Numbers 16 - 17 (Bible Study) Pastor Daniel Batarseh

father thank you for gathering us as the family of God together Lord we know that we all have our own families and we celebrate Thanksgiving with them but Lord here we are is the family of God in Christ and we are thankful for your word tonight Lord because we know that this is what feeds us and keeps us and sustains us and Lord if there's anybody in here that does not know the saving power of Jesus Christ even from numbers Lord would you reveal yourself in Christ and Lord save save some save one Lord to add to the family of God we know that your return is soon low we know that this Bible study is not just to acquire information but to know how to live in light of our salvation and so lord help us may you speak clearly Lord into the hearts of every single one of us in this room in Jesus name we pray amen amen Numbers chapter 16 we were continuing through the wilderness journey of the Israelites and what we've learned up to this point is that it's the little things that can change the course of our lives numbers chapter 14 is really the down the beginning of the downhill spiral of the Israelites and what did it begin with what did I begin with they began with complaining and oh how far complaining can take someone if they do not know how to tame it by the power of the Holy Spirit and now we come to numbers chapter 16 and we read the first few verses to understand another cycle that they found themselves in and this time it was something that might seem so small and hidden but kin like complaining become so deadly and that is envy envy as a root of insecurity stemming from a place in which one has place our identity in something or someone else other than God and so we see now a division taking place amongst the people of God because there are a group of individuals that were coveting something that didn't belong to them and just for the sake of reminder look at verse eight when Moses is speaking to Korra this chapter is known as korah's rebellion and look what Moses says this is such an insightful thing he brings about here and Moses said to Korah here now you sons of Levi is it too small a thing for you is it too small a thing that's where the problems started for the sons of Korah if you don't remember who the sons of Korah were they are descendants of Kohath and coal hath has been given the responsibility in this day of age to transport the tabernacle pieces from spot to spot that's a that's a hefty duty that's a glorious duty to touch the holy things and transport them forgot to give somebody that that that's a special calling but they have failed to realize the significance of it and they saw their task as a small thing and anytime you and I begin to see what God has given us the capacity of our ministry or whatever gifting is as a small thing we are creating a breeding ground for envy covetousness and security and there's no end to where that can take us it's a dangerous cancer to the soul envy jealousy is bitter proverbs tell us that wrath and anger is one thing but who can stand before jealousy and so Cora now recruits a gang of people to rebel against not just Moses and Aaron but specifically Aaron and what he was doing as a priest we see that look at the end here verse 11 look up Moses says he's kind of figuring it out as they're giving their false accusations he says what is Aaron that you grumble against them he realized that this is really about these guys wanting to be priests now we have to remember this this is important to frame it all Levi's anybody that's from Levi any Levite is not necessarily a priest so you have Levites who are instructed to work and around the tabernacle but the sons of Aaron specifically were only to be priests the rest of the Levites were given the task to assist the priest but that wasn't good enough for the sons of Korah they want it to be the priests themselves and they really wanted to be somewhere with the high priests specifically because look what happens at verse 16 that's where we land off now the challenge comes from Moses to the sons of Korah and Moses said Sakura be present you and all your company before the Lord you and they and Aaron tomorrow and let every one of you take his censer and put incense on it and every one of you bring before the Lord his censer 250 censors you also an errand each his sensor so here was a challenge the next day you guys I really want to become priests bring your sensors before the Lord now why why that of all things what's the idea behind Moses giving this instruction to the sons of Korah what's the idea of a censor what does that have to do with all that we're talking about anybody have an idea think back think back to that the role of a priest well there's only really one place that gives instruction of what the high priest was to do with the censer in Leviticus 16 12 and what that high priest was to do is once a year on what day once a year on the Day of Atonement he was to go into the most holy place with a sensor and with a coal on it to create a cloud to cover the Ark of the Covenant less that priest dies and so that that sensor belonged only to one man for one day and that's as though Moses are saying if you really want to become a high priest bring your sensors come into the presence of God and let's see who's God's gonna choose for this task here's the thing that we need to understand we don't have to fall into the same trap as Korah in the New Covenant do you know why Korah wanted that I want to be that high priest that goes into the most holy place you and I don't have to covet or fall into that sin you know why cuz we all have to the presence of God we all have the ability to come into the most holy place because Jesus tore the veil and so you know what that means for all of us no matter what you do whether you hold a mic or a broom you know what that means you don't have to fall into this rebellion