COMPLAINING ABOUT BREAD AND MEAT
ON THE TABLE
Numbers 16:1-15
In America,
we have elections every four years to choose new leaders or keep the current
ones.
There is
always someone who thinks the job can be done better. There is a competition
between
Candidates to
persuade the public who can do the best job.
Some enter
the race for self-esteem and will say anything to discredit others.
The truth too
often is not told and the public is misled. The one with the most money and the
most lies often wins.
But this is
America and we have a democracy. Candidates can claim whatever they want, true
or
false. This
is free speech. If free speech does not regulate itself, democracy dies.
God is a
monarch, His Word is truth and never changes. He allows free speech which is
subject
To
consequences.
In today's lesson,
there is an opposition to God’s chosen leaders. God chose Moses the general
And Aaron
the priest to lead His nation of Israelites into the promised land. The
Israelites had been
A
complaining, grumbling group since they were freed from slavery and brought out
of Egypt.
They never
learn to trust God. Time and time again this newly freed nation rose against God. The good thing is God chose a leader to
intercede on their behalf.
THE PRIDE
OF LIFE BRINGS DISSENSION
V: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?"
A. The group opposing Moses claim
themselves to be as holy as him and worthy of a leadership position.
1. They claimed that Moses was a monarch denying them their rightful
leadership position.
2. All it takes is one to start an opposition, and a crowd will follow.
B. They opposed God's choice of leadership
and God’s priest.
1. Korah was a Levite and the others Reubenites.
2. This 250 strong opposition group had
position and authority because they had been chosen
Members of the nation's council.
3. God had given them privilege, but
they wanted more.
C. Satan, originally an Arch Angel of God,
fell from grace because of his
Pride to be equal to or above God.
1. When Satan is involved, the pride of
man leads his thoughts and decisions.
2. Satan elevates the pride of man to
his downfall.
3. The BIG LIE influenced by Satan was
Moses and Aaron had assumed their position
On their own.
4. The truth was Moses and Aaron were
chosen and ordained by God.
5. The truth is never on the mind of the
evil one.
6. With God’s authority minimized in the
minds of the opposition, lies, and deceptions
Prevail.
7. The opposition stood in front of a
humble servant of God and accused him of
Elevating himself over the people.
D. As you meditate on evil lies become the
way and attitude of the mind.
1. They claimed Moses as prideful.
2. They claimed Moses overstepped
his position
3. The whole complaining nation
claims itself to be holy and without sin.
4. Their claim was not against Moses,
but the authority of God’s choice.
GOD WILL
DESIGN A TEST TO SHOW HIS AUTHORITY
V: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 fire and incense
in them before the Lord. The man the Lord chooses will be the holy one. You
Levites have gone too far!"
A. We ought to grieve at the sins of
those around us.
1. When we grieve, go to the Lord in prayer.
2. God will give us a word of comfort.
B. God has a way of letting us know that
He is in charge.
1. Moses was instructed to put the
Lord’s authority to test before the opposition.
2. Incense is what the priest took
before the Lord to intercede for the nation.
3. The man holding the censer that God
chose would be the holy one
C. Moses reminded the Levites in Korah’s
group that they had disobeyed God’s command.
The Levites had no civil responsibilities.
1. Levites' principal roles in the Temple included singing
Psalms during Temple services, performing construction and maintenance for the
Temple, serving as guards, and performing other services. Levites also served
as teachers and judges, maintaining cities of refuge in biblical
times.
2. When we take our focus off the charge God has given us, we
Get distracted by worldly concerns.
NEGLECTING
THE GOODNESS OF GOD BRING DISSATISFACTION
V: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?"
A. God
gifted each of us to do certain jobs.
1. God did not give everyone the same
responsibility.
2. We should stay in our lane and not want
the position of others.
3. God honored us by calling us out of the
world and setting us aside to serve the body of Christ.
4. Each of us is uniquely qualified to
serve in the capacity God called us to.
B. Every
Levite was not designated as a priest.
1. Every Levite was important in God’s service
2. To deny God His rightful service is
thoughtless, ungrateful and selfish.
C. To claim
someone else’s position is to call God
incapable of choosing what’s best for
For His divine plan.
1. To call God incapable is to deny His
sovereignty.
2. To deny God in any way is to deny your
salvation.
3. Denying God is a death sentence.
4. Jesus said if we deny Him before men,
He would deny us before the Father.
DISOBEDIENCE
DENIES THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD.
V: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 desert? 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. Will you
gouge out the eyes of these men? No, we will not come!"
A. Some people have very short memories.
1. Some people do not see the
significance of what God has done.
2. They do not apply what they have
witnessed to themselves.
3. Some look at their current situation
and see gloom and doom.
B. Dathan and Abiram like most of the
Israelites saw the desert as a death sentence.
1. They witness the 10 plagues in Egypt.
They witness the parting of the Red Sea.
2. They participated in the battle with
Joshua against the enemy.
3. They were fed daily with food and
water in the desert but could not see success in
In the Lord through
Moses.
C. Having heard the negative reports of
giants in the promised land, they believed the worst.
1. Instead of seeing Moses as their
advocate, they saw him as their enemy.
2. Instead of looking at what had been
accomplished, they saw nothing positive.
3. They could not see the food for their
families that they did not have work for.
4. They could not see security from the
enemy that they did not have to provide.
5. Instead of waiting on the Lord, they
wanted relief immediately.
6. Because of their hostility toward
Moses, they denied themselves the opportunity
To listen to reason.
7. We should always listen to the advice
of others that God puts in our midst.
8. You never know if the words of others
will save you from making mistakes.
Rev. M.
Mitchell
NIV
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