Rebellion in the Church. (Numbers 16: 1-50)

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Episode Notes: "Rebellion in the Church" (Number 16: 1-50)

Introduction:

• Personal Experience: Visiting churches with internal unrest.
• Biblical Parallels: Examining Numbers chapter 16 for insights into God's perspective on rebellion.

Background:

• Previous Challenges to Moses' Leadership.
• Introduction of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.
• Rebellion against Moses and Aaron's Authority.
• Distinction between Priestly and Non-Priestly Levites.

The Initial Challenge:

• Accusations against Moses and Aaron.
• Desire for Priestly Status.
• Moses' Response: Challenging Korah's Rebellion.

The Ground-Splitting Judgment:

• Moses' Test: Validation of Leadership.
• Earth Swallows Korah and His Followers.
• Confirmation of Moses' Authority.

Divine Instructions and Subsequent Rebellion:

• Repurposing the Censers as a Reminder.
• Lessons from Scripture: Sodom and Gomorrah, Ananias and Sapphira.
• Persistent Grumbling and Accusations.

Contemporary Reflections:

• Parallel Experiences in Modern Church Settings.
• Dangers of Self-Righteousness and Division.
• Cautionary Tale: Importance of Humility and Discernment.

Conclusion:

• Toll of Rebellion: Plague and Death.
• Spiritual Truth: Rebellion Leads to Death.
• Anecdote of Reversal of Fortunes.
• Reminder of Consequences and Need for Obedience and Humility.

Join us next time for more insights into biblical narratives and their relevance today. Remember, humility and obedience are key in navigating the complexities of faith and our approach to those in leadership.

Transcript

Rebellion in the Church.  (Numbers 16: 1-50)

Complete Transcript

Introduction:

Over the years in my Christian life I have attended or visited churches where there was unrest among the church leadership, once finding a significant number of the church membership in open rebellion against the senior pastor. 

I have also come across many church schisms and splits over the years. I often found myself pondering what the Lord would say about such situations.

Interestingly, the Bible provides us with a passage that mirrors this scenario almost identically, offering us insight into God's perspective on rebellion. Today we turn to Numbers chapter 16 to explore this further.

Welcome to TBPDP.

Background:

Before delving into chapter 16, it's essential to remember what we have seen so far.

Moses' leadership has previously been challenged several times. In chapters 11, 12, 13, and 14. But now, in chapter 16, Aaron's position is also going to come under threat. 

While the exact timing and location of these events are unclear, they occurred during the years spent wandering in the wilderness following the Israelites' refusal to enter the Promised Land. 

The opening verses introduce to us three main characters, 

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. 3 They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?” 4 When Moses heard this, he fell facedown. 5 Then he said to Korah and all his followers: “In the morning the Lord will show who belongs to him and who is holy, and he will have that person come near him. The man he chooses he will cause to come near him. 6 You, Korah, and all your followers are to do this: Take censers 7 and tomorrow put burning coals and incense in them before the Lord. The man the Lord chooses will be the one who is holy. You Levites have gone too far!”

(Numbers 16: 1-7)

"So, there are 250 people siding with these three guys. What's critical here is that Korah is from the tribe of Levi, which is significant. The other two, Dathan and Abiram, are from Reuben, and the rest are leaders from across various tribes.

Now, the key thing to understand is that not all Levites were priests. Some worked in the temple or the Tabernacle but were not priests. Korah, in this passage, is from the tribe of Levi but not a priest. This distinction is crucial for understanding the story. 

Verse 3 tells us they gather against Moses and Aaron, accusing them of holding too much power for themselves saying everyone is holy therefore and everyone is equal. 

So, we'll call this first movement and in this opening passage it shows sheer rebellion, look at their complaints. They say, "You take too much upon yourselves." Well, frankly, that's a charge against the Lord because Moses was the designated leader by God. 

We've already seen that in the previous chapter where his leadership was challenged, and it wasn't a pleasant story, it even ended in death on some occasions.

