Numbers 16
Rebellion in the campverses 1-3
Now Korah – the son of Izhar – the son of Kohath – the son of Levi
and Dathan and Abiram – the sons of Eliab – and On
the son of Peleth – sons of Reuben – took men
And they rose up before Moses – with certain of the children of Israel
two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly
famous in the congregation – men of renown
And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron
and said to them
You take too much on you – seeing all the congregation is HOLY
every one of them – and the LORD is among them
wherefore then lift you up yourselves above the
congregation of the LORD?
Moses says LORD will judge who is holyverses 4-7
And when Moses heard it – he fell on his face
and he spoke to Korah and to all his company – saying
Even tomorrow the LORD will show who are HIS – and who is HOLY
and will cause him to come near to HIM
even him whom HE has CHOSEN will HE cause to
come near to HIM
This do – Take you censers – Korah and all his company
and put fire therein – and put incense in them before the
LORD tomorrow – and it shall be that the man whom
the LORD does choose – he shall be HOLY
you take too much on you
you sons of Levi
Moses corrects Korah concerning priesthoodverses 8-11
And Moses said to Korah
Hear – I pray you – you sons of Levi
Seem it but a small thing to you that the God of Israel
has separated you from the congregation of Israel
to bring you near to HIMSELF
to do the service of the
tabernacle of the LORD
to stand before the congregation to
minister to them?
And HE has brought you near to HIM
and all your brethren the sons of Levi with you
and seek you the priesthood also?
FOR which cause both you and all your company are gathered
together against the LORD
and what is Aaron that you murmur against him?
Dathan and Abiram refuse Moses’ invitationverses 12-14
And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram – the sons of Eliab
which said
We will not come up – Is it a small thing that you have brought us up
out of a land that flows with milk and honey
to kill us in the wilderness – except you make yourself
altogether a prince over us?
Moreover you have not brought us into a land that flows with milk
and honey – or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards
Will you put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up
Moses talks to LORD about Dathan & Abriamverse 15
And Moses was VERY WROTH and said to the LORD
Respect not YOU their offering
I have not taken one ass from them
neither have I hurt one of them
Moses invites all to gatherverses 16-19
And Moses
said to Korah
Be you and all your company before the LORD
you – and they – and Aaron – tomorrow
and take every man his censer
and put incense in them
and bring you before the LORD every man
his censer – two hundred and fifty censers
You also
and Aaron each of you his censer
And they took every man his censer – and put fire in them
and laid incense thereon – and stood in the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron
And Korah gathered all the congregation against them to the
door of the tabernacle of the congregation
and the GLORY of the LORD appeared
to all the congregation
LORD tells Moses and Aaron to separateverses 20-21
And the LORD spoke to Moses and unto Aaron
saying
Separate yourselves from among the congregation
that I may consume them in a moment
Moses & Aaron pray for peopleverse 22
And they fell upon their faces
and said
O God – the God of the spirits of all flesh – shall one man sin
and will you be wroth with all the congregation?
LORD tells all to get away from Korahverses 23-24
And the LORD spoke to Moses
saying
Speak to the congregation
saying
Get you up from about the tabernacle of
Korah – Dathan – Abiram
Moses tells all to get away from Korahverses 25-27
And Moses rose up and went to Dathan and Abiram
and the elders of Israel followed him
And he spoke unto the congregation
saying
Depart – I pray you – from the tents of these wicked men
and touch nothing of theirs
lest you be consumed in all their sins
SO they got up from the tabernacle of Korah – Dathan – Abiram
on every side – and Dathan and Abiram came out
and stood in the door of their tents – and their wives
and their sons and their little children
Moses announces that rebels will die unusuallyverses 28-30
And Moses said
Hereby you shall KNOW that the LORD has sent me
to do all these works
for I have not done them of mine own mind
IF these men die the common death of all men
or IF they be visited after the visitation of all men
THEN the LORD has not sent me
BUT IF the LORD make a new thing
and the earth open her mouth – and swallow them up
with all that appertain to them
and they go down quick into the pit
THEN you shall understand that these men have
provoked the LORD
Earth opens up and rebels disappearverses 31-35
And it came to pass – as he had made an end of speaking all these words
that the ground CLAVE asunder that was under them
and the earth opened her mouth
and swallowed them up
and their houses – and all the men that appertained
to Korah – and all their goods
They – and all that appertained to them
went down ALIVE into the pit – and the earth closed on them
and they perished from among the congregation
And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them
for they said – Lest the earth swallow us up also
And there came out a fire from the LORD
and consumed the two hundred and fifty men
that offered incense
LORD commands censers be collectedverses 36-40
And the LORD spoke to Moses
saying