I don't have to fall into this rebellion because you and I are all on the same level we all have access to the presence of God is that not our ultimate pursuit the only way you can find yourself here is if you are pursuing anything other than God and so he says okay do you want to be priests you bring your sensors and let's come before the Lord and let's see what the Lord says unless you who the Lord chooses so we see in verse 19 then Korah ah this now is getting troublesome then Korah assembled all the congregation against them at the entrance of the tent of meeting and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the congregation you don't want to be found and willful disobedience when the glory of God shows up the glory of the Lord comes verse 20 and the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron saying separate yourselves from among this congregation that I may consume them in a moment so the Lord addresses Moses and Aaron and it seems as though Korah was successful in recruiting the entire congregation to rebel against this Authority and the Lord says move out of the way let me take care of them it will only take a second and I see something here because when we went back to numbers chapter 12 we found Aaron under the same indictment with his sister when they criticized Moses and his authority in the past and the same God that was ready to judge Aaron in that moment was the same God that is now defending him you see that the Lord is now in the defense of Aaron why because Aaron realizes wrong and now he's in the right and God does not hold our past sins against us that's a beautiful truth the Lord doesn't come and say Aaron look what you did okay you and your sisters they look at example that you let no no he doesn't he never holds what you've done in the past against you you know what it says in the scriptures that he will not remember our sins anymore do you think God just erases it from his memory of what you and I have done in the past is that what happens when he says in Hebrews that he will not remember our sins anymore when the author is quoting Jeremiah and your sins will I remember no more you know it doesn't mean that he forgets it means that he chooses not to use it against you that's what it means forgot to forget means that he loses his omniscience it's not the case and that's what forgiveness is for us we don't forgive and forget I know that's a fabulous phrase that we use all the time but it's not biblical you can't forget that's asking something of us that's not possible but what we do is even though it's been a traumatic experience we choose not to use that against you I choose not to use that against you choose not to use that against me so the Lord here who came to a place with Aaron ready to discipline him is now defending him not using his past against him praise be to God and so he says Aaron Moses move out of the way I can do this and something happens verse 22 and they fell on their faces and said the amount of times that these men especially Moses have done this Oh God the God of the spirits of all flesh shall one man sin and will you be angry with all the congregation and the Lord spoke to Moses saying say to the congregation get away from the dwelling of Korah Dathan and abiram what do you take out of those verses anything that sticks out there are many things that stick out yeah so if there's one lesson I can take out of this up to this point in Exodus and numbers there's one truth that you and I must understand is that God is willing to relent in judging a person or a people based on the prayer of one individual how many times has God relented on judging this people based on one person as a reflex who knew how to fall on his face and get before the Lord on behalf of even those that are rebelling against him as the leader it is a powerful picture of intercession and the power of how many how many times have we seen this and what is that saying to us is surely the Scriptures want to teach us something in an indirect manner that the prayer of a righteous man is surely effective surely effective and I don't understand how this thing prayer works in terms of how when I pray for somebody salvation or I pray for somebody's well I don't know how God does that when it comes to his sovereignty and man's free will but if there's one conclusion I can make from the scriptures when it relates to a man praying for whether it's an unbeliever a Christian whose backs and if there's one truth that we can take out of this it's this that when we pray God is willing to relent and acting in judgment think of Abraham and live think of all the moments in scripture when a person prays that God is willing to answer that prayer by holding back on acting in a way that would be unfortunate for that person keep praying for that family member keep praying for your son keep praying for your daughter keep praying for your siblings keep praying for your parents you never know what your prayers are doing in terms of God's dealing with them holding back the powers of Hell of consuming that person and letting them slip into an eternity eternity without Christ keep praying Moses and Aaron drop to their knees they come to the place where they cry out to the Lord and they say Lord shall one man sin and all the people pay for it now the whole congregation has been rallied up though so they are in the wrong but there is a lesson here and understanding how sin works though all of these individuals that are standing against God are in trouble with God there is a greater responsibility placed upon the person who enticed and tempted those to sin so the person being tempted is not as much in trouble as a person who was the tempter this is not an Old Covenant thing this is very much New Testament Luke 17 1 where Jesus says temptation is surely to come but woe to those from who it comes it's better that he take a millstone that's a