Thursday Night Bible Study

Numbers 16-Numbers 17 (Click scripture reference for audio access)

"Korah's Rebellion"  •  5.17.12  •  Thursday Night Bible Study, Calvary Christian Fellowship

Intro.

- As has been previously mentioned, the book of Numbers covers about 38 years. None is exactly sure where our current narrative fits, but it may be that it's very near the end of that time.

- I wondered, if that is the case, why not put more detail about the years in between. One commentator mentioned that a life that is lived in the flesh is not worth remembering!

- Another peek into that flesh life comes at us, here in chapter 16, with yet another terrible story of rebellion, which if we are not careful, is easy to perpetuate. Let's take a look.

Text

•  Numbers 16:1-3 : "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 children of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown. They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, 'You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?'" : Korah was one of the family of the Kohathites, which we learned earlier in Numbers, was the Levite tribe responsible for the holy items.

- According to Numbers 10:21, Moses and Aaron would cover the holy items, ie., those in the the "Tent of meeting" and then the Kohathites would carry them on their shoulders to the next locale.

- Korah was a leader of these Levites, who were not priests. Remember, only Aaron's sons could serve as Priests, Aaron being the High Priest.

- As is usually the case, Korah was not alone in his rebellion but was joined by Dathan, Abiram and On, who were men from the tribe of Reuben.

- Earlier in our studies, we discovered that both the Kohathites and the Reubenites were to dwell on the south side of the tabernacle! One can almost see them conspiring together.

- These men "took men," referring to the action of seizing or capturing, as one would capture men in a raid. These were not just any men. They were leaders and they were aggressive.

- The rose up in hostility before Moses and some of the children of Israel, 250 in all.

- The were aggressive and they were wll known! They were men of renown or reputation.

- Their charge was that Moses and Aaron took reponsibilities for themselves, which other people could easily take on. Why not spread the wealth and stop lifting yourself up!?

- Two things occur to me immediately. First, a mob mentality can rise up anywhere and the size never matters in terms of their impact. This was only 250 people, but their negativity grew great.

- Second, the leaders of these mobs jockey for positions that the men who possess them would gladly give away!

- I'm certain Moses would have loved to give away the mantle that God gave Him, but that's just it: God gave it to Him! What is God's to give can never be wrestled away by men!

•  Numbers 16:4-11 : "So 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 in 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!'  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 congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the work of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to serve 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 complain against him?'" : Moses, in the same way that he had when Miriam rose up against him, fell on his face, a symbol of his humility and deference.

- "Lord, if I am not the man, I'll gladly step aside!" At the same time, when God affirmed Moses in his heart, he likely then prayed for Korah and those that were treading on very thin ice.

- I love that Moses went implicitly before the Lord, prior to going before his accusers.

- It's of the greatest importance to make sure that your heart is right before God AND that you have God's Word to give when you are accused. No need to open your mouth and prove them right!

- Moses then said, let's put this to the test. Get your incense censers together and we'll see who God chooses tomorrow! Before that, Moses speaks and nails them with the real problem.

- Korah was discontent with what God had given him and he spread that out to others!

- When we are not serving in a role that serves us, we tend to begin to look to others. The grass is never greener anywhere else. The Kohathites had a significant role and privilege!

- They were brought near to the Lord, consecrated as His own people. What more could they want? Did they want the priesthood as well!? Would anything satisfy them?

- They were not gathered against Moses and Aaron. Moses tells them that they were gathered together against the Lord! Listen to this: Any rebellion is ultimately against the Lord!

•  Numbers 16:12-15 : "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 inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up!' Then Moses was very angry, and said to the Lord, 'Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, nor have I hurt one of them.'" : Korah may have had a promotion in mind, but Dathan and Abiram were simply bitter.

- They refuse to obey Moses' command or to see their own sin of unbelief. Their failure to enter the promised land had nothing to do with Moses. It was their sin which they refused to acknowledge.

- That is often the case in these scenarios. The person who has the beef generally does not have the spiritual wisdom to see and acknowledge their own sin!

- Moses for his part was very angry with them, but went to the Lord. Lord, you take my case!

