Learning to Follow God, Numbers 15-17
Learning to Follow God-Numbers • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 3 viewsWhen we place our trust in God, we begin a journey learning to follow Him. The journey is never wasted time, but it is strategic time.
Notes
Transcript
Welcome and Announcements:
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If you are joining us for the first time today, we would like to thank you for joining us. We know you have options, and we are honored that you would choose to be with us today.
We open our Sundays with prayer time at 9 a.m. in the Bryant Center across the street. At 9:30 a.m. we have Sunday school classes, children included. We also typically have a prayer group that meets at 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon to pray for the needs shared on Sunday mornings as well as other requests provided. If you have a special prayer need, I would like to encourage you to put a note in the offering plate and we will include it in our prayer time.
In our Summer and Fall Sunday services, we have been working our way through the Old Testament. We are currently in the book of Numbers and will continue there through November. The Old Testament is critical to understanding Jesus and why He came and needed to die on our behalf. It also helps us understand what is happening in our world today. The events in Israel right now are directly related to these Old Testament historical events. However, these events also are full of wisdom for our own personal lives. The books of Genesis and Exodus are great reads to understand the background of what we are currently talking about in Numbers.
I highly recommend the ap, “Through the Word.” You can do a one chapter a day Bible study in less than 20 minutes. It is a great way to be in your Bible each day, as it helps us to understand how people came into existence and what our ultimate purpose is and our eventual destination.
Before we jump into today’s worship, allow me to share some quick announcements.
• Baby Bottle support for the La Grande Crisis Pregnancy Center ends today.
• Harvest Dinner Potluck, November 24
Hanging of the Greens, December 1
Advent Devotional’s available
Psalm 142
Psalm 142
A maskil of David. When he was in the cave. A prayer. 1 I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy. 2 I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble. 3 When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way. In the path where I walk people have hidden a snare for me. 4 Look and see, there is no one at my right hand; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life. 5 I cry to you, Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” 6 Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. 7 Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.
Prayer
Worship Set
To God Be the Glory
Take My Life and Let it Be
Cares Chorus
Prayer - Mark
Worship Through the Word:
Learning to Follow God
Learning to Follow God
10,000 Sermon Illustrations What Pleases Him
What Pleases Him
G. Campbell Morgan told about a Christian woman who was struggling with giving her life fully to Jesus. The woman said to Morgan, “I know I will have to do all the things I most dislike, but I am determined to be a real Christian.”
A year later, Morgan was visiting in her town and spoke with her again. “Do you recall,” she inquired, “What I said to you when I dedicated my life to Christ?” He told her he did. As she looked at him, the light of God appeared to be on her face. She exclaimed, “But it’s been so different, Dr. Morgan! I began to follow Christ, feeling that I would have to do all the things that were contrary to my desires, but now I do what I want every day because God has made me pleased with the things that please Him!”
Source unknown
This is the battle we all face. We are so certain we know what is best for us, yet we cannot wrap our minds around the fact that God created us! He knows us better than we know ourselves because He designed us to be what we are. It makes me think of the cartoon figure that Mark showed us during one of his sermons. There is an enemy and that enemy is US!
However, as much as God knows us, we are very sketchy on what we know about Him. The Old Testament can sometimes be intimidating because we hear things about God that do not fit what we wish to believe. When we see the people that God drops in their boots, for instance. However, we need to remember that love demands justice. If God ignored the ungodly and allowed them to continue, they just bring more harm to the masses. For us to experience a life without sin and without heartache, God must act justly to bring that about. We can not pronounce God as a God of love and take justice and punishment out of the equation, because if we do so, we condemn us all to an eternity battling sin. Or worse, eternal death.
Today is another difficult account as once again, there is rebellion and it brings death to thousands of people. Rebellion always requires acts of justice.
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!” 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.”
The Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God!
Father, please bless this Word which you have provided and which we now receive. Amen!
I. Lessons Quickly Forgotten Numbers 16 & 17
I. Lessons Quickly Forgotten Numbers 16 & 17
Last week, we left with Israel on the border of the Promised Land. They sent 12 spies, 10 of which decided they were powerless against the people of Canaan. They spun descriptions meant to intimidate the people from doing as God commanded and it worked. God then declared that they would wander in the barren waste land of the desert for a total of 40 years, one for each day the spent in the Promised Land.
