As this nation chooses a president, an even more important choice stands before us.
The above quotation from President Lincoln was given when a person made a comment to encourage him during the Civil War. The person stated that he believed God was on the side of the Union. Lincoln responded that it was of greater importance that both he and the nation be on God's side.
We would probably assume that God's people would agree with Pres. Lincoln's heartfelt desire, and would also want and choose to be on God's side. However, a heart filled with unrighteousness will not make a choice for the righteousness of God.
Those challenging Moses and Aaron told them "Ye take too much upon you..." (v. 3). They gathered 250 of the princes of the people, men respected and renowned, to stand with them against the leadership and priesthood of Moses and Aaron. They argued that all of God's people were holy, and therefore qualified to function as priests, and in the roles filled by Moses and Aaron. They all coveted the responsibilities of the priesthood, having taken up censers, and the offering of sacrifices to God. Though some were Levites, those of the rebellion despised their calling, and desired more- to appoint themselves as priests:
When Moses heard their accusation and challenge, he fell upon his face (in prayer).
Moses received the LORD's direction in the matter. The LORD would demonstrate who among the people were on His side, and who were not.
Moses pleaded with the rebellion's leader, Korah, and the other sons of Levi:
"Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them? And He hath brought thee near to Him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?" (v. 9-10)
The LORD had chosen them from out of all the people, but they chose themselves, rather than choosing the LORD. That choice became their judgment and destruction (v. 32-35). They were privileged to work closest with the LORD, yet the pride and covetousness in their hearts led them not to choose God's side, but to oppose it.
As Joshua, the servant of the LORD who led Israel into the Promised Land, addressed the people for the last time, he told them that they had a choice to make. He repeatedly told them that they, as a people, had been brought from the other side of the flood (river), into this new land by God, Himself. It was a land of beauty and prosperity. Joshua told the people not to choose to worship the gods from the other side of the flood:
"Now therefore, fear the LORD, and serve Him in sincerity and truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt, and serve the LORD."
Joshua 24:14
Joshua was not just talking about a physical move from one side of a flood, or river, to another. He was also describing a spiritual change. The Hebrew words used are describing passing over, or passing through, radiant beams of light. This passing from the other side is the word "eber", from which we get the term "Hebrew". It is the meaning of "Hebrew"- to pass through, or cross from, the other side. He used the term "from the other side of the flood" four times to describe the difference of where the people had come from, to where they now were. As people who had crossed through the radiant light, a choice was put before them:
"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Josh. 24:15
This same choice is put before all of us who have passed from the other side of the flood. It is a choice to be made sincerely, and in truth (v. 14). It is not a choice in heart only, but a choice put to action. We are to put away (remove, turn aside from, reject, abolish) those gods from the other side- those gods who represent the unrighteousness of heart, the rebellion against God, and the choice for self.
God judges a land based upon the condition of His people, and their sincerity in choosing to turn to Him, and to His side (2 Chron. 7:14).
God made the choice to call us from the other side. He chose us from out of all the people to draw near to Himself. Have we, in turn, chosen Him? As we choose a president, a more important choice stands before us. Instead of debating which side God is on, which side is the right side, as Abraham Lincoln stated, let it be our hearts' desire, instead, to be on God's side.
Choose you this day whom you will serve.
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