But now, they're challenging Aaron as well, the one who was designated the high priest by the Lord. Soin doing this they are really in rebellion against God.

The second thing they're doing is they're accusing Moses and Aaron, of personal ambition. They're questioning their motives, saying, "You exalt yourselves." 

But, that's not what happened. God put them in that position; they weren't exalting themselves. They were simply doing what God told them to do, but this people do not like it at all, and they got other people to agree with them. Not a good situation.

As I mentioned earlier, I've seen this happen in churches more than once, where someone on the leadership team or just a member of the congregation is unhappy with the senior pastor and they go around trying to get people on their side in the congregation, and it causes no end of problems.

Let me tell you about one case I know about, where a man in the ministry faced intense criticism, questioning even his integrity. Here are the kinds of things they said about him.

They said he walked according to the flesh, they said he was deceitful, he imitated other people in the things he wrote and said.

They said he mistreated someone; he defamed people. They said in one case he made a promise that he didn't keep, and he mishandled a discipline situation in the church. They even accused him of taking money for himself and fleecing the flock under the disguise of collecting money for some ministry outside the church. 

I’m going to do something I wouldn’t normally do, I’m going to name him, that man was the Apostle Paul. That was all written about the apostle Paul. 

I have just basically given you all the criticisms recorded in 2 Corinthians, where they charged him with all of that, including even trying to take an offering for the poor in Jerusalem for himself. So, nothing is new under the sun. It's the same old, same old. 

Understanding and explaining Kohath's motive is the big challenge in this passage. They got together with Moses and Aaron and laid out their challenge. 

Here's how Moses responded, he listened to what they said and then he fell on his face, indicating he prayed, then he spoke to Korah and all his company of 250 people plus.

Then having sought the Lord in prayer, he said, "Tomorrow morning the Lord will show who is His and who not. The one whom He chooses, He will cause to come near to Him." 

Moses was throwing down a challenge, saying, "Let the Lord decide."

Then, in verse 6, Moses instructs them to take censers the following day and put coals in them, start a fire and put incense in them before the Lord the next day. 

Now, putting incense in a censer was a priestly function, which highlights that their real issue was with Aaron more than Moses. They were essentially saying, "Why aren't we priests? We're from the tribe of Levi, just like Aaron. We should be priests too

In verse 7, Moses addresses Korah and the sons of Levi, asking the question are you suggesting you are all in the priesthood now?"

This is an explanation of what's really going on here.

Some Levites were indeed assigned to the priesthood, while others just served in the Tabernacle but were not priests. Kohath is essentially complaining because he wants to be a priest as well, but he's not from the priestly line within the tribe of Levi.

Moses therefore is reminding them that God gave them all a special place, and for them it was to serve in the Tabernacle, and they should be content with that. 

But it seems they weren't happy with their assigned place, ultimately coveting the priesthood.

So, while appearing to just be accused Moses and Aaron of usurping authority, Moses points out that it's actually Korah and the Levites with him who are rebelling against the Lord by seeking roles they were not appointed to.

The text continues.

8 Moses also said to Korah, “Now listen, you Levites! 9 Isn’t it enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the Lord’s tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them? 10 He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too. 11 It is against the Lord that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble against him?” 12 Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. But they said, “We will not come! 13 Isn’t it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness? And now you also want to lord it over us! 14 Moreover, you haven’t brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Do you want to treat these men like slaves? No, we will not come!” 15 Then Moses became very angry and said to the Lord, “Do not accept their offering. I have not taken so much as a donkey from them, nor have I wronged any of them.”

(Numbers 16: 8-15)

So, Moses pointed out that Kohath and his followers were going too far in their rebellion, seeking more power and prestige, desiring the role of priests instead of being content with their assigned tasks behind the scenes.

In verse 11, Moses questions their complaint against Aaron, essentially asking why they are challenging the Lord's appointed leaders.

