, People who rent a house just want to have a good sleep and a good shower. However, it is difficult to have a good sleep in the wilderness. Our God also likes to trouble people. The Israelites walked on their own feet, carrying their broken belongings, and the days were really hard. When the Israelites thought of these thirty-eight years, thirty-eight springs and autumns, their hearts were cold. The problem is, what were they doing back then?
Imitate Jesus and Build a Church with God's Presence
Beat me to death, and I will not be such a Christian. Why should I be such a Christian? God's promise is in Jesus Christ. Can we resolve to wholeheartedly follow God, build a victorious church, a church that can enter the Promised Land? Build a church that sees God's presence, a group of people willing to wholeheartedly follow God to the end. You don't have to go elsewhere to see. I have seen some churches, and I find it very strange. These churches have grace, but it is the grace of the wilderness, and rarely see the glorious presence of God. I say this not to hurt anyone. I have the determination to wholeheartedly follow God, and I encourage everyone to imitate Jesus Christ, to imitate the Apostle Paul.
You imitate me as I wholeheartedly follow God, building a church, we build a victorious church. We do what God says, and we build God's church as God commands. Not believing in Jesus is a deadly matter. We are not seeking any worldly benefits. The benefits of our God are indeed in this world. If we have the hope of eternal life, will we experience God's great grace? Obtaining all the wonderful promises of God on earth is really good. There are many who are not wholeheartedly devoted. I once again call upon heaven and earth to testify to everyone: you can be not wholeheartedly follow me, but you must wholeheartedly follow God, and do not make a mistake. Paul said in Romans: if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth, you will be saved. If you read the epistles of the Apostle Paul and use these words, it is also acceptable. The Apostle Paul was a man who earnestly pursued God, so why don't you emulate him? What is your faith? Man's faith is to wholeheartedly follow God.
Do Not Live a Petty Life, but Fear God
As a result, the Israelites in the wilderness thought about living a petty life, which is what many people are preoccupied with today. On the Sabbath, a man went up the mountain to gather firewood. God had just decreed that no work should be done on the Sabbath, but this man did not believe it. The weather was cold on the Sabbath, and he thought about what to do if his children were frostbitten at home. As a result, the Israelites discussed that someone was gathering firewood on the Sabbath. Moses did not know what to do, so he asked God. God said to put that man to death, and the whole congregation stoned him to death. Such things do not happen often, and if they did, it would be troublesome.
We must know that God's requirements have never been lowered. People who violate God's words are unlucky, just like people who run red lights while driving. Today, they are lucky enough not to be caught, but if they continue to do so, being fined is a small matter. The problem is that if you run a red light today and continue to do so tomorrow, one day the car will be destroyed and people will die. Who will you blame? So we must not violate God's words. Some people are very interesting. They violate God's words, often listen to my recordings, and do not pay tithes, but their lives grow well, and they get promoted and get pay raises, giving many people a reason to remain in a coma. Everyone must be careful, our God often causes people's hearts to become comatose, but whether to choose to be comatose or not depends on our creation.
The Israelite who violated the Sabbath was stoned to death, which is the kind of comatose person who went up the mountain to gather firewood and was stoned to death. There are many interesting things in this world. We have to think about it. Aren't the decisions all made by ourselves? When you went up the mountain to gather firewood, didn't you expect to be stoned to death? Some people only think about success, but not about failure. Gathering firewood on the Sabbath violates the command of Jehovah. I think, wouldn't it be good if you used this energy to wholeheartedly follow God?
After this commoner was stoned to death, all the people of Israel were in a dilemma. What should we do about this thirty-eight-year wilderness journey? There was still meat to eat in Egypt, but what can we do in the wilderness? The Israelites did not think about why they were wandering in the wilderness for thirty-eight years. It was because they disobeyed God's words, dared not enter Canaan, listened to the evil news of the ten who were plagued, and wailed, wanting to return to Egypt, so they had to wander in the wilderness for thirty-eight years.
As a result, these Israelites did not think so. The Israelites still wanted to return to Egypt, but they had no power. The orders were all issued from Moses and Aaron, so they came up with a trick: to elect a leader. Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, with two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, gathered together, wanting to kill Moses.
Returning to Egypt had a large market among the Israelites. I thought of the yellow robe being added to the body. When Emperor Taizu of Song led his troops to fight, the generals below wanted to put the yellow robe on Emperor Taizu of Song, making him the emperor. Emperor Taizu of Song represented the core interests of all people. On the way in the wilderness, God pronounced judgment. People did not think about how to enter Canaan, but thought about how to return to Egypt, so they thought about attacking Moses.
