28. REBELLION IN ISRAEL

"The earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up."

Aim

To show that God will destroy those who do not follow His way.

Synopsis

Because they had done evil, and shown no faith in God, Israel were not allowed to go into the Land of Promise. They had been made to go back into the wilderness and were condemned to wander there for a further 38 years until all those who had sinned against God had died (Deut. 1:35-37).

Numbers 16 and 17

KORAH PLANS A REBELLION: Numbers 16:1-14

Korah was a first cousin to Moses and Aaron: Izhar, his father, and Amram, father of Moses and Aaron, were both sons of Kohath (Num. 3:19; I Chron. 6:3,18). For this reason Korah considered he had equal right to be leader or High Priest of Israel. He had friends among the Levites but wanted others to help him in the plot. Amongst the tribe of Reuben he found followers as well, including Dathan and Abiram; and they were joined by 250 princes of the assembly (Num. 16:2).

Korah said that all the nation of Israel was "holy € (or separate) and he saw no reason why Moses and Aaron should be placed above others; but he was really envious of their position and wanted to have the leadership himself.

HOW THE REBELLION WAS PUT DOWN: Num. 16:15-40

Moses was very angry when he heard the wicked words of Korah. He called the children of Israel to assemble the next day in front of the Tabernacle. He instructed Korah and the 250 princes, and also Aaron, to bring their censers with them. The censers were brass pans which held live coals (of fire) upon which incense was burnt to give off a sweet perfume.

So on the following day the princes came with their censers and stood near the door of the Tabernacle. Korah came too and had "gathered all the congregation against Moses and Aaron". Dathan and Abiram and their families refused to come to the Tabernacle when Moses told them to. They stayed behind in the camp. The people waited in front of the Tabernacle to see what God's answer would be.

Suddenly, the glory of God shone before all the congregation and a voice commanded Moses and Aaron to stand aside so that the people might be destroyed. Moses and Aaron fell down before God pleading with Him not to punish all Israel because of the wickedness of a few. God heard their prayer and told Moses to make the people get right away from the tents of those wicked men, or they would be destroyed with them. Most of the people obeyed Moses and separated themselves. Even the sons of Korah moved away, showing that they did not agree with their father's rebellious words. We are told in Num. 26:11 that they did not perish with their father.

Then Moses spoke to the people (v28). If these wicked men died an ordinary death, then the people would know that Moses was not specially chosen by God. But if "the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up", then the people would know that it was God's hand and Moses was His chosen leader. No sooner had he finished speaking than God acted. The earth opened up and swallowed the rebels and all that belonged to them.

The 250 princes who had been with the leaders in the rebellion did not escape God's anger. "A fire from Yahweh" consumed them and nothing was left except their brass censers. God directed that these were to be beaten into plates to make a covering for the altar of burnt offering. This was to be a reminder to Israel that only Aaron and his sons could "come near to offer incense before Yahweh" (v40).

FURTHER REBELLION: Numbers 16:41-60

However, the children of Israel had not learned the lesson. The people still felt angry and rebellious. On the following day they murmured against Moses and Aaron saying, "Ye have killed the people of Yahweh". As they gathered threateningly against Moses and Aaron, the glory of God appeared over the Tabernacle and He spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying that He would consume the people in a moment. Immediately God sent a great plague and 14,700 people died for their sin. Only when Moses and Aaron pleaded on behalf of the people did God stop the plague.

AARON'S ROD THAT BUDDED:

A SIGN SHOWING GOD'S CHOICE OF HIGH PRIEST: Numbers 17

God gave a further sign that He had chosen Aaron as the High Priest over the House of Israel. The leader of each tribe was to bring his own rod to Moses and Moses would "write every man's name upon his rod: and thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi... and thou shalt lay them up in the Tabernacle of the congregation ... and it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom" (vv2-5). The man of God's choice was to be shown by a miracle - his rod would suddenly "come to life". So the rods were placed in the Tabernacle as God had directed. The next morning Moses went into the Tabernacle and found that Aaron's rod had budded, blossomed and brought forth almonds! But the other rods remained dead sticks. By this miracle God showed all Israel that Aaron was His appointed High Priest. He was chosen to "keep the charge of the sanctuary and the charge of the altar". The rod that budded was to be kept "as a token against the rebels" and was later placed in the Ark (Heb. 9:4).

LESSON FOR US

God loves all those who do their best in His service, however unimportant the work may appear to be. These are the people in whom He finds pleasure, but there is no room for the envious spirit of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Those who love and obey God now will become kings and priests in His kingdom, when His Son, Jesus Christ, returns to rule over all the earth.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

The rod that budded clearly teaches us of the resurrection from the dead. It had been a dead stick, just like the other rods, but God made it burst into life. It points to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth, when "the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised € . At that time, those who have been raised from the dead and those who are alive, who know the Gospel, will be judged by the Lord Jesus Christ. The faithful amongst them will then all be changed (1 Cor. 15:52). Their mortal bodies will be made immortal, never to die again, just like Jesus and the angels (Luke 20:35-36).

What a glorious hope is before us if we are faithful! So, whenever we see an almond tree blossom at the end of winter, it will remind us of the coming of Christ and the resurrection.

QUESTIONS

Short Answers

1. Who was Korah ?

2. What did Korah say about Moses and Aaron?

3. Who joined with Korah when he spoke against the leaders God had chosen?

4. What did God tell Moses and Aaron to do when Korah, Dathan andAbiram rebelled against them?

5. What happened to Korah, Dathan and Abiram ?

6. What happened to the 250 princes who followed Korah, Dathan andAbiram?

7. What did God tell Moses to make out of the censers of brass?

8. Why were the people angry the following day?

9. What sign did God give to show that He had chosen Aaron to be High Priest?

Detailed Answers

1. (a) Tell how Korah, Dathan andAbiram made trouble in the camp of Israel.

(b) How did God punish them?

2. How did God show his choice of High Priest when the Israelites were in the wilderness?

3. What punishment for rebellion was sent upon -

   1. Korah, Dathan andAbiram?

   2. The 250 princes?

   3. The disobedient people from among the children of Israel?

Additional Answers

4. Explain the meaning of Aaron's rod that budded.