There is not much shared about those 38 years of wandering beyond a note in Deuteronomy where Moses shared that God prevented their clothes from wearing out, their feet from swelling, and God continued to provide food and water for them. God blessed with provision, but it was a dark time. Warren Wiersbe called it a 38 year funeral march. They carried their sin with them as there was no sacrifices made to cover this sin. It reminds me of the story of the Pilgrim’s Progress and “Christian” as he makes his journey to the cross carrying his baggage on his back.
You see, they regretted what they had done but they did not repent. How many times do we do the same? We regret the consequences but we never really repent or change.
For 38 years there was no sacrifices made according to the book of Amos. There was no Passover celebration, no celebration or holiday of any sort. Just somber travel under the heaviness of sin. If Jesus Christ had never come. If there were no Savior to die on a cross for us, this is the kind of life we would be living. I am so thankful for the sacrifice Jesus made on my behalf, that I can be cleansed from my sin. I regret, but unlike Israel, I was willing to repent from my sin and I work daily to follow God’s direction. In this path I have found great blessings!
We are not told when this event took place, but it was most likely not long after they had headed back into the wilderness. Once again, rebellion is at the center of the problem and we find...
A. The Rebels Were Part of the Congregation. Numbers 16:1-3
A. The Rebels Were Part of the Congregation. Numbers 16:1-3
It began with Korah. Korah was a Levite, a cousin of Moses. He must have been a good leader as he attracted others to him. In fact, we quickly learn that those following him were leaders themselves. They were men that had been chosen to lead their tribes, however, they were not happy with their lot. They wanted something more.
Isn’t that always the case? It is Satan’s story. Isaiah shares it.
12 How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! 13 You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. 14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” 15 But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit.
We know these men were council men and it makes you wonder how they used their time. Were they taking care of the business of the people like they were supposed to, or sitting around grumbling because they were not top dog?
We know there were a certain number of Levites there but there were other tribe members as well, including Dathan, Abiram and On from the tribe of Reuben.
Have you ever noticed how so often, these people will grumble and complain about what others are doing, yet they are seldom doing what they are supposed to be doing?
Some of the greatest damage to the church has come from men stepping out from the God ordained authority of the pastor, to try to take the lead. Often, these are board members. We need to be careful of people who want to be on the board and who campaign for such a position. My experience is that often those who hesitate to be on the board are some of the best board members. Leadership is not easy. It brings great expectation and responsibility. However, often those campaigning for such positions are usually focused on the wrong things. Instead of doing the tasks at hand, they are using the position to promote themselves. We must always be careful of who we place in such places of leadership.
In this account, Korah and his followers have pitted themselves against God’s anointed spiritual leaders, Moses and Aaron. As we observe them, we can see ...
B. Satan’s Pride vs Christ’s Humility. Numbers 16:3-7
B. Satan’s Pride vs Christ’s Humility. Numbers 16:3-7
Notice the manner of these men.
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?”
First, they accuse Moses and Aaron about something that they had no control over. Moses did not set himself in authority. In fact, Moses did not want the authority. He was happy as a shepherd in the desert. Think about this a moment. Moses had been a son of Pharaoh. As such, he had been instructed to lead men. I am sure he carried a level of authority and leadership as a son of Pharaoh. Then he found himself in the desert as a shepherd. How much quieter and more peaceful that life was. Being the humble man he was, Moses was content in this role.
Aaron did not insert himself into the role of priest. He also, was appointed by God. It had not been easy. He watched as two of his sons were burned up by God’s wrath when they played around in the Tabernacle, by bringing “strange fire” instead of the prescribed fire.
Now compare this with how Moses greets these men making such rash accusations.
4 When Moses heard this, he fell facedown.
Moses takes a posture of respect. He does not fear them, though he may fear God’s response to them. God has offered to destroy these people before while offering to make Moses into a great nation. Yet Moses never once even hesitated. Instead, he cried out to God to forgive and have mercy on these people. These men accuse Moses of benefits he has never received. He has suffered and I am sure he worked harder than any of them.
We can learn a lot from Moses. He humbled himself before them, but he still spoke truth to them. They demanded the right to choose who would lead, with no concern of what God’s will was. Moses, however, turned the choice over to God. Moses instructs them to bring censers with fire and allow God to choose.
