by Dave Dravecky
Numbers 16:1-11 Korah was, in modern terminology, occupationally dissatisfied. Being a Levite, one of the chosen who performed special priestly duties, wasn't enough. He wanted to be the big Kahuna, the head honcho. He wanted Aaron's job. He didn't understand that it is God Who imparts our gifts and our calling. He places us where He wants us, and usually that placement is the fulfillment of our deepest desires. I know because my greatest desire was to play professional baseball - but God had much, much more in mind for me. On the list of occupations in the body of Christ is one occupation with "no line or waiting." It's one that many of us will undertake sometime during our walk on this earth. It's one of the highest paying occupations (in heaven, anyway) but it pays off mainly in IOU's down here. It has the most difficult job description - and here I speak from experience - because the occupation I'm describing is suffering. I believe many of us are called to suffer. Suffering is our earthly occupation, for a season anyway. We've tried to pray our way out of it, work our way around it, search the scriptures for a magic pill to make it go away, but it refuses to take leave of us. And just like Korah, we can choose to rebel, cause a scene and demand our rights to a better occupation. But lest we think suffering is too low, too difficult an occupation, consider that the Head of the body, Christ Himself, chose this occupation. And aren't we glad He did? I can say, now that my occupation has changed from one who suffers to one who encourages those who are suffering, that as I look back on my season of suffering, it actually did fulfill my deepest desire, to know Christ better.
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