• Numbers 16:16-24 : "And Moses said to Korah, 'Tomorrow, you and all your company be present before the Lord—you and they, as well as Aaron. Let each take his censer and put incense in it, and each of you bring his censer before the Lord, two hundred and fifty censers; both you and Aaron, each with his censer.' So every man took his censer, put fire in it, laid incense on it, and stood at the door of the tabernacle of meeting with Moses and Aaron. And Korah gathered all the congregation against them at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to all the congregation. And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 'Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.' Then they fell on their faces, and said, 'O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and You be angry with all the congregation?' So the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.’" : God came down to deal with rebellion personally and swiftly!

- Korah and his men took their censers, their metal pans for holding fire, and got them ready.

- When God revealed Himself, His intention was clear in seeking to wipe out the entire congregation. What a lack of fear on the part of the congregation!

- For God to consume them in a moment would be nothing for Him! This was no empty threat!

- Moses and Aaron actually had the godly integrity to intercede on the people's behalf!

- In a similar fashion to when Abraham interceded for Sodom, Moses and Aaron pled for the people of Israel. God was undeterred in His desire. Korah, Dathan and Abiram were in trouble!

- Notice however that On is not "on" the list! It seems that he thought better of his initial plans!

•  Numbers 16:25-30 : "Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him.  And he spoke to the congregation, saying, 'Depart now from the tents of these wicked men! Touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins.' So they got away from around the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, with their wives, their sons, and their little children. And Moses said: 'By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will. If these men die naturally like all men, or if they are visited by the common fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the Lord.'" : The gauntlet is laid down: If they die in a supernatural way, then God was with Moses. Otherwise, God was not.

- Either way, God would show that it was His will that Moses serve in the capacity that he did.

•  Numbers 16:31-35 : "Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods. So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly. Then all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, 'Lest the earth swallow us up also!' And a fire came out from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense." : One imagines that God barely let the final syllable pass from Moses' lips amd the ground opened up under them.

- Today, we have holes that open up in the ground that people call "sinkholes." In Cairo, the Quattara Depression is about 440 feet deep. In Russia, Berzniki is over 600 feet deep!

- Now, if this hole had remained there, it could have been deemed a sinkhole phenomena. However, this hole closed up after each had gone down alive into the pit!

- The earth closed up over them! The people ran in fear and the ones who had incense bowls stoop with their mouth open until fire came out from the Lord and consumed them right on the spot!

•  Numbers 16:36-40 : "Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 'Tell Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, to pick up the censers out of the blaze, for they are holy, and scatter the fire some distance away. The censers of these men who sinned against their own souls, let them be made into hammered plates as a covering for the altar. Because they presented them before the Lord, therefore they are holy; and they shall be a sign to the children of Israel.' So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which those who were burned up had presented, and they were hammered out as a covering on the altar, to be a memorial to the children of Israel that no outsider, who is not a descendant of Aaron, should come near to offer incense before the Lord, that he might not become like Korah and his companions, just as the Lord had said to him through Moses." : The censers of the rebels were alone after those men were incinerated.

- Their fire was still burning in them and was put outside of the camp. Listen to the assessment of the Lord through Moses: They sinned against their own souls or at the cost of their lives!"

- Think of this for a moment. The people of Israel are living in the presence of a Holy God, in covenant relationship. To consider any kind of sin in that condition, is taking a risk with one's life!

- God in His absolute holiness, must judge sin! He has done this in Christ for Christians. But the principle remains the same. When we sin, we gamble to some degree, with our very lives!

- Perhaps you are in sin, or are considering sin. Repent and turn from it now! Be warned! It is more costly to you than it can possibly be enjoyable to you!

- Those bronze censers were to be put through the fire and made into a memorial.

- This would remind the people that only Aaron could offer the incense before the Lord.

•  Numbers 16:41-45 : "On the next day all the congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, saying, 'You have killed the people of the Lord.' Now it happened, when the congregation had gathered against Moses and Aaron, that they turned toward the tabernacle of meeting; and suddenly the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord appeared. Then Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of meeting. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.' And they fell on their faces." : One can hardly believe this. The very next day! One might say that at the least, Korah's rebellion may have happened years after Miriam's rebellion.

- But the earth was just opened yesterday! God executed the sinful rebels in front of their very eyes. There was no human involvement whatsoever!

- And yet, here they are 24 hours removed, criticizing Moses and Aaron, blaming them for the death of what they call "the people of the Lord!"

- It goes to show you that no matter how God confirms something, sometimes, people are determined to believe their own predispositions!