The Ending of Challenging Authority—Korah and His Company Were Buried Alive
Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men; and they rose up before Moses, with some of the sons of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, chosen of the assembly, men of renown. And they assembled themselves together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord? When Moses heard it, he fell on his face. And he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, Tomorrow morning the Lord will show who is His, and who is holy, and will cause him to come near to Him. That one whom He chooses He will cause to come near to Him. Do this: Take censers, Korah and all your company; put fire in them and put incense on them before the Lord tomorrow. And it shall be that the man whom the Lord chooses is the holy one. You take too much upon yourselves, you sons of Levi! (Numbers 16:1-7)
Who is seizing power? Moses was chosen by God, but these people hid an ulterior motive in their hearts. I wondered about one thing: Korah, Dathan, Abiram, On, and the two hundred and fifty leaders, they had seen the majesty of God, how could they forget it so quickly? How could they not fear God? People have a fluke mentality. These people said with their mouths, Jehovah is in my heart! You can choose to follow Korah, but you have to take responsibility for your choice!
In the end, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram were buried alive on the ground by God. These two hundred and fifty leaders were burned alive. What were these people doing earlier? Choose to follow them, then I wish you good luck. Moses sympathized with these people:
Then Moses said to Korah, Hear now, you sons of Levi: Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the assembly of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the assembly to minister to them; and that He has brought you near to Himself, you and all your brethren, the sons of Levi, with you? And are you seeking the priesthood also? Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the Lord. And what is Aaron that you murmur against him? And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they said, We will not come up! Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you should keep acting like a prince over us? Moreover, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up! (Numbers 16:8-14)
People are really interesting. These people cannot enter Canaan, who is to blame? They did not receive Jehovah's promise, so they blamed Moses. What kind of words are these? They used to live a very miserable life as slaves in Egypt, and they still thought it was very good. I am really impressed by people's memory. In the years I have served in the past, many people have said words that are really oaths of eternal love, I will do this and that, but what is the use? You have to wholeheartedly follow God!
God is Looking for Those Who Will Follow Him Wholeheartedly
We must carefully examine what is inside of us. Some people do not receive the promise, and some even become dizzy with the amount of grace they have received. If what you have inside is of the world, then the god of this world will target those who are worldly. We must realise one thing: it is not that God does not want us to enter Canaan, nor that He does not want to give us the Promised Land to us, but that our own choices are the problem. The Bible is filled with so many writings, but not one Israelite properly repented and followed Joshua and Caleb into Canaan.
If there were truly such a person, God would certainly let him enter Canaan; God longs for all of us to enter Canaan. Some people ask me, what reason do you have for saying this? There are many reasons. For example, Rahab of Jericho; God had already declared that all who breathed should be killed, but Rahab was there praying and calling out to God, and God saved her entire family. God is truly so good! If one day I were old Eli and God pronounced judgment on me, I would repent properly. If I were in the Israelite camp and God declared that I should wander in the wilderness for thirty-eight years, I would repent properly, calling out to God every day! I did not align myself correctly in the past, but now I will follow God wholeheartedly!
Would God allow such a person to enter? Yes! Our God is looking for those who are willing to follow Him wholeheartedly. Even if one was not wholeheartedly in the past, it is good enough if one is wholeheartedly today! Should we be those who wholeheartedly follow God? God told these people to leave Korah and Abiram, but many did not leave. However, Korah’s sons realised that his father was being foolish and did not follow them. Afterwards, the earth swallowed those who followed Korah alive, which was utterly terrible. He was standing there, and suddenly a hole opened up. Who could you turn to? Isn’t that so?
So why didn’t you do it sooner? I think that in that instant, when the ground cracked open, Korah was finished, finished, finished; you only realised it at that moment, but why didn’t you do it sooner? You thought you could put on the imperial robe, replace Moses, lead the Israelites, and return to Egypt to do whatever you pleased, didn’t you? Return to the land of milk and honey in Egypt; would God give you that opportunity? May God have mercy. Today, if any of our brothers and sisters hear me sharing this, examine yourselves carefully, pat your own chests, and ask yourselves whether you want to live a comfortable life or follow Jehovah your God wholeheartedly. If you want to live a comfortable life in this world, then go and live your comfortable life properly. But if you want to follow God wholeheartedly, then let us build a glorious church filled with God’s presence together.