Then in verse 13. Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, to come before him but they refused to come up. Instead, they accused Moses of leading them out of Egypt, the land of promise, only to let them die in the wilderness. They blamed Moses for not bringing them into the land of milk and honey, conveniently forgetting their own refusal to enter it when they reached Kadesh Barnea. 

So please make sure you note that their accusations were absurd and baseless.

This kind of behaviour is sadly familiar. When faced with internal conflict, people often come up with illogical arguments and twist the truth to suit their agenda. It's a classic case of projection, accusing others of the very faults they possess. It's astonishing to witness, but it happens all too often, even in religious communities.

Moses, understandably, was furious. In verse 15, he implored the Lord not to accept their offerings, emphasizing that he had not taken anything from them, not even a donkey, nor had he ever harmed any of them.

Moses is reminding the Lord and them that he had led them with integrity, despite their baseless accusations.

16 Moses said to Korah, “You and all your followers are to appear before the Lord tomorrow—you and they and Aaron. 17 Each man is to take his censer and put incense in it—250 censers in all—and present it before the Lord. You and Aaron are to present your censers also.” 18 So each of them took his censer, put burning coals and incense in it, and stood with Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 19 When Korah had gathered all his followers in opposition to them at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the glory of the Lord appeared to the entire assembly. 20 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 21 “Separate yourselves from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.” 22 But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and cried out, “O God, the God who gives breath to all living things, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?” 23 Then the Lord said to Moses, 24 “Say to the assembly, ‘Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.’” 25 Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 He warned the assembly, “Move back from the tents of these wicked men! Do not touch anything belonging to them, or you will be swept away because of all their sins.” 27 So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing with their wives, children and little ones at the entrances to their tents.

(Numbers 16: 16-27)

Moses instructs each person to bring their own sensor before the Lord. Everyone, including Aaron and Kohath, complied, putting incense in their sensors, and standing at the door of the Tabernacle. Meanwhile, Kohath who had rallied the entire community against Moses and Aaron, is adding to the tension of the situation.

Imagine the intensity as 250 people stood against Moses and Aaron. The atmosphere must have been thick smoke as well as with irritation and uncertainty. 

Then, in verse 20, we see the Lord speaking to Moses and Aaron, commanding them to separate themselves from the congregation so that He could consume them in a moment. 

Moses and Aaron respond by pleading with God, appealing to His wisdom, even questioning whether it was just for the whole congregation to suffer for the sins of a few.

God then instructed Moses to tell the congregation to move away from the tents of Kohath, Dathan, and Abiram, warning them to distance themselves from the tents of these wicked men to avoid sharing in their punishment. 

The people comply and gather with their families separately outside their tents.

28 Then Moses said, “This is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea: 29 If these men die a natural death and suffer the fate of all mankind, then the Lord has not sent me. 30 But if the Lord brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the realm of the dead, then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt.” 31 As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions. 33 They went down alive into the realm of the dead, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. 34 At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, “The earth is going to swallow us too!” 35 And fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.

(Numbers 16: 28-35)

Then Moses declared a test: if these men die naturally, it will mean that Moses wasn't sent by the Lord. However, if the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, it would signify that these men had indeed rejected the Lord and His appointed leaders. 

These verse are critical because it clarifies that Moses didn't exalt himself but acted under the authority of the Lord. If the earth swallowed them, it would validate Moses' leadership and dismiss the complaints against him.

Moses explained that their complaint was ultimately against the Lord's authority. He presented the whole community with a straightforward test: if they died of natural causes, it would affirm their righteousness, but if the earth swallowed them, it would confirm Moses' authority.

Just as Moses finished speaking, the ground splits open beneath them, and the earth consumed Korah, his household, and his immediate followers because in verse 35 we see that, “fire comes down from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense”.

Final part of this chapter.