Speak to Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest
that he take up the censers out of the burning
and scatter thou the fire yonder
FOR they are HALLOWED
The censers of these sinners against their own souls
let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar
for they offered them before the LORD
therefore they are HALLOWED
and they shall be a SIGN to the
children of Israel
And Eleazar the priest took the brazen censers
wherewith they that were burnt had offered
And they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar
to be a memorial unto the children of Israel
that no stranger which is not of the seed of Aaron
come near to offer incense before the LORD
that he be not as Korah
and as his company
as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses
People complain the next morningverses 41-45
BUT on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel
MURMURED against Moses and against Aaron
Saying
You have killed the people of the LORD
And it came to pass – when the congregation was gathered against
Moses and against Aaron – that they LOOKED toward the
tabernacle of the congregation – and BEHOLD
the CLOUD covered it
and the GLORY of the LORD appeared
And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation
and the LORD spoke to Moses – saying
Get you up from among this congregation
that I may consume them as in a moment
And they fell upon their faces
Moses tells Aaron to get censerverse 46
And Moses said to Aaron
Take a censer – and put fire therein from off the altar
and put on incense
and go quickly unto the congregation
and make an ATONEMENT for them
for there is wrath gone out from the LORD
The PLAGUE is begun
Aaron obeys Mosesverses 47-50
And Aaron took as Moses commanded
and RAN into the midst of the congregation
And BEHOLD – the plague was begun among the people
and he put on incense
and made an ATONEMENT for the people
And he stood BETWEEN the DEAD and the LIVING
and the plague was stayed
NOW they that died in the plague were
fourteen thousand and seven hundred
besides them that died about the matter of Korah
And Aaron returned to Moses to the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation – and the plague was STAYED
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, “You take too much upon you, seeing all the congregate are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift you up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?” (4984 “lift” [mithnasse’] means exalt self, to raise in rank, character and status, be ambitious, or be arrogant)
DEVOTION: It doesn’t seem to take long in any leadership position for someone to come up to you and say that they think you are doing something wrong. They have a better way of doing things. It is not constructive criticism but destructive criticism. They are usually individuals who want your position and just like to complain if things are not going their way.
This is what is happening with the children of Israel. They rejected going into the Promised Land because of giants in the land. They were afraid. They wanted to go back to Egypt where they thought they had it so much better.
Here we have a group of individuals from the tribe of Levi who think that they are just as good as Moses and Aaron and should be priests. They were already cleansed for service to the priests but they wanted a more important position. They wanted to be a priest.
They thought it was Moses and Aaron’s fault that they were not priests and they wanted to correct the situation. The problem was that it was not Moses and Aaron but God.
This can happen in churches regularly, there seems to always be one individual who thinks that they have the gift of pastor/teacher and thinks that it is the pastor’s fault that they never achieved that position. There are other areas of giftedness that have the same feelings toward those who have a different gift.
Satan tempts us to think that we should have a higher position and therefore it is time to confront the leadership with your thinking. Our responsibility is to serve the LORD in the area of our giftedness and let others serve in their area of giftedness and calling.
CHALLENGE: God calls individuals to their positions in the church and in society. We need to accept our calling and bring glory to the LORD in that calling.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 5 And he spoke to Korah and to all his company, saying, “Even tomorrow the LORD will show who are HIS, and who are holy, and will cause him to come near to HIM, even him whom HE has chosen will HE cause to come near to HIM”. (977 “chosen” [bachar] means to examine, preferred, to examine, elect, preferred, decide for, or to select for one’s own reasons or purposes from a number of alternatives)
DEVOTION: We have to get to the point in our life that we are willing to let the LORD show us through leadership and our abilities to help us understand what place the LORD has for us in the local church and society.
We are all holy in the eyes of the LORD when we become followers of Jesus Christ. Once we have repented of our sins we have a special place in the heart of the LORD. HE wants us to bring glory to HIS name in whatever HE has called us to do for HIM.
Here we have individuals who want to enter the presence of the LORD as priests who are not called to be priests. They were called to serve the priests. They were in the same tribe as the priests. They were cleansed for service to the LORD. These individuals wanted more that God had called them to do.