Moses then turns to Korah, their leader, and the Levite brethren with him. These are Moses’ fellow kin and Moses’ rebukes them. God had chosen all of the Levites to be set apart to Him. Theirs was an honored role among Israel. They should have felt honored yet they insulted God with their desire for more.
We see the same issue today when board members rise up in rebuke and condemnation of their pastors. Now, please hear me out. I am not saying every pastor is always right. However, I am saying that God puts in places of leadership those He chooses. There is a right way and a wrong way to respond. When lay leaders take control of a church, it really hurts the church. Replacing a pastor is God’s job. King David understood this. In fact, Gene Edwards wrote one of the best books I have ever read on this subject. It is called, “A Tale of Three Kings.” I recommend it to any Christian struggling with their pastor.
One of Edward’s illustrations is the case of Saul and David. There were some encouraging David to take Saul out. After all, David had already been anointed Israel’s next king. But David knew and understood that it was not his place to take action in removing Saul. It was God’s place and God honored David for it. In fact, David had two coronations because Judah received him as king before Israel did. David did not force himself on the people. He waited and allowed God to do it for him so that they could all confirm, he was God’s choice.
God made His chose between Aaron and Korah clear as well.
C. God Will Always Honor His Chosen and Take Action Against the Aggressors. Numbers 16:20-23, 36-38
C. God Will Always Honor His Chosen and Take Action Against the Aggressors. Numbers 16:20-23, 36-38
God never allows the aggressors to win. Whether you witness it or not, God always takes action against unrighteousness, and challenging God’s anointed are acts of unrighteousness. You are telling God you know His business better than He does! You may not always agree with those in places of authority, but God has placed or allowed them there for a reason. Of course, it is not always as dramatic as it was back then.
Picture this! Moses and Aaron in front of the Tabernacle facing the crowd (interesting enough, the Reubenites Dathan and Abiram refused to come. Perhaps they feared what God would do. However, their attitude had not changed as they defied Moses by not coming). So Moses and Aaron face the people and the people face Moses and Aaron with the Tabernacle a short distance behind them. Then comes the cloud of God and He sits behind Moses and Aaron, not in amongst the crowd. Oh, if I were Korah and the others, I think I would feel a bit uncertain in that moment.
But God also speaks but who does He speak to? Moses and Aaron. You know, these people still do not get it. If God had chosen them, He would be speaking to them. Maybe it is the fact that they do not hear Him and they think Moses and Aaron are just making this part up. But if that is the case, why is it that Moses and Aaron always seem to know what will happen? The events happening as Moses says is verification from God.
21 You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?” 22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.
The book of Jude warns against false prophets and those who would step out from under the authority God has established (that is all authority by the way) and Korah is named. Korah, who wanted to have Moses’ position gets fame, but it is the fame of one condemned by God, and he is numbered with other nefarious characters.
11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.
God spoke personally to Moses and Aaron, but God’s actions spoke to everyone else because...
D. Sin is Always Penalized! Numbers 16:25-35, 42-50
D. Sin is Always Penalized! Numbers 16:25-35, 42-50
God wanted to bless these people, yet their actions demand penalty. Sin cannot go unpunished as it will only escalate and take more victims. Even more, is that sin is a direct violation against Almighty God. God was ready to take them all but once again, Moses and Aaron stand in the gap and beg God to only move against those who initiated the problem. God complies and it would have ended with a minimal group of casualties, but the people once again were their own worst enemy. So, God moves in three waves.
1. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram are swallowed up by the earth.
1. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram are swallowed up by the earth.
Moses demonstrates his communication with God again, when he says God will do a new thing by swallowing these rebels whole, instead of the usual fire burning.
Perhaps Dathan and Abiram had remained at home to see what would happen with Korah. If Korah lived, they would be at his side as professed allies. However, they probably figured if God struck down Korah, they would live to declare fresh alliance to Moses. But God knows the hearts of men. They were as implicit as Korah, and there is no hiding from God. Can you imagine the doubts they experienced as Moses and Aaron called for everyone to step away from their tents? Then it happened! The ground broke revealing a crevasse that swallowed up Korah, Dathan, and Abiram as well as their families and then just shut up over them. Can you imagine the gasps of the people?
2. Then fire takes out the 250 priest wannabes.
2. Then fire takes out the 250 priest wannabes.
Tongues of fire break out from the cloud and burn up the 250 false priests. Moses’ challenge to them should have been a warning to them. Aaron’s two sons had been burned up in the same way for bringing un-prescribed fire in censers before God. Perhaps that is why Moses instructed them to do this. He was hoping they would remember and decide not to follow through. But they did, and they died in the same way. They chose poorly who to follow.