36 The Lord said to Moses, 37 “Tell Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, to remove the censers from the charred remains and scatter the coals some distance away, for the censers are holy— 38 the censers of the men who sinned at the cost of their lives. Hammer the censers into sheets to overlay the altar, for they were presented before the Lord and have become holy. Let them be a sign to the Israelites.” 39 So Eleazar the priest collected the bronze censers brought by those who had been burned to death, and he had them hammered out to overlay the altar, 40 as the Lord directed him through Moses. This was to remind the Israelites that no one except a descendant of Aaron should come to burn incense before the Lord, or he would become like Korah and his followers. 41 The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. “You have killed the Lord’s people,” they said. 42 But 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. 43 Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the tent of meeting, 44 and 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. 46 Then 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.” 47 So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people, but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them. 48 He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped. 49 But 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah. 50 Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance to the tent of meeting, for the plague had stopped.

(Numbers 16: 36-50)

So, is all of this judgement of God's fair?

are based on clear moral standards.

For the answer to that let's turn to Exodus 20, where the Ten Commandments are given. This passage demonstrates that God's judgments are never arbitrary.

So I want you to look at exodus chapter 20 verse 4, which says.

You shall not make yourself a carved image any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or in the earth beneath or this in the waters under the earth you shall not bow down to them nor serve them for I am the Lord your God and the jealous God visiting the iniquity of the fathers and upon the children to the 3rd and 4th generation.

(Exodus 20: 4)

Here in the middles of the Ten Commandments narrative in Exodus 20 it mentions God's punishment sometime extending to the third and fourth generations of those who have been proven to hate Him and move against Him.

 Some may question the fairness of this, but it's crucial to note the full context. The verse specifies that the judgment falls on those who personally follow the sins of their fathers. 

Not all children will inherit or copy their parents vices or sins, but this says that those who perpetuate this sinful behaviour are going to be held accountable.

This understanding can sheds light on the terrible events of Numbers 16.

In verse 33, we saw that Korah and his followers were swallowed alive by the earth, and the Israelites reacted with fear, fearing a similar fate. 

Following this, the Lord instructed Aaron's son Eleazar to repurpose the censers that had been used by the rebels. 

They were to be turned into hammered plates as a covering for the altar, serving as a visible reminder for future generations to come. 

This incident, immortalized in the Scriptures, serves as a cautionary tale, with a visible reminder on that day, and serves as a aid memorie for us still today.

There are other instances in Scripture where God's judgments serve as lessons for posterity, such as the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah or the fate of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. 

These events are all meant to underscore the seriousness of sin and the importance of obedience.

However, even after witnessing such a dramatic display of divine judgment, the people continued to grumble against Moses and Aaron, even accusing them of killing the people of the Lord. 

This reaction is both perplexing and disheartening. Despite the unmistakable evidence of God's intervention on behalf of Moses and Aaron, the people will persist in their misguided grumblings.

This phenomenon is not unique to just this ancient this biblical account but resonates with my contemporary experience as a Christian.

On many instances, I have seen individuals or factions within congregations harbour grievances against their leaders, convinced of their own righteousness and divine endorsement.

This self-righteous conviction often leads to division and discord within church communities all the time as each party believes they are acting in accordance with God's will.

The tragic irony lies in the fact that those who claim to be acting on behalf of the Lord often fail to recognize.

Even after God unmistakable intervention some continue to pursue their own agendas.

This serves as a cautionary tale for believers everywhere to this day, reminding us of the dangers of self-righteousness and the importance of humility and discernment in our interactions with leaders and fellow believers alike.

In the end the toll of all this rebellion will be a plague with 14,700 perishing in addition to those who died in Korah's rebellion. Again the story underscores the consequences of rebellion against God-appointed leadership and serves as a sobering reminder of the wages of sin, which is death.

Furthermore, it illustrates a broader spiritual truth that rebellion against God manifests in various forms and leads to spiritual death. Whether it be rebellion against His ordained authority or disobedience in any aspect of life, the ultimate outcome is darkness and death.

The closing anecdote is there to simply highlights the irony of a wealthy individual ending up engaged in menial labour in prison, symbolizing the reversal of fortunes resulting from sin. 

This should serve as a cautionary tale, reminding us of the consequences of disobedience and the need for humility and obedience always before God.