I would like to be able to sing in a choir but that is not my giftedness. I tried out for a few choirs and the directors were nice but said that I couldn’t carry a tune. It hurt because I love to sing but the LORD had other gifts HE had given me.
Moses told these rebels that the LORD would show them who is supposed to be priests and who was not supposed to be priests. They had been told before but they still wanted to try to do something the LORD had not called them to be or do.
Let the LORD show you where you belong in the church of God. HE will help through others as well. Each of us has a gift to be used in the local body of believers. Even children have use their giftedness at an early age.
CHALLENGE: Be available for service to the LORD and HE will open just the right door for you. Don’t force any doors open.
: 9 Seems it but a small thing to you, that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to HIMSELF to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them? (4592 “small thing” [ma’at] means a little, a trifle, or an amount relatively small of countable)
DEVOTION: God is the one who gives gifts to individuals for service to HIM. HE knows what gift to give to certain individuals. HE knows what they are capable of doing more than they even know themselves. HE keeps them accountable only for the gift HE has given them.
We see that sometimes there are people who are not satisfied with the gift that the LORD has given them. HE doesn’t give everyone the gift of pastoring or ministering in the pulpit.
At times there are people who feel that they are just as gifted as the pastor of the church and tell everyone that they could do a better job than the present minister. It is not a gift that the LORD has given them but they think they can do it anyway.
This is what happened in the chapter we are covering today. There was a group from the tribe of Levi that thought they were just as good as Aaron and his sons. They thought it was just Moses preferring them over them. They were mad at Moses for his chose of who could serve in the tabernacle doing the special service of offering the sacrifices and entering the Holy of Holies.
It was a rebellious attitude that needed to be corrected and the LORD was the only one who could correct it. HE did.
We need to remember that there are no little jobs in the service of the LORD. Cleaning up the kitchen after a fellowship dinner is just as important to the LORD as preaching the message from the pulpit. We need both types of individuals to keep the church running smoothly.
We need to be satisfied with the responsibility the LORD has given us and not think to little of ourselves because we are not up front preaching or teaching. Envy is not a gift from the LORD.
Are we satisfied with the position the LORD has given us in the ministry of the church? Do we covet something different from what the LORD has gifted us in? Take it to the LORD in prayer. Every ministry is important to the LORD whether it is cleaning the bathrooms or singing in the choir or greeting people at the door of the church. All are important to the growth of the kingdom of God.
CHALLENGE: Ask the LORD to give you the proper attitude toward the gift that HE has given you rather than seeking a gift HE has not given you. All gifts are important to HIM.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 38 The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the LORD, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign to the children of Israel. (6942 “hallowed” [qadash] means to be holy, removed from common use, subject to special, dedicated for religious purposes, consecrated to be set apart or appointed)
DEVOTION: Most of us have driven down the road and seen historical markers on the road or in a park. These markers are there to help us remember what has happened in the past. We should remember what others have done for us in the past to give us the freedom we have in the present. Also, we can learn from mistakes those in the past have made and not commit the same mistakes.
Here we have some of the children of Israel rebelling against the LORD through their comments to the leadership HE has established. They thought that they were just as good as the ones serving as priests. They thought they should be able to get a censer with incense on it to burn before the LORD. It was only supposed to be those who were designated as priests doing this service to the LORD.
Moses told them to bring their censers and the LORD would show them who were the proper servants of HIS. HE did by judging those who were not chosen to be priests. They were killed when fire come from the LORD.
The LORD wanted the children of Israel to remember this rebellion and told them to take the censers that these 250 men had and melt them down and make a covering for altar of burnt sacrifices.
So for the rest of the existence of the altar it had a covering made of the censers of the rebellious Israelites to remind them that rebellion has fatal consequences in the eyes of the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Remember to learn from the sins of the children of Israel so that we don’t commit the same sins and suffer the consequences.
: 45 Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces. (7281 “moment” [rega] means a wink, a very short space of time, instant or suddenly)
DEVOTION: The children of Israel continued to be fickle. They had just rebelled against the LORD by not going into the Promised Land. Now they were headed back into the wilderness to wander for another thirty-eight years.
While they were traveling a group rebelled again against Moses and Aaron. However, it was not against Moses and Aaron, it was against the LORD.