grinding thing a rock that grinds things wrap it around isn't that can be thrown into the sea then to cause these little ones to sin so the idea there is temptation is surely to come but it is a scary thing if you're the source of that temptation and you are the hook that's bringing somebody into a decision that is contrary to the will of God and so Korah and his band that started in verse 1 are under greater indictment than those who have been recruited so they are praying for God to have mercy upon mainly those who have been duped into rebellion look at verse 24 and do you notice a detail we talked about it last week but I wonder if anybody remembers look at these names and and see if you remember what we talked about briefly last week say to the congregation get away from the dwelling of Korah Dathan and abiram sandy there's somebody missing right look at verse 1 of 16 Quorra the son of levi Dathan and Byram and who else was there on the son of Pella 'the somebody bailed out and good for him and he did it way back in verse 12 Moses sent to call Nathan and a Byram after you spoke to Korah and on realized something maybe I got duped into this thing in the beginning I got tricked I got caught up in the gossip got caught up in this idea of taking over the priesthood but I'm gonna step out and guess what the Lord doesn't do he doesn't hold it against him and we talked about this last week that even if that seed of envies in our heart if that seed of pride is in there if that seed of rebellion we see it in its larva state as long as we're willing to deal with it in that moment and not let it act up and bear fruit in our lives God is willing to be gracious to us that's what happens here on steps away and we don't hear of him or see of him after this moment it's a beautiful picture of a person coming to their senses and we're gonna see that even more with a different kind of people so what happens here Moses rose and went to Dathan and abiram and verse 25 and the elders of Israel followed him ah so the elders now followed these leaders the same elders that were anointed of the Spirit just a few chapters earlier now come alongside the authority that has been accused falsely and look what Moses does he spoke to the congregation saying depart please in the King James I pray you from the tents of these wicked men and touch nothing of theirs lest you be swept away with all their sins so they got away from the dwelling of Korah Dathan and abiram whenever you and I partner with a divisive person or people it is a guarantee for self-destruction I'll say that one more time whenever you and I partner with a divisive person or people that is intentionally stirring up something to cause a split to cause a type of up or it is a guarantee for self-destruction in your spiritual life let's go to third John that little letter right before the book of Jude right before the book of Revelation the early church had to deal with this I've said this before but I'll say it again oftentimes and I've said it as well we say Lord make us like the book of Acts we've to ask yourself what part we either be very specific I think what we want is the book of Acts before chapter 5 because after chapter 5 things get kind of ugly and we almost think that the early church did not have to deal with issues when in specific moments they actually had to deal with bigger issues than we're dealing with today just read 1st Corinthians and you'll think that's a church we come to 3rd John and we see something in which the apostle of love is writing out to him and look here in verse 9 I have written something to the church but the otra vez who likes to put himself first does not acknowledge our Authority so if I come I will bring up what he is doing talking wicked nonsense against us and not content with that he refuses to welcome the brothers and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church so here's his fellow named the otra vez who's clearly causing trouble who is clearly trying to dismiss the authority of the apostles and he seems like he's trying to take lead and call the shots in the place how does somebody get to that place where they can kick people whoever they want and bring in whoever they want and is speaking wicked nonsense to the rest of the members about the leaders that have preached the gospel with them and planted these churches and appointed elders it all starts with the description of the artifice this is how it all starts who likes to put himself first and the King James says who desires preeminence see if our hearts come to that place an alarm has to go off whenever we desire to be first whether that's in position and recognition in admiration whatever it is when we want to be number one in a way where we receive praise and we want that authority in our hands and God has not given it to us we have to be careful the artifice is not operating in the spirit of Christ the artifice is operating in the spirit of Satan hundred percent you say how in Isaiah 14 you have to turn there but in Isaiah 14 there's a little excerpt of a description of Satan's fall and Isaiah 14 and Isaiah 14:14 is specifically says I will ascend to the heavens and I will be like the Most High so you know what that spirit Satan wanted to do he wanted to go high I want to go as high as I can I want to be in the top I want to be like God I want to come to a place where I sit on God's throne where people recognize and worship me that is the literal opposite spirit in which Christ operated what Christ said in his description of Philippians 2:5 that he went low he became a servant he went the opposite direction he humbled himself and so isaiah 14 it shows us the direction that satan's heart was it i want to go as high as possible i want everyone to see me i want everyone to recognize i want everybody's assess i want to come as lowest also so low that i'm gonna take a towel and wipe the feet of dirty