That should have been all who died, but the people, instead of taking the warning and being thankful it didn’t include them, cried out in complaint. God had had enough.
3. A deadly plague drops 14,700 people where they stand.
3. A deadly plague drops 14,700 people where they stand.
A deadly plague was sent forth and the people began to drop like flies. And here we see the heroism of Aaron. Moses cries out for Aaron to go make intercession for them and their sin. Aaron without questioning, instantly takes his censor and runs out ahead of the plague saving the rest of the assembled peoples. In that moment, Aaron showed why he was the true priest. Would Korah have risked his life to save the people? I doubt it. He was too concerned for himself.
It is always dangerous to challenge God or God’s anointed! God puts in leadership who He wants in leadership. As I am writing this, it is election day. I am at a place where I really feel concerned for our nation based on who wins this election. However, for good or bad, I know God is still in control. It may be someone who I feel will help our nation improve. I will be thankful. It may be someone who I believe can really harm our nation. Does that mean it is out of God’s hands? No, because God may give us over to what the majority wants. Just like Caleb and Joshua, who were delayed in getting their inheritance because of the rebellion of others. However, I know one very important truth. John Carson stated it well when he said, "We can delay God’s blessing but we cannot destroy His purposes.”
Finally...
E. God Confirms His Chose. Numbers 17
E. God Confirms His Chose. Numbers 17
The people’s rebellion was still evident. So, God took one more measure to show that Aaron was His chosen priest. God called for the leader of each tribe to bring forth a dead stick. They were to inscribe their name on it. These sticks were then to be placed before the Ark of the Covenant overnight. In the morning, when the people gathered and the sticks pulled out, Aaron’s dead stick had become full of life. Even more, it was full of every stage of life all at the same time. You know how fall growth goes. It begins with tiny leaf buds, it blooms into a flower, the flower dies and fruit takes its place. However, Aaron’s staff had all stages at once. It was a miracle for two reasons. One that a dead stick would produce life at all and second, it had all stages at once. No one could replicate that. Only Creator God could perform such a feat. God will always have the final word!
God instructed that Aaron’s staff remain in the Ark before His presence at all times.
God always defends His chosen. If you stand against a chosen one of God, beware. It comes with heavy consequences.
Conclusion
God doesn’t want people to fail. He wants them to obey and believe. These people have already demonstrated that this is not their strength, so over chapters 15-17 God places before them three symbols to remind them.
In chapter 15, it was...
1. Prayer tassels for their garments. Numbers 15:37-41
1. Prayer tassels for their garments. Numbers 15:37-41
I didn’t go into this. Much of chapter 15 are reminders of sacrifices and things we have already addressed in the past couple years. However, this one was new. They were to put tassels on the corners of their garments. These were to be made of blue cord to remind them of God’s laws and encourage them to obey them. There are still Jews today who wear such tassels.
2. The brass of the fake censors were hammered to cover the altar. Numbers 16:37-38
2. The brass of the fake censors were hammered to cover the altar. Numbers 16:37-38
Every time they looked at the altar, they would see the brass plate covering and know that God requires worship in a prescribed way and He appoints His priests. They people would see that plate and remember the price paid for not obeying and challenging God’s anointed.
3. The blossomed staff of Aaron Numbers 17:10
3. The blossomed staff of Aaron Numbers 17:10
The staff of Aaron was placed in the Ark near to God. It was a sign of the rebellion of the people and God’s ability to defend who He chose. It was to be a reminder to the people of the strife their grumbling caused.
Like Aaron, Jesus stands in the gap between the living and the dead. He offers His life as a sacrifice for our sin. We have a choice. Do we continue to go through life demanding our own way? Or do we trust God to lead us in a way that is right.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.
What makes it a pleasant place is not pleasing surroundings. It is not having power, prestige, or personal gain. What makes it a pleasant place is having the love and approval of our Father God. Jesus died on the cross so we could have that relationship with God. He now offers it to us as a gift. All we need to do is to accept the gift and turn to follow where He leads. If you have not yet accepted that gift, I hope you will today. Do not miss a single opportunity of what God has for you.
Prayer
Worship Set
Just As I Am
Bind Us Together
Benediction