This group was made up of Levites that questioned Moses concerning their HOLINESS. They thought that the congregation was HOLY. They thought they should be able to serve the LORD in the tabernacle. They thought they should be able to offer incense to the LORD, just like Aaron and the other priests.
Moses set up a trial. They were to bring their censers with incense and Aaron was to bring his and the one the LORD honored would be the servants the LORD wanted to offer incense.
They came and the LORD came. Moses stated that if these two hundred and fifty men and Korah died a natural death that they were to be able to do service to the LORD by offering incense.
Well they didn’t die a natural death. The LORD opened the earth and swallowed up Korah and the leaders of this revolt. The LORD sent FIRE to consume the others.
The LORD had just judged the followers of Korah. He was a Levite that thought the Moses took too much upon himself. He led many people to rebel against Moses and Aaron. The real fact was that they were rebelling against the LORD. The LORD judged them by opening the earth and swallowing them up.
The very next day more of the children of Israel rebelled against Moses and Aaron. This time the LORD came down and told Moses and Aaron that HE would consume the rest of the children of Israel in the time it took to wink at a person.
Moses and Aaron acted quickly to save lives. Aaron took a censer and stood between those who were alive and those who had died of the plague. He stood between the LIVING and the DEAD.
There were 14,700 people killed by a plague sent by the LORD because of their rebellion against the LORD.
Today we would think that a LOVING God would never do such a thing. We have to remind people that when they are disobedient to the LORD, HE will judge them. Judgment begins at the house of the LORD. The church is going to be judged for doubting God. The church is going to be judged for limiting God. The church is going to be judged for not reaching out to our world for HIM.
There are 80% in the world that does not know a Christian. What are we doing to change this fact?? God wants us to witness for HIM. Are we supporting those who are on the front lines in the battle for HIS truth? Are we on the front lines witnessing to our neighbors about the greatness of the salvation the LORD has provided through the death of HIS Son on the cross?
Moses and Aaron were God’s chosen leaders for the children of Israel in the wilderness. There are leaders who are chosen by God to lead this generation into a closer walk with the LORD. Let’s not murmur against our leaders!!! Let us go out and reach our world for the LORD!
CHALLENGE: Do we challenge those who are called to lead us? If it is not for doctrinal or ethical reasons, we need to realize that the LORD will judge us for not following. Leaders are to stand in prayer for their people.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Moses prayer regarding Korahverse 15
Moses and Aaron prayed for congregationverse 22
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Tabernacle of the LORDverse 9
Stand before the congregation to ministerverse 9
Sons of Leviverse 10
Priesthoodverse 10
Tabernacle of the congregationverses 18, 19, 42, 43, 50
Covering of the altarverses 37-40
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD (Jehovah)verses 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 15-17, 19, 20, 23, 28-30, 35, 36, 38, 40-42, 43, 46
LORD will chooseverse 7
God (Elohim)verses 9, 22
God of Israelverse 9
Glory of the LORDverses 19, 42
Consume the rebelsverses 21, 45
God of the spirits of all fleshverse 22
LORD spoke to Moses and Aaronverse 44
Judgment of the LORD: plagueverses 46-49
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Strangerverse 40
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Rebellion of Levitesverses 3-33, 49
Dissatisfaction with responsibilityverse 9
Seeking priesthoodverse 10
Gather against the LORDverse 11
Murmurverses 11, 41
Blaming othersverse 13
Sinverse 22
Wickedverse 26
Sinsverse 26
Provoked the LORDverse 30
Sinnersverse 38
Moses accused of murderverse 41
Rebellion of the peopleverse 42
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Holyverses 3, 5, 7
All the congregation is holyverse 3
Chosenverses 5, 7
Separatedverses 9, 21
Serviceverse 9
Ministerverse 9
Righteous angerverse 15
Sent of the LORDverse 28
Worksverse 28
New thingverse 30
Atonementverses 46, 47
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Korah the son of Izharverses 1-35, 40
Earth opens up
Leviverses 1, 7, 8
Abiram & Dathan – sons of Eliab (son of Reuben)verses 1, 12-14, 24-35
On – the son of Peleth (son of Reuben)verse 1
Reubenverse 1
Mosesverses 2, 4-50
Take censers with fire before the LORD
Wroth
Stayed the plague
Children of Israelverse 2
Two hundred and fifty princesverse 2
Famous in the congregation
Men of renown
Aaronverses 3, 11, 16-18, 20, 41-50
Stayed the plague
Congregation of the LORDverses 3, 9, 19, 26, 41
Test of Israelverse 5
Levites rebelverses 8-11
Glory of the LORD appearedverses 19, 42
Consume the peopleverses 21, 26, 44
Provoked the LORDverse 30
Eleazar the son of Aaronverse 37
Censers made into cover for altar
Signverse 38
Memorialverse 40
Aaron makes atonement for peopleverses 46, 47
Aaron stood between living and deadverses 48-50
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Die a common deathverse 29
Pitverses 30, 33
Perishedverse 33
Consumed 250 men with censersverse 35
Soulsverse 38
Plague: 14,700 diedverses 46-49
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QUOTES regarding passage