men and this is what we have to ask ourselves every single day lord what direction does my heart go into where is it wanting to go into today the atre fist had the unfortunate position here where he was called out by leader to say because you wanted to be first look at the the havoc that you're causing in the assembly here's another verse Titus chapter 10 excuse me verse 10 Chapter three as for a person who stirs up division after warning him once and then twice have nothing more to do with them and I want to read this because I you can you can almost hear what I just said and say are you that's kind of heavy for to say that a person who is divisive is destructive I'm not saying it this is Bible language Titus 3:10 have nothing to do with him this is this is the same call that Moses is making guys get away from the tents of these men why knowing that such a person is warped and sinful he's self condemned the church is the body of Christ and for a person to come to the body of Christ an attempt to rip apart the body think of that imagery to rip apart the body to remove members from the unified thing that Christ has created according to God is warped and self condemned so the artifice was coveting something that was not his and even if a person we almost were almost hearing something like this and it almost gives a one-up for those that are in authority to think that they can lord it over people because of the positions that they've been given listen any spiritual leader in your local church including this one has no authority in your personal life their authority has been given by God to manage to watch over to secure the church the local church and give instruction and an exhortation concerning your walk with the Lord but there is no permission for any spiritual authority to begin to tell you what to do against your will and manipulate you no no that's not what authorities about anytime you see authority given in Scripture it's not just leader it's always servant leader always they come to serve you not lord it over you that's what Peter told the elders in 1st Peter 5 let's come back to numbers chapter 16 get away the tents verse 27 so they got away from the dwelling of Korah Dathan and abiram and Dathan and abiram now look at their posture so these guys run and you would think at this point that these people would be convicted enough to repent no it says that they came out and stood at the door of their tents together with their wives their sons and their little ones so everybody else abandoned them but here's my family and they're standing in defiance of God's Authority saying pretty much with this position this posture bring it on bring it on they stood at their tents and Moses said hereby now Moses about to give something in which the people of God would not think what's about to happen was by mere coincidence he's about to lay out a specific scenario in which the people will know that he and Aaron have not exalted themselves to this position of leadership but God has appointed them to such a call and so what does he say if these guys let's paraphrase if these guys right here that are rebelling if they die a natural death then we appointed ourselves and we're in the wrong but look how specific business but if the Lord opens up the earth and swallows them you'll know that we've been called now if you are Korah a buyer more Dathan at this point surely you should be trembling but no they've allowed their hearts to come to such a state in which even a threat such like this does not move them and you know what I think at this point they didn't really have much of a choice because once Moses finishes his sentence it happened what does it say here verse 29 if these men dies all men die or if they are visited by the fate of all mankind then the Lord has not sent me but if the Lord creates something new and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them and they go down alive at the shield then you shall know that these men have despised the Lord verse 31 as soon as he had finished speaking all these words it happened who are the two men that went to heaven alive Enoch and Elijah and behold you have the first people that went to see all alive the sons of korah rather the kora the sons of korah we're gonna see what happened to them Korah Dathan and abiram went to she ol the underworld the grave alive and everybody saw it everybody witnessed it so look how it describes at verse 31 the ground under them split apart and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up with their households and all the people who belong to Korah and all their goods literally everything so they came to a place where they stood against Moses and Aaron with their families and a posture of Pride and God a humble --zz those who are proud and literally wipes him off the face of the earth without exaggeration closes the earth and makes them disappear from the scene the intensity of this this judgement just shows how much God hates the division I believe and how much God hates rebellion and how much God hates a people that are seeking something that's not theirs and began to cause trouble because of it this chapter does not describe something that we see later on because it says all their households and all their goods now you have to go to numbers chapter 26 to see a little detail that changes the whole course of the story Numbers chapter 26 let's read from verse 10 this is just retelling the story here and there's one added detail that is so beautiful and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Cora when that company died when the fire devoured 250 men and they became a warning look at verse 11 but the sons of korah did not die what does that mean we don't see that in numbers chapter 16 we see in numbers chapter 26 and it shines a whole new light on this story and what's that light mercy absolutely mercy on God's part wisdom on the sons of Korah part