"Facedown!"

Numbers 20:6 "Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them."


There is no sin quite so powerful, so deceptive and conniving as the sin of Pride. Because of its subtle, quiet nature, pride can fester for years without detection, masking itself under self-sufficiency, moral pretension, and intellectual superiority. The spirit of pride convinces its host that there is very little about him or her that needs changing, regularly empowering their ego and completely absolving them of fault. Pride causes us to think higher of ourselves than we ought, proclaiming "I can do ALL things!" while covertly eliminating "...through Christ that gives me strength."

I wrestle vehemently with the spirit of pride, and perhaps you do too. Unfortunately, it usually takes some major obstacle or storm to come into our lives before we recognize our own frailty and limitations. I believe this is a part of the struggle Moses and Aaron experienced in Numbers 20.

Both men were in very powerful positions, and hundreds of thousands of people looked to them for instruction, direction, and sustenence. While temptations of pride often accompany such esteemed offices of authority, when the Israelites began to rebel, both men recognized that without the strength and anointing of God, they were absolutely powerless.

There are at least four other references in the Bible to Moses and Aaron falling "facedown" before the Lord, humbling themselves in submission and fervently beseeching the Lord for guidance, favor, forgiveness, and deliverance. They knew that the higher God elevated them, the further down they'd have to descend. As Jesus put it "the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves." (Luke 22:26). God generously responded to their act of worship and immediately revealed his glory.

It's important for us to remember that no matter what we attain or accomplish in life, we will always need God. He is the source of everything, and without Him we are nothing. We all know that "pride comes before a fall", but the good news is that we can choose in what direction. My preference- "Facedown"!

Recommended Readings: John 15:5, Luke 22:24-27, John 3:30, Galatians 2:14-21, Proverbs 16:18

© Edwina Findley 2007. All Rights Reserved.