9 “Isn’t it enough for you” translates the Hebrew idiom “Is it a little thing from you?” In other words, In your judgment is it nothing that the Lord has marked you out as distinct from the entire community for a special work for his pleasure? They were in a special place in God’s economy, but they were not satisfied. They desired more than ever. There is an emphasis in these verses on the grace of God being trampled shamelessly by these arrogant men. Korah is the ringleader, but all in his company are culpable. The issue is gratitude versus pride. A humble, grateful person thanks God for any task and carries it out faithfully. A prideful person like Korah, selfishly desiring a bigger place, a larger slice of the action in God’s kingdom, is in fact an enemy of God. Anytime one begins so heavily to emphasize “my ministry,” then such a one is in danger of standing in Korah’s sandals. (Allen, R. B. (1990). Numbers. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers (Vol. 2, p. 837). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
16:8–11. Moses then chided Korah with the reminder that he and his fellow Levites were already highly favored by God for having been selected from among all Israel to minister at the tabernacle. Not content with that great privilege, they aspired to the office of priest as well. But such aspiration was not a challenge to Aaron; it was rather an assault on the sovereign pleasure of the Lord Himself. He had plainly delegated the office of priest to the Aaronic family and that family only. (Merrill, E. H. (1985). Numbers. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 234). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
16:1–15 The rebellion against Moses and Aaron. The rebels were led by men of high standing. Korah was a Levite of the Kohathite clan, which cared for the ark and the vessels of the sanctuary. The Reubenite with him also belonged to a noble family. They were joined by 250 princes of the community, who had been called to the council and were well known among the people. Their complaint was against the hierarchy; they were claiming equal status with Moses and Aaron. This, therefore, was a challenge to the order imposed by God at Sinai (chs. 3–4). They were seeking the priesthood too (10). Moses’ words, you and all you followers have banded together (11), contain a play on words. ‘Banded together’ is a Hebrew word connected with the name Levi. When Moses summoned them, the heart of their resistance spilt out. They contradicted the covenant promises of God in a double way (13–14): they described Egypt as the land flowing with milk and honey (a description which God had given to Canaan), and they complained that Moses and Aaron had failed to bring them into the promised inheritance. (Naylor, P. J. (1994). Numbers. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., pp. 184–185). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.)
Ver. 9. Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, &c.] It should not; for it was a great thing which the Lord had done for them, and with which they should have been satisfied, and for it thankful: that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel: this was a special favour, and ought to have been esteemed such, that God, who was the God of the whole people of Israel in common, should separate the tribe of Levi from all the rest of the tribes of Israel: to bring you near to himself; next to the priests their brethren of the same tribe, to be joined to them, and assist them in their service, and officiate in the court of the tabernacle, where the divine Majesty dwelt: to do the service of the congregation of the Lord: to watch it, and guard it, and keep out persons unfit to enter into it; to take it down and set it up, as occasion required, and bear and carry the holy things in it, and take care of them: and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them? which Jarchi interprets of their singing in the desk songs of praise before them; but Aben Ezra, better, of the service they did for them, when they brought their offerings and sacrifices, which they took of them, and carried to the priests to offer for them. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 1, p. 782). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
8–11. I humbly conceive in this expostulation of Moses, and his mention of Aaron in so humiliating a manner, What is Aaron that you murmur against him? that the man of God pointed thereby to the infirmity of the man, as if to convince them that the acceptance of Aaron could not be for anything in himself, but must have arisen wholly from the Lord’s own pleasure. I do not presume to say, that Moses saw so much of gospel in the appointment of Aaron to the priesthood, that he beheld Jesus as typified and represented in every rite and ceremony Aaron ministered in. But I do venture to believe that Moses saw enough in the dispensation, to discover that Aaron never was or could be accepted for himself and for the people, in consequence of any merit or righteousness of his own. What is Aaron, that ye murmur against him? As if he had said, is not this the same Aaron that transgressed, in the instance of the golden calf? Exod. 32:1–6. (Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: Genesis–Numbers (Vol. 1, p. 646). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
16:4–11 To settle the matter, Moses ordered Korah and his rebels to appear the following day with censers (vv. 6, 7). The burning of incense was a priestly function; if God did not recognize them as priests, He would show His displeasure. (MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 185). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.)