so that little verse the sons of Korah did not die changes how this scene really plays out in our minds is it not because what I read here numbers chapter 16 is the earth splits open Korah Dathan abiram all their house with all their goods closed verse 11 tells us that somebody didn't go into Sheol and that was the sons of Korah so it repaints the whole scene and this is the scene you go back to verse 16 down specifically verse 25 26 27 Moses comes and he tells the whole congregation listen depart from the darlings of Korah Dathan abiram get out of here you don't want to be a part of this group you don't want to be a part of this divisive people and we see that the whole congregation moves but you know who else moves the sons of Korah so this is what it looks like you have Korah Dathan abiram with their families and when Moses makes the call the sons of Korah are looking at their families looking at Moses looking at their families looking at Moses they look at their dads and say dads we love you but we love God more and they step away from the dwellings of wickedness and perhaps that's what the sons of Korah had in mind in Psalms 84 10 where it says what I'd rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my god than to dwell in the tents of weak what does that mean in light of this the house of their own fathers that rebelled against Authority has a lot more deeper meaning does it not we have that truth generally understand I'd rather be with with the Lord and his house than to be anywhere else in the world but let's look at it specifically I rather be with the Lord than with my family I'd rather be for God and lose everything else including my dad that raised me up and all the possessions that they blessed us with that means nothing in light of honoring God that's significant now we read them we go that's that's a great insight but now feel it feel the text you have sons of a family that walked away and saw their entire household swallowed up by the earth standing in a place of absolute awe and terror surely but God blessed that God blessed that because I believe based on that one decision well we see later on in the narrative specifically with the sons of korah is quite astounding and so as much as this site is so terrifying as our brother mentioned we also see the tender mercy of God I praise God that he does not with take the wickedness or the sinfulness of our past generations have bestowed upon us even as close as your fathers or mothers that might not be serving God that might be rebelling against God he doesn't take what they're doing and pin it against you he judges each man according to his own sins but this act of allegiance to God was honored by God if you read carefully and see what God does with the sons of korah so turn your Bibles with me to maybe a place where we would admit we would kind of skip over genealogy and first chronicles chapter 6 meet me in first chronicles chapter 6 to see something quite astounding verse 31 these are the men whom David put in charge of the service of song in the house of the Lord after the ark rested there he's about to describe now the worship leaders that have been chosen by David to sing continually in the service of worship and song in the tabernacle they ministered with song before the tabernacle the tent of meeting until Solomon built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem and they performed their service according to their order now look at this list these are the men who served and they're sons of the sons of their kautz he meant the singer of the son of Joel now look at the son of Samuel son of Al Cana which Samuel are we speaking of here which Samuel are we speaking of you the Prophet who was a descendant of Korah and so you have God in the days of Hannah and Eli the high priest when there was such apostasy and apathy amongst specifically the spiritual leaders and God is looking for a prophet God is looking for a spokesperson God is looking for a man that will establish righteousness and justice in the land and you know who he doesn't bypass because of their history Korah he finds a man from the descendant of the sons of Korah and chooses him to be a messenger and representative of him and not just that not just Samuel the Prophet realize that one of the main people for the worship of the tabernacle was a descendant of Korah you see that at the end of verse 37 look at verse 37 see that name there Korah son of Korah you trace these names back it all goes back to Cora and it says specifically in verse 31 that David chose PMON who was a worship leader descendant of Cora to have such an awesome responsibility at the service of the tabernacle David could have chose whoever he wanted amongst the Levites he could have ignored Korah and the lineage and the genealogy of the heritage of koridai carried but no she seized Quorra a descendent of M votes distant chooses them you read later on his second chronicles you see that there is a group of Cora people from Cora worshiping the Lord you see in Psalms that eleven Psalms in the Psalter have been written by the sons of Korah and you think David chose this man to be a leader of the songs I think myself why did David choose that and I don't want to read too much into David's thoughts but perhaps though distant from what we read in number 16 perhaps David had an understanding of the sons of Korah that they would make great worship leaders because at one point in their history they're the sons of Korah make a stance for God that they would rather choose God even over their own blood family that they would rather choose God that had the security of whatever they would rather choose God no matter what position that they had been given and perhaps David said you know what they displayed something in contrast to their fathers I think they would make great song leaders willing to step out in anything and for anything for the glory and