March 11, 2021
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Reading along with us in Numbers? Here’s today’s reading:
Numbers 16 (NIV)
Korah, Dathan and Abiram
1 Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent 2 and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council…...Continue Reading
God is both merciful and just. Moses amazes me that he is always defending the people who hurt him and oppose God. Yet God listens and punishes where necessary and shows mercy as well.
Numbers 16
Numbers 16
Can’t help but think. This is just a glimpse of what the hour of trial will be in the future. Might I say. “ near future “. We have lost our first love. We. “Me”. Are either hot nor cold. About to spit you from my mouth. A little off the subject. But sobering nevertheless
This generation that refused to enter the land had some bad seeds. Yes these men were people of influence in the community, but their pride deceived them to think that they should be greater still. It reminds me of Lucifer who had a high position but it wasn’t enough for him and he presumed that he should be God. And it is that same heart that is in these men. I mean how foolish not to understand that Moses and Aaron are God’s guys. But that is how deceptive pride is. They think they are the ones right with God. They fully believe that when they bring their censer, they will be accepted and Moses and Aron will not.
And yet Moses shows himself to be a good leader. First he sets up a paradigm that gives them the opportunity to consider do I really want to do this. After all I have seen God do, do I really want to stand before God? Next he defends the people before God and looks to protect the vulnerable in a couple instances here. He also brings the ring leaders in and confronts them directly about what they have done and in doing so, gives them a chance to repent.
And God is faithful and does what Moses asks, showing once again, Moses is God’s guy. Don’t mess with him. But even after the earth swallows some, they complain again….like I said…bad seeds that will not learn outside of being disciplined…..may we not be the same…..
Numbers 16
Moses and Aaron fall on their faces three times in this chapter in order to intervene for the Israelites, despite being direct victims of their offenses. They are true ministers of God to the people to take all that is thrown at them! It is shocking that the people seem to have no fear even with the severe events that occur. It will be that way in the last days.
And here’s another memorial: 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, 40 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.
Numbers 16
41The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. “You have killed the Lord’s people,” they said.
42But when the assembly gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron and turned toward the tent of meeting, suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord appeared. 43Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the tent of meeting, 44and the Lord said to Moses, 45“Get away from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.” And they fell facedown.
46Then Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer and put incense in it, along with burning coals from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord; the plague has started.”