February 3 - Numbers 16-18
Now we have another rebellion on the part of the Israelites. It is even more serious than before. It is an "organized" movement against Moses and Aaron this time. It is led by Korah, who is a Levite, but he evidently wants to be a priest, and by Dathan and Abiram. They have brought together 250 leaders of the people who agree with them. They want the leadership taken from Moses and Aaron, and some of them, who are not Aaron's sons, want to be priests. It is a serious challenge of the Lord's will not of Moses and Aaron. The Bible makes it clear that these men were rebelling against God's will in standing against Moses and Aaron. Therefore, God wiped them out in a dramatic way. He had the incense censers beaten out and added to the altar as a memorial of this dreadful event and as a warning against those who would repeat it. God hates the sin of rebelliousness, but He especially hates organized rebellion against His authority.
Then, to my amazement the people complain against Moses and Aaron because God dealt with the uprising by killing these people. God proceeds to send a plague, which kills 14,700 more people, because of their hard hearts. It is only by the atonement of Aaron that the plague is stopped then. Both of these incidents show how submission to authority is difficult for people, but it is essential in the will of God. We must follow the Lord by following those He has enlisted to lead as long as they are humbly following Him as Moses did. God will even go as far as to give us signs of His calling on people's lives as He did when He caused Aaron's rod to bud. He always makes it clear that His calling to full time service is a gift of service. It is not to make anyone a prideful big shot, but a humble servant. We are drafted into God's service. We do not volunteer. The only authority and power we have comes from Him, so we have nothing of which to boast, except to boast of the Lord.
This is all seen in chapter 18 as the Lord points out that the Levites do not receive a regular inheritance like the other tribes. Their provision comes directly from the offerings of the people. It is to be seen as God's blessing on them for their service in the Tabernacle. They get to partake of the best God's people have to offer. It is all a gift from God. It is not because they are better than anyone else. It is only because they were chosen to serve in this capacity in God's work. Therefore, they were still under the obligation to give tithes to the Lord of the tithes the people brought to them. They were to show their worship and dependence on the Lord by tithing, too. It is beautiful to see how it all works together, if all of God's people will work together in unity as He desires.
Tomorrow, I plan to read Numbers 19-21.
Then, to my amazement the people complain against Moses and Aaron because God dealt with the uprising by killing these people. God proceeds to send a plague, which kills 14,700 more people, because of their hard hearts. It is only by the atonement of Aaron that the plague is stopped then. Both of these incidents show how submission to authority is difficult for people, but it is essential in the will of God. We must follow the Lord by following those He has enlisted to lead as long as they are humbly following Him as Moses did. God will even go as far as to give us signs of His calling on people's lives as He did when He caused Aaron's rod to bud. He always makes it clear that His calling to full time service is a gift of service. It is not to make anyone a prideful big shot, but a humble servant. We are drafted into God's service. We do not volunteer. The only authority and power we have comes from Him, so we have nothing of which to boast, except to boast of the Lord.
This is all seen in chapter 18 as the Lord points out that the Levites do not receive a regular inheritance like the other tribes. Their provision comes directly from the offerings of the people. It is to be seen as God's blessing on them for their service in the Tabernacle. They get to partake of the best God's people have to offer. It is all a gift from God. It is not because they are better than anyone else. It is only because they were chosen to serve in this capacity in God's work. Therefore, they were still under the obligation to give tithes to the Lord of the tithes the people brought to them. They were to show their worship and dependence on the Lord by tithing, too. It is beautiful to see how it all works together, if all of God's people will work together in unity as He desires.
Tomorrow, I plan to read Numbers 19-21.