Today's passage: Numbers 16
Helpful thoughts:
- Today's passage is a rebellious and deadly one. The Lord is God and He is to be feared and obeyed. He is also gracious yet just. The justification for our sins required a sacrifice (2 Corinthians 5:21).
- Korah and those who came with him thought they were protesting against Moses and Aaron because they had exalted themselves above all Israel. They were wrong on every point.
- Moses and Aaron did not exalt themselves. God had set them apart (The use of the word “holy”).
- Therefore, Korah and his allies were not protesting Moses and Aaron, they were rebelling against God.
- In truth, Korah was the one who was attempting to exalt himself.
- Those who had no right to offer incense suffered for it. But when God's chosen man offered incense, it saved people alive. When God's chosen people do God's revealed will in God's prescribed way it brings blessing.
Questions to consider:
- What did Korah and his allies have backwards? How was their pride evidenced in this account? How was Moses and Aaron's humility evidenced?
- What can we learn about biblical leadership from this passage? Is leadership about getting a big name, having followers and obtaining power? Or is it about service, effort, love, protection, etc.?
- When we read accounts like this, it can cause us to sit up and take notice of who God is (A right, healthy fear). Is there anything in your life you need to make right? Anything to confess to the Lord? Anything to acknowledge as having been covered by the blood of Christ and to be thankful for and turn away from? God has been so gracious to us. How should we live in response?