honor of God maybe David had that revelation when choosing leaders and choosing servants those make the best worshippers whether in song or in any type of service when those people have already determined in their hearts take it any take anything away from you take my own family away from me I'm still gonna serve him I'm still gonna love him as terrifying as I might be to be separate even from my loved ones if it's for the Lord I'm gonna do it those are the most effective servants of God those are the ones that when they when they truly lead and when they truly serve you know that they're doing I have a love for God maybe David didn't recruit them though skill is important though talent is important there's something deeper in the sons of Korah a devotion to God that was rare and we see that in the Psalms did we not one of the most intimate Psalms one of the most heartfelt devoted Psalms concerning relationship to God and sacrifice to God and searching for God is from the sons of korah and I believe because it's come from a place in which they've already determined within God is worthy you give or take away it doesn't matter here's an example Psalms 46 you can turn there if you want but it's so known I'm sure as I read it you'll know it God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble now look at the description of this maybe maybe maybe this is the image that the sons of Korah had though they weren't there at the time of writing this we don't know when it was written but maybe this image from number 16 came to mind when they wrote Psalms 46 in this one line God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea though its waters roar and foam though the mountains tremble at its swelling is it possible that the sons of korah thought of their history when at one point Korah rebelled and the earth gave way and swallow them up and surely that people the sons were fearful of such a sight but they trusted in God who was their refuge and strength it's a thought but all those who go to great lengths to show they're a legion and expresser devotion to God in spite of all things they make great worshippers and worship leaders so we come back to number 16 and we read verse 35 so you have Korah Dathan and abiram swallowed up by the earth and then you have those 250 chief leaders that came with their sensors and what does God do well he dealt with the first ones by letting them go down and for the second group he let something come from heaven and fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men offering the incense that shows me one thing in that one verse that God rejects the worship of those people who are divisive thus they came with their incense which is a form of worship and God consumed them in flames because God is not interested in receiving worship from those that are trying to divide his people what happens verse 36 God takes advantage of this moment and his mercy gives instruction for his people concerning generations to come because he knows something about the human nature that we are bound to repeat the same mistakes that we've made even though it costs very much so he tells Eliezer listen Eliezer take those sensors that were consumed with those men and build something with it hammer it out and make it covering and what this covering will do is will be placed upon the altar of burnt sacrifices and what that will do is continually remind the people of what happened in this day for the rest of the wilderness journey and the rest of time that's what it says in verse 40 look at verse 42 be a reminder to the people of Israel so that no outsider who is not other descendants of Aaron should draw near to burn incense before the Lord lest he become like Korah and his company as the Lord said to him through Moses in order to preserve the purity and the holiness of my people again the people are in need of another visual aid the first one we read in numbers 15 was what these tassels that would remind them of the commandments of God now he brings this golden plate thing that's covering for the for the burnt offering alternate says they're gonna see that and they're gonna remember now how much more were the people who were kohathites remember as they carry that thing remember they were instructed to carry the furniture and so they would remember as they carry that thing oh gosh we're gonna stick to this responsibility thankful for it to be a reminder you know what God's wisdom is in preserving your holiness and mind and longevity to not just learn from our own failures but to learn from the failures of others that's wisdom wisdom does not just express itself when I realize my failures and learn from them wisdom goes beyond that wisdom looks at other people who have fallen not in judgment not in criticism not in self-righteousness but realizes like Galatians 6:1 says that if your brother Falls don't be careful lest you to be tempted by the same temptation when you see someone fall when you see something happen in another person's life learn from their failures and ask God in prayer as God in wisdom to protect you from such a thing yourself that's what he's doing if this is God's wisdom you need to be reminded people of Israel that you don't fall into the same trap because I know the human heart more than you do so God is acting in mercy by giving this out and you would think ok we're ready to move Israel you're ready to move we're ready to go we can move on here let's learn from our mistakes let's not do that let's be content on what God's given us happy Thanksgiving verse 41 but on the next day you have got to be kidding me you have got to be kidding me but on the next day all the congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and against Aaron saying you have killed the people of the Lord like not even two days not even a week the conference high didn't even last 24 hours and what a conference that was that would be