Actually, it is disheartening to think about what Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and those who followed him were thinking in that instant when the ground opened up. Their thoughts must have been very complex. Maybe they weren’t thinking anything, but I think that when a person is about to die, his words are kind. Why didn’t you do it sooner? Isn’t that so? Even death was not a good death, wasn’t it? As a result, the 250 leaders who followed Korah were all burned to death by fire from God. When the Israelites saw this, they were utterly shocked. What did they say? They said: Moses must have dug a big pit; those fires from Moses must have killed the 250 leaders. Then they said: “You have killed the people of Jehovah.” You see, the name of Jehovah is quite useful.
The entire congregation of Israel, not one said I must repent, I do not want to follow Korah. As a result, a plague broke out in the Israelite camp, which was truly terrible! You can imagine how awful a plague is. As a result, what happened? He told Aaron to quickly take his censer from the altar, put fire in it, add incense, and quickly bring it to the congregation to atone for them, because wrath had come out from Jehovah and the plague had already broken out. As a result, a total of 14,700 people died from the plague because of Korah; 14,700 corpses, all died from the plague. Why? Because they said: “You have killed the people of God.” Was it Moses who killed them? It was God Himself who killed them.
The road to Canaan was littered with corpses. After hearing this, I tell you, not only we are disheartened, but God is also disheartened. Why did I prepare such a good road, but you do not want to take it, and insist on taking this road to destruction? God’s will is for us to obtain God’s promise. This disaster, I tell you, how could these Israelites have brains filled with dung, how could they think that Moses killed Jehovah's congregation? I am truly astonished; no matter how I think about it, I cannot understand it.
Actually, don't say that I cannot understand the things that happened 3,500 years ago with Moses, I cannot even understand the things that happen beside me. What kind of people are we? Because in the past few years, the people I served, I was shocked after experiencing and seeing them myself. They were full of demons, one by one being cast out. Sometimes I tell you, I serve them getting up before dawn and working late into the night. After serving them, they become ungrateful. Oh, I tell you, it is very disheartening. Sometimes, if not for God's grace and mercy, we would have stopped doing this job long ago; it is too hard.
Making Smart Choices—Following God Wholeheartedly
In recent days, one of our brothers got up before dawn and worked late into the night serving, solving their problems one by one. Suddenly, they colluded with each other and left together. Our brother did not even know what was happening. But what can you do? We also do not want to morally kidnap people, but what is inside their hearts? Why can't people know God? Like us who love our Lord, our God with all our heart, soul, and strength, why are they unwilling to follow us on this road to the Promised Land together?
It is sad, truly sad, not sad for ourselves, but sad for them, isn't it? As a result, did the Israelites' resentment disappear? No! They still felt that Moses and Aaron did bad things; they still felt that Moses and Aaron should not be in power. Can we have a popular vote to elect a leader? If we had a popular vote, Korah would definitely be elected, but that is not God's will. God does not want the people to choose, but God Himself chooses. As a result, what happened?
In order to comfort the Israelites, I think God was truly benevolent and righteous. In order to comfort the Israelites, what did He say? The twelve tribes of Israel, Aaron, and the other eleven tribes put their tents in the tabernacle. As a result, when they took them out the next day, Aaron's staff had blossomed and produced almonds. When the Israelites saw this, they knew that this authority was from God, that the authority of Aaron and Moses was from God. Then what happened? They hoped that the Israelites' complaints would cease, but that was all there was to it.
I think that what God put in this ark were these things, the marks of what Korah's rebellious sons did. Oh, what did God say? This is so that their complaints against me cease, so that they do not die. As a result, when the Israelites saw this, what did they say? The Israelites said to Moses: Alas, we are dead, we are destroyed, we are all destroyed. Everyone who comes near the tabernacle of Jehovah will die; we will all die. God wanted them not to die, but what did they say? No matter what you do, they will be destroyed.
I am truly astonished. I have also encountered such people in my service. This is the nature of self-destruction. Can we learn a lesson from this today? The road to the Promised Land is littered with corpses. Tell yourself no matter what, I want to be a person who follows God wholeheartedly. Do not use the name of Jehovah God as a guise. The guise will not work. So brothers and sisters, today you must know that you cannot play with things of authority. If God is pleased with you and wants to appoint you as a leader, God will surely be able to do it. But if it is not like this, if you want to establish yourself as a leader, you will not be able to. Why? Because God knows the road that people will take.
Conclusion
If a person wants to walk the heavenly road, he will give up everything. If a person wants to live a comfortable life, you will not be able to follow God, because your mind is filled with thoughts of living life, even considering Egypt as a land flowing with milk and honey. This is what Korah's rebels said: either obtain the promise or die in the wilderness. As Christians, be victorious Christians no matter what. Build the church, build a victorious church, a united church no matter what. In doing things, please God no matter what, not pursuing your own private goals.
May God bless everyone!
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