In the Book of Numbers, chapters 16,17 we find another episode which reveals that God sometimes uses the worst of people to perform His holy work. The scene opens with Moses and Aaron being confronted by 253 leaders of the congregation of Israel. Three of them–Korah, Dathan and Abiram–were Levites, members of the priestly tribe whose responsibility was to lead the nation spiritually. These men had decided that it was time for a change in national leadership, even though God had personally chosen Moses and Aaron for that position. Speaking for the mob, Korah said to God’s ministers, “You take too much on yourselves (think too highly of yourselves), for ALL THE CONGREGATION IS HOLY AND THE LORD IS AMONG THEM. Why do you exalt yourselves above THE ASSEMBLY OF THE LORD?” Moses, the most humble of men, fell on his face before them. Gathering himself, he spoke to Korah, telling him and his followers to bring their ministerial censers filled with fire and incense to the Tent of Meeting the next morning. God would then and there reveal to them whom He had chosen to lead the nation. When everyone had gathered before the Tent of Meeting God caused the ground to open up and swallow the three Levites, their families and all their possessions. Because the rest of the nation had backed Korah and the others, He sent a deadly plague into their midst, killing 14,700 of them. The rest were spared only because Aaron positioned himself between the advancing plague and the people (16:44-48). While this was going on, the 250 men who had stood with the three Levites WERE AT THAT TIME OFFERING INCENSE TO GOD. Unimpressed, He sent fire and consumed them because they had “… sinned against their own souls.” These men thought that because they were serving the Lord that they would be spared.

Following these acts of God we read about another episode that addresses the subject of these postings. In 16:37-40 God speaks to Moses, revealing something about the censers the reprobates had used in service to Him. Moses was to instruct Eleazar to gather the censers out of the blaze “FOR THEY ARE HOLY.” They were to be made into a COVERING FOR THE ALTER–THE PLACE WHERE THE PRIESTS MINISTERED TO THE LORD.

The point of this story is that, though the people conducting the religious service were most evil, the service was not, the implements used in the service were not and the outcomes of the service were not. Modern day “ministers of righteousness” are no different from the 253 men who died due to God’s wrath toward them. Today’s congregations are no different from the 14,700 killed by the plague. However, all do at times mention the Lord’s name and make reference to His Word, thereby performing a small spiritual service. For this reason God tolerates them just as He did the Church of Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-18).

Relative to evil people serving in the ministry, let us turn to the Book of 1 Samuel beginning with chapter 2 and be introduced to Eli and his two sons–Phinehas and Hophni–priests all (12). In chapter 1 we found Eli prophesying over the childless Hanna that she would give birth to a child. His prophecy, having come from the Lord, came true. She would later give birth to three more sons and two daughters. Hannah had promised to dedicate her miracle child, whom she named Samuel, to the service of the Lord in the Temple then located in Shiloh. There he would “minister to the Lord in the presence of Eli,” the High Priest (11).

Eli had three problems: his two wicked sons and his failure to discipline them. These sins would cost Israel dearly. In chapter 3 we find God telling Samuel that Eli had failed to perform his priestly duties to God’s standards. He then prophesied to Samuel, telling him of the destruction He was going to bring on the nation and Eli personally. Pressed by Eli, Samuel told him what God had said. Later, Israel, led by Hophni and Phinehas and accompanied by the Ark of the Covenant, went to do battle with the Philistines. During the battle the Philistines made a great slaughter of the Israelites, killing both of Eli’s sons and capturing the Ark of the Covenant. Upon hearing of the catastrophe, Eli he fell and broke his neck, killing him. As in the case of the censers of Moses’ day, the ministry of Eli and his sons was holy. The priests, however, were not.

Does God use the most unholy of people to do what He wants done? Absolutely. At best, 1% of the people ministering in the world’s churches, along with a similar percentage of those to whom they minister, are God’s true saints. To be continued. L.J.