March 17, 2010
Korah, Dathan, Abiram & On.
Four men who led an uprising against Moses (God). They gathered 250 other men, well-known and respected men of the community, and they challenged Moses (God). As a group they confront Moses & Aaron (God). In essence saying, "Who do you think you are? What makes you better than the rest of us? You've gone too far! We are all holy people. Why have you put yourself above us?
Oh, the irony of it all. The very thing they were accusing Moses of is what they wanted. The problem wasn't that they didn't want to submit to Moses. The problem was that they didn't want to submit to God's plan. Korah (the leader), was part of the Levites, the very tribe God set aside in special service to Him. But that wasn't enough. They wanted more. They wanted it all. It wasn't about Moses. It was about their own pride and selfish desires.
Moses exposes the lie and tells them they have gone too far. "Isn't it enough" that God has brought you near to him? Numbers 16:11b - "Your complaint is not against Aaron." Their complaint was against God. The heart of the matter, truly is the HEART of the matter. Sin is rebellion—rebellion is sin. They were defiant. Moses tried to call Dathan and Abiram to meet him and they refused in effect saying, "Who are you to order us around?"
Moses said—let's let God decide this. Moses pleaded with God for the Israelites. Numbers 16:22 - "Please don't be angry with this whole group. Only one man has really sinned." Korah, a Levite set apart and chosen by God, yet full of pride and wanting more. That all consuming inner desire to make it to the top using whatever means and method necessary. You cannot shake your fist at God and get away with it.
Moses said, "Now you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things; it was not my idea." (Numbers 16:28) "You will know they have insulted the LORD." (Numbers 16:30) The earth opened up and swallowed the four leaders who instigated and began the uprising. They were buried alive. Not only them, but their entire families and everything they owned—GONE. Then a fire came down and destroyed the 250 leaders who chose to follow them.
The Israelites still didn't get it. They complain to Moses about the consequences God gave for their choices. The glory of the LORD appears. God is ready to destroy all of them. A plague (sickness) started. And here is Moses and Aaron intervening on their behalf again offering incense for their forgiveness and running to the middle of them. Aaron stood between the dead and the living and the sickness stopped. 14,700 people died from the sickness.
God basically says—Let me make this perfectly clear. I will show you that I am the one who has chosen Moses and Aaron to be the leaders. Bring me a dead walking stick from each tribe. Label them and put them in the Meeting Tent. The next day the impossible happened. Not only had Aaron's stick grown leaves, but it budded, blossomed, AND produced almonds. God instructed Moses to put the stick in front of the Ark as a reminder to all the people. Oh, and those pans the 250 that rebelled against me used to offer incense? I destroyed the men, but those pans are holy. Melt them down and use them to cover the altar. That will also be a reminder.
You cannot go against the living God and come out unscathed. There will be consequences. God's will—WILL be done. Surrender and worship The King.
Addendum: 10/10/13 ~ "Now you will know that the LORD..." That is our prayer and the only thing that is important to us. We want ALL to know that it was the LORD who led us, guided us, protected us, blessed us and saved us from "the storm" surrounding us. Our hearts desire is that HE be given ALL the glory for the things HE has done.
I Kings 18:36-37 (verses we have quoted often) - "LORD, you are the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel (and us). Prove that you are the God of Israel and that I am your servant. Show these people that you commanded me to do all these things. LORD, answer my prayer so these people will know that you, LORD, are God, and that you will change their minds."
Next Entry: Numbers 19:1 – 21:35
Korah, Dathan, Abiram & On.
Four men who led an uprising against Moses (God). They gathered 250 other men, well-known and respected men of the community, and they challenged Moses (God). As a group they confront Moses & Aaron (God). In essence saying, "Who do you think you are? What makes you better than the rest of us? You've gone too far! We are all holy people. Why have you put yourself above us?
Oh, the irony of it all. The very thing they were accusing Moses of is what they wanted. The problem wasn't that they didn't want to submit to Moses. The problem was that they didn't want to submit to God's plan. Korah (the leader), was part of the Levites, the very tribe God set aside in special service to Him. But that wasn't enough. They wanted more. They wanted it all. It wasn't about Moses. It was about their own pride and selfish desires.
Moses exposes the lie and tells them they have gone too far. "Isn't it enough" that God has brought you near to him? Numbers 16:11b - "Your complaint is not against Aaron." Their complaint was against God. The heart of the matter, truly is the HEART of the matter. Sin is rebellion—rebellion is sin. They were defiant. Moses tried to call Dathan and Abiram to meet him and they refused in effect saying, "Who are you to order us around?"
Moses said—let's let God decide this. Moses pleaded with God for the Israelites. Numbers 16:22 - "Please don't be angry with this whole group. Only one man has really sinned." Korah, a Levite set apart and chosen by God, yet full of pride and wanting more. That all consuming inner desire to make it to the top using whatever means and method necessary. You cannot shake your fist at God and get away with it.
Moses said, "Now you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things; it was not my idea." (Numbers 16:28) "You will know they have insulted the LORD." (Numbers 16:30) The earth opened up and swallowed the four leaders who instigated and began the uprising. They were buried alive. Not only them, but their entire families and everything they owned—GONE. Then a fire came down and destroyed the 250 leaders who chose to follow them.
The Israelites still didn't get it. They complain to Moses about the consequences God gave for their choices. The glory of the LORD appears. God is ready to destroy all of them. A plague (sickness) started. And here is Moses and Aaron intervening on their behalf again offering incense for their forgiveness and running to the middle of them. Aaron stood between the dead and the living and the sickness stopped. 14,700 people died from the sickness.
God basically says—Let me make this perfectly clear. I will show you that I am the one who has chosen Moses and Aaron to be the leaders. Bring me a dead walking stick from each tribe. Label them and put them in the Meeting Tent. The next day the impossible happened. Not only had Aaron's stick grown leaves, but it budded, blossomed, AND produced almonds. God instructed Moses to put the stick in front of the Ark as a reminder to all the people. Oh, and those pans the 250 that rebelled against me used to offer incense? I destroyed the men, but those pans are holy. Melt them down and use them to cover the altar. That will also be a reminder.
You cannot go against the living God and come out unscathed. There will be consequences. God's will—WILL be done. Surrender and worship The King.
Addendum: 10/10/13 ~ "Now you will know that the LORD..." That is our prayer and the only thing that is important to us. We want ALL to know that it was the LORD who led us, guided us, protected us, blessed us and saved us from "the storm" surrounding us. Our hearts desire is that HE be given ALL the glory for the things HE has done.
I Kings 18:36-37 (verses we have quoted often) - "LORD, you are the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel (and us). Prove that you are the God of Israel and that I am your servant. Show these people that you commanded me to do all these things. LORD, answer my prayer so these people will know that you, LORD, are God, and that you will change their minds."
"The heart is the center of the spiritual life. If the fruit of a tree is bad, you don't try to fix the fruit; you treat the roots. And if a person's actions are evil, it is not enough to change the habits; you have to go deeper. You have to go to the heart of the problem, which is the problem of the heart..." From The Applause of Heaven by Max Lucado.Written in the margin of my Bible: Proverbs 16:18 - Pride goes before destruction. The very thing they were accusing Moses and Aaron of is what they wanted for themselves.
Next Entry: Numbers 19:1 – 21:35
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