an interesting conference when the earth swallows up some people go back and see here in verse 34 and I wonder why that wasn't preserved till the next day and all Israel who were around them fled at their cry for they said lest the earth swallow us up so their swallows up these men and their families and you know the people do they scatter and scream at the top of their lungs lest the Earth's walls up and then the next day they go you killed the people of the Lord that tells you a nice something about the human heart that no matter how wonderful unfortunately even terrifying God displays his Majesty in his glory it takes a supernatural transformation of the human heart to bring a true change one day man and you're accusing and you've identified them wrongly the people of the Lord we're gonna find out that he calls them rebels God caused these men rebels and they identified you killed the people of the Lord and you're accusing the true people of God who are acting like it as leads you have killed the people of the Lord and what happens when the congregation is assembled against Moses and against Aaron they turned towards a tenant meeting and behold here we go the cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord appeared and what happens verse 45 the Lord says get away from the midst of this congregation that I may consume them in a moment and the Lord meant it they fell on their faces and Moses knew that something had broken out a plague had broken out and so intense was this plague look at the language he tells Aaron to do what to quickly go grab an incense to go into the midst of the camp to make atonement for the people the plague has begun at the end of verse 46 and how this Aaron trionic Aaron took it as Moses set and ran into the midst of the assembly and the plague had already begun among the people I believe that this happened in a matter of seconds that by the time the Lord said this was gonna happen and by the time he got Aaron to run into the midst of the camp it was a matter of seconds very few minutes the most and you know what happened in a matter of that short timeframe look how many people died verse 49 none those who died in the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred the Lord really meant in a moment just a matter of few seconds he just almost fifteen thousand people were wiped off by plague you know what Aaron does he runs in grace and mercy to make atonement for the people he does not wait a moment he does it as quick as possible and he comes to a place where he stands in the gap for these people and God seized his act and he honors it and the people were spared then we come to chapter 17 as we close goddess it teaches people again so what does he do we're not gonna read it but I will explain it he says this is what's gonna happen in order for you to realize that I've truly chosen Moses and Aaron you take a staff from each of your tribesmen every leader bring a staff from every tribe and when it comes to you bringing those staffs write the name of the chief on that staff Aaron's name is gonna be written on the staff dedicated to Levi and when you bring it lay them all before the tent of meeting lay it all before the the testimony and what happens I'm going to show you through this that when I make a specific staff bud it will be the signal it will be the sign that I've chosen this person to be high priests and for his descendants to be priests and so what happens in verse 8 on the next day Moses went into the tent of testimony behold the staff of Aaron and the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms and bore almonds so what happens he chooses to teach them in this way look at the staffs and they bring their staffs to the men each of them hold it and they realize okay I'm not supposed to be the priest God will defend your ministry if you're truly called by God if you've truly been called to a specific thing you don't need to defend yourself God will make it known to others that he has called you to a specific task and if God has not called you to a specific task and you attempt to go into that Lane fruitfulness will not come out of it ask the Lord to give you the grace to understand that your identity is not in this ministry but that he's called you to it nonetheless and to stay in that lane and fruit will come out of it it's better for fruit to come out of the ministry that God's called you to then out of weird insecurities or whatever's going on to step into another Lane not experienced fruit and this is the miracle that it didn't just bud but it fully blossom we went through all the stages overnight and almonds came out of it they brought it to the men and he says put it in the Ark of the testimony put in the Ark of the Covenant for what reason as a sign for the rebels that you may make an end of their grumblings against me this is verse 10 lest they die thus Moses that and LORD commanded him so he did take that staff and it's added so what items do we have in the Ark of the Covenant up to this point stop the tablets manna three things three things now if there's any other picture that we can get out of this it is the power of the Living God how because he took these dead branches which were staffs and he brought life to something that was dead he made something as though it was connected to a life source though it was not this staff that was dried up many many months ago is now something that is blossoming and fruitful and fragrant it speaks of resurrection power that God can bestow and listen as amazing as it is that he did it with a stick you know what it is in the New Covenant you and me like God takes you and I were dead in our trespasses and sins and what does he do he infuses life so that what was known as dead to me into the world to you into the world now produces life produces life and we need to know how to tap into that resurrection power and it's flooded throughout the New