Numbers 16-17
An Overview of Chapter 16
Korah from the tribe of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram from the tribe of Reuben along with 250 well known leaders from the nation of Israel rebelled against Moses and Aaron. Their main gripe was that they felt they were just as holy as Aaron and Moses and wanted to be as famous as them. When Moses hears the complaint he humbles himself, but then offers a test that will allow the Lord to choose who His servants are. The test will consist of all the rebels offering incense to the Lord and if God accepted their offering then they were holy, if not they would die.
The next day the rebels show up to offer incense and they bring all their buddies to watch them triumph over Moses and Aaron. When the Lord sees this scene He decides to destroy them all, but Moses and Aaron intercede and ask that only the rebels be destroyed. God does as is requested of Him (behold, the power of prayer) and devises a whole new way to kill rebellious people - He opens a trap door to hell under their houses and they and their families fall in. Meanwhile the 250 leaders are busy offering incense. The Lord rejects their offering and they are all fired permanently. As a reminder that layman are not supposed to make the offerings, the Lord instructs Eleazar to attach the silver censers to the outside of the altar.
The people of Israel are slow to learn and the next day instead of submitting to God and worshipping Him in fear they continue to complain. God sends a plague to kill them, but once again Moses and Aaron intercede for the people and God stops the plague after 14,700 people died.
An Overview of Chapter 17
God is getting tired of the constant complaints about His chosen leaders so He decides to give the people a sign so that they will know that Aaron was chosen by God. The leaders of each of the tribes is to bring a rod with their name on it to Moses. Moses takes the rods along with one for the tribe of Levi with Aaron’s name on it, and places them in front of the ark. The next day Aaron’s has miraculously budded and the leaders of the tribes all know who God has chosen. The rod is kept in by the ark so as a reminder that God ended the peoples grumbling.
As always the peoples response to the power of God is underwhelming. Instead of praising God for making His power visible and His leader known they freak out and realize that they are going to die.
Reflection
Do you find yourself standing against someone that God is using to lead His people? Do you find yourself unsatisfied with your position in the church, desiring to be in someone else's position? What plagues in your life seem to be the result of murmuring and complaining? Are you as forgiving as Moses and Aaron seem to be? Would you put yourself in harms way to protect your enemies? Do you pray for your enemies to be saved?
For Further Study
Complaining: Exodus 16:7, Lamentations 3:39-40, Malachi 3:13-16, Luke 10:16, 1Corinthians 10:10, Philippians 2:14, James 5:9, Jude 1:14-16
Korah from the tribe of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram from the tribe of Reuben along with 250 well known leaders from the nation of Israel rebelled against Moses and Aaron. Their main gripe was that they felt they were just as holy as Aaron and Moses and wanted to be as famous as them. When Moses hears the complaint he humbles himself, but then offers a test that will allow the Lord to choose who His servants are. The test will consist of all the rebels offering incense to the Lord and if God accepted their offering then they were holy, if not they would die.
The next day the rebels show up to offer incense and they bring all their buddies to watch them triumph over Moses and Aaron. When the Lord sees this scene He decides to destroy them all, but Moses and Aaron intercede and ask that only the rebels be destroyed. God does as is requested of Him (behold, the power of prayer) and devises a whole new way to kill rebellious people - He opens a trap door to hell under their houses and they and their families fall in. Meanwhile the 250 leaders are busy offering incense. The Lord rejects their offering and they are all fired permanently. As a reminder that layman are not supposed to make the offerings, the Lord instructs Eleazar to attach the silver censers to the outside of the altar.
The people of Israel are slow to learn and the next day instead of submitting to God and worshipping Him in fear they continue to complain. God sends a plague to kill them, but once again Moses and Aaron intercede for the people and God stops the plague after 14,700 people died.
An Overview of Chapter 17
God is getting tired of the constant complaints about His chosen leaders so He decides to give the people a sign so that they will know that Aaron was chosen by God. The leaders of each of the tribes is to bring a rod with their name on it to Moses. Moses takes the rods along with one for the tribe of Levi with Aaron’s name on it, and places them in front of the ark. The next day Aaron’s has miraculously budded and the leaders of the tribes all know who God has chosen. The rod is kept in by the ark so as a reminder that God ended the peoples grumbling.
As always the peoples response to the power of God is underwhelming. Instead of praising God for making His power visible and His leader known they freak out and realize that they are going to die.
Reflection
Do you find yourself standing against someone that God is using to lead His people? Do you find yourself unsatisfied with your position in the church, desiring to be in someone else's position? What plagues in your life seem to be the result of murmuring and complaining? Are you as forgiving as Moses and Aaron seem to be? Would you put yourself in harms way to protect your enemies? Do you pray for your enemies to be saved?
For Further Study
Complaining: Exodus 16:7, Lamentations 3:39-40, Malachi 3:13-16, Luke 10:16, 1Corinthians 10:10, Philippians 2:14, James 5:9, Jude 1:14-16
posted by Shaun Sells | 12:02 AM
1 Comments:
Pastor, there's a whole lot about the Bible and God and just being right that I don't know. But I do know this that since coming to Calvary Chapel Wyoming I've looked for, listened for--any hint of rebellion in the hearts of the people... certainly not to take a part but as a certain gauge, like taking a temperature... and for my part (what very little that it is) I could not detect it. It's there... it's in all churches because it's in all of our hearts-to rebel against God. But I did not see it's head come up or sense it and that spoke volumes. Hopefully and prayfully all who ever attend will be like-minded, that is to listen as the Word of God comes forth and practice what we hear and honor those who serve!
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