2. Moses, a humble leader (vv 4–11). As he had done before, Moses fell on his face before the Lord (14:5, 22; 16:22, 45; 20:6; 22:31). He didn’t debate with Korah and his crowd and try to change their minds, because he knew their aim was to seize the priesthood, something the Lord would never permit. The Lord would show Korah and his followers how wrong they were, and their pride would ultimately lead to their destruction (Prov. 16:18).
The test Moses proposed was a simple one. If Korah and his men were indeed priests acceptable to God, then let them bring their censers to the tabernacle and see if God would accept them. Surely the rebels remembered what happened to Nadab and Abihu when they rashly brought “strange fire” before the Lord (Lev. 10), but even this warning didn’t deter them. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1999). Be counted (pp. 71–72). Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor Pub.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
A MIGHTY BATTLE
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 3:8
We see that our Lord did not come into the world only to teach. He did do that, and He gave incomparable teaching. We must realize what he came primarily to do. “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested,” not that He might teach us, not that He might give us a glorious example to follow, not that He might give us some transcendent idea that would illuminate our minds and thrill us. Not at all! He came, He was manifested, He appeared that He might “destroy the works of the devil.”
We see that sin is unrighteous, that it is a transgression of the law, and that sin means we are violating God’s holy will for us and God’s holy purpose with respect to us. But this is the other part: “To continue in a life of sin and evil,” says John in essence, “is just to identify yourself at once with the devil and his ways and with everything that belongs to him.” And it is this that is emphasized in this verse.
Our Lord came into this world to wage a great fight; He entered into a mighty battle. The way in which He was victorious in this fight is celebrated especially on Easter Day. This is the day that reminds us of the fact of Christ’s victory. It is not a day that reminds us of certain principles in life. You often hear people thank God for this whole “principle of resurrection,” how the flowers begin to appear, and how the trees and life come into being in the Spring. Now, that has nothing to do with this blessed message of the resurrection. We are concerned about a fact, not a principle of nature; and the fact is that in the resurrection our Lord ultimately established His conquest over the devil.
A Thought to Ponder: Our Lord came into this world to wage a great fight.
(From Children of God, pp. 60-61, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Ephesians 5
We are to walk in love just as Christ did.
INSIGHT
The wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience (the unsaved). Therefore, we are not to partake of their deeds. For we were formerly darkness, but now we are light in the Lord. If this is so, do you as a Christian need to alter any of your present habits? What about your television viewing habits? If it is disgraceful even to speak of the things that are done by the children of darkness, how much more disgraceful is it to sit in our living rooms and watch it? What about movies, books, magazines, or conversations with friends? Do your habits reflect the light of God? (Quiet Walk)
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Beguiled and Enticed
“And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.” (Colossians 2:4)
Any man can beguile us with words that are designed to capture our reason. The unusual word chosen by the Holy Spirit to describe the process is paralogizomai. The basic meaning is “alongside of reason.” It is used only one other time, in James 1:22: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
That self-deception is accomplished through “enticing words” (Greek pithanologia), used only here in Colossians. It couples the term for “reason” with “persuasion” and contains the foundation for the English word “analogy,” a very similar process of using familiar words to transfer a known idea to something else. It is deception accomplished by transferring truth onto an untruth.
During His training of the disciples, Jesus often warned that it was possible for His followers to be deceived by those who would come and make attempts to claim some role with His authority. “For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many” (Matthew 24:5). “Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many” (Matthew 24:11). “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matthew 24:24).
The stated purpose for gifted leaders in churches was to prevent the immaturity of disciples who would be “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Ephesians 4:14). Although God has made provision for our stability in “wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:2-3), we are warned that we can be beguiled by listening to the “enticing words” of those who deny Christ.
(HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
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