- This didn't get far, as God came quickly upon the people and again was ready to smite them.

•  Numbers 16:46,47 :  "So Moses said to Aaron, 'Take a censer and put fire in it from the altar, put incense on it, and take it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them; for wrath has gone out from the Lord. The plague has begun.' Then Aaron took it as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and already the plague had begun among the people. So he put in the incense and made atonement for the people." : Moses saw the devastating effects upon the people of Israel. Already a plague had come upon the people.

- This might have been leprosy or something similar, for it was visible and it was God's wrath.

- Never ever forget that God is a God of Holy wrath! His wrath was poured out upon Christ for our sins and for those who have not believed, the Bible tells us that His wrath awaits them!

- At this time, Moses quickly called Aaron to move into his function as the High Priest, getting his censer full for the sake of atonement.

- All around Aaron are thousands of people suffering from the plague of God, coming upon them as a result of their own sin. Aaron is running toward the altar, making atonement for their sin!

•  Numbers 16:48-50 : "And he stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped. Now those who died in the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, besides those who died in the Korah incident. So Aaron returned to Moses at the door of the tabernacle of meeting, for the plague had stopped." : What made a difference? Where does the man of God stand? Between the dead and the living!

- Aaron's action saved the people when He went running. Obviously, the High Priest typically represents Christ and that is what He did! He went to the cross to provide atonement!

- He stood between heaven and earth, between the dead and the living, those who rejected and those who trusted Him, and He provided atonement.

- At the same time, we are called to speak of this atonement to the ones who are plagued now with sin, who are giving into death every where we look!

- 14,700 people died, besides those who died with Korah! What a colossal waste of life!

•  Numbers 17:1-7 : And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 'Speak to the children of Israel, and get from them a rod from each father’s house, all their leaders according to their fathers’ houses—twelve rods. Write each man’s name on his rod. And you shall write Aaron’s name on the rod of Levi. For there shall be one rod for the head of each father’s house. Then you shall place them in the tabernacle of meeting before the Testimony, where I meet with you. And it shall be that the rod of the man whom I choose will blossom; thus I will rid Myself of the complaints of the children of Israel, which they make against you.' So Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and each of their leaders gave him a rod apiece, for each leader according to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods; and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. And Moses placed the rods before the Lord in the tabernacle of witness." : The rod spoke of authority. Essentially it was a dead piece of wood, but God again was about to show supernatural witness to His choice of leaders.

- The leaders of the people were to bring a rod and Moses was to write their name on it. He brought these into the tabernacle. One rod would blossom.

•  Numbers 17:8-13  :  "Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth buds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds. Then Moses brought out all the rods from before the Lord to all the children of Israel; and they looked, and each man took his rod. And the Lord said to Moses, 'Bring Aaron’s rod back before the Testimony, to be kept as a sign against the rebels, that you may put their complaints away from Me, lest they die.' Thus did Moses; just as the Lord had commanded him, so he did. So the children of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, 'Surely we die, we perish, we all perish! Whoever even comes near the tabernacle of the Lord must die. Shall we all utterly die?'" :  That dead stick that represented Aaron, brought forth almonds and blossoms! Every other's leaders stick was just that, a stick!

- Unless the Lord chooses and empowers, there is no authority in any other! Aaron's rod was then placed into the Ark of the Testimony as a sign and reminder of the rebel's sin.

- Ultimately, this entire section is an Old Testament picture of Christ.

- Moses, the leader of the Exodus, was maligned by the leaders of the Tribes Of Israel. Jesus, the new leader of Israel was judged unworthy by the people of Israel.

- Aaron, the High Priest was also criticized by the people. How did God affirm him? Through resurrection! The dead stick came to life and brought forth fruit!

- In the same way, Jesus was resurrected from the grave and brought forth the fruit of a whole faithful remnant, Himself, being the Firstfruits!

Conclusion

- As we close, I want to mention a few things about rebellion. First, rebellion never changes things! In the company of God, in the church, in the home, God doesn't honor this type of activity.

- Second, rebellion never deals with the real problem! That person in authority or that person to whom you must submit is not the issue. The issue is with you. Look into your heart.

- Third, rebellion is always against the Lord. His sovereign hand has you where you are. To rebel against that is to reject Him. Let us guard our hearts.