Testament that stick did not produce anything on its own to produce fruit it relied completely on God you and I need to do the same and the devil would love to rob that revelation from you and I more than anything do you know how he did it even in a subtle way you say how turn to first Kings chapter eight first Kings chapter eight this is when the temple built by Solomon was dedicated and they had brought in the Ark of the Covenant and when they brought in the Ark of the Covenant there's a little commentary on what happened to these elements that we just confessed were in the Ark look with me here in verse 9 let's go to verse 7 for the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark so that the cherubim overshadowed the Ark of its Pole and its poles and the poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the holy place before the inner sanctuary that they could not be seen from outside and they are there to this day verse 9 there was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone that Moses put there with the people at Horeb where the Lord I made it come in with the people of Israel when they came out of the land of Egypt so after this place in Israel's history something had happened to two of those items the manna was removed and so was that the staff by Aaron that was budded and the only thing that was left there was the law how did that happen many speculations I believe this part that something happened between the days of First Samuel chapter 1 2 and 3 where Eli was the high priests and the Philistines came in and took the ark and was brought back by David under his reign something happened in that time and I believe that the Philistines removed it because it's the only explanation they were there before the Philistines took it and then once the Philistines removed it and then brought it back this is speculation this isn't dogmatic but it's it's a thought that when they brought it back it's not there anymore when Solomon was dedicating the temple its commentary the only thing that's left there is the law the enemy took manna and the enemy took the rod and left the law of all things because the enemy would love to rub the law in our face to show us how we do fall short God does that yes to show us that we need the gospel but you know what he removed the raw that speaks of power the rod that speaks of how God can change something that's dead and bring it to life and he does the same today with so many people to do everything in your own strength and mine and to attempt to keep God's commandments without that power and to do it in our own strength you will experience true misery I will experience true misery when we fail to realize that what God has given us was intended to be obeyed with his power with His grace with his assistance that His commandments are not burdensome only when we know to rely upon him to walk it out and that's what we need to do it's a second thought to this main thought that up to this point now in numbers things have calmed down in relationship to the authority that God has established for the people of Israel so many things can be pulled out of this study but will conclude it with this thought going back to the sons of Korah what a wonderful thing that God has given us through these men who have come to a place where they realize just think about it I'm sure they did not think in their minds when they step back from their families Oh God's gonna really use me now I'm sure that then I run through their minds like God is going to give me a specific assignment down in history through my general I'm sure that did not come in fact God did not say anything he said it with the Levites when they when they step back in Exodus 32 he says now I'm gonna use you I'm gonna use you as priests he doesn't say anything for the sons of Korah it just came down the road which says something about the sons of Korah to some degree that in that moment they just they just wanted to make a statement to the Lord I want you above all house I choose to obey you even if it costs me my family it's a beautiful thought and it's something that we should really meditate upon and as we end with the idea of core on the sons of Korah let's ask the Lord to be able to confidently say I'd rather be a doorkeeper the house of my god I rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my god better is one day in your courts and a thousand elsewhere that is coming from a that's not coming from just any lip that's coming from a descendent of someone who actually lived it and actually paid the price for it and true ministry with its authenticity and effectiveness comes from a place where it's lived out and not just said may we get there by the grace of God by his power not our own let's pray Louis thank you for your word and God our hearts come alive at the revelation of the Scriptures when we realize Lord that you were speaking loud and clear even from numbers and Lord this is our hearts desire to express our allegiance to you and whatever cost Lord and what we want to do that even now thank you for your tender mercies thank you that with the same errand that you were ready to discipline he defended thank you that with the sons of korah though their heritage in their fathers did not exemplify true devotion to God you rewrote their story thank you that we have resurrection power that you can take any deadness in our lives and bring it to life in Christ well we worship you in light of this in your name we pray amen

Channel: MB Church-Chicago

Views: 3,349

Rating: 4.8536587 out of 5

Keywords: Numbers, bible, study, bible study, old testament, torah, moses, israel, daniel batarseh, Uec, ue church, united evangelical church, agape young adults services, ue church agape, christians, sermon, preaching, teaching, jesus, god, holy spirit, christ, christianity

Id: uG1vtVuJ3uc

Length: 55min 38sec (3338 seconds)

Published: Mon Feb 04 2019