Rebellion

Busy weekend; early post!

Mo. 7/22/13: Numbers 16:1 –3                  What was the rebel’s complaint?

Now Korah … with Dathan and Abiram … rose up before Moses with two hundred and fifty … men of renown. They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You take too much upon yourselves... Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”

What was the rebel’s complaint? Moses placed himself in a position of power.

Tu. 7/22/13: Numbers 16:4 – 7                  What was Moses’ reaction?

So when Moses heard it, he fell on his face; and he spoke to Korah … saying, “Tomorrow morning the LORD will show who is His and who is holy … whom He chooses … to come near to Him … Take censers … put fire in them and put incense in them before the LORD tomorrow … the man whom the LORD chooses is the holy one. You take too much upon yourselves, you sons of Levi!”

What was Moses’ reaction? Moses’ fell down and prayed: the LORD gave him an answer.

We. 7/22/13: Numbers 16:19 – 22                  How did Moses and Aaron avert catastrophe?

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?”

How did Moses and Aaron avert catastrophe? They pleaded for the children of Israel, not the rebels.

What danger did Korah put Israel in?

Th. 7/22/13: Numbers 16:23 – 26                  What was the LORD’s answer?

So the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.’” Then Moses … 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.”

What was the LORD’s answer? The LORD’s judgment would fall on the rebels and their families.

Fr. 7/22/13: Numbers 16:31 – 38                  What was the LORD’s judgment?

Now, … as he finished speaking … the ground split apart under them, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, … closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly. And a fire came out from the LORD and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense.

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “Tell Eleazar … to pick up the censers out of the blaze, for they are holy, and … let them be made into hammered plates as a covering for the altar … they shall be a sign to the children of Israel.”

What was the LORD’s judgment? The earth swallowed them all up alive. The only sign left was the bronze covering for the altar made from 250 censers.