Post by Mark on Jun 28, 2008 5:55:52 GMT -8
The Scripture reading for this week is often declared to be the an expression of Adonai’s wrath and judgment: that He does not tolerate rebellion or wickedness. Except, that statement is incorrect. He does tolerate our rebellion against Him. He is long-suffering and patient. So, if the moral of the story is not, "Don’t rebel against God lest He consume you," what is it?
Could it be that these stories are not so much about Adonai in His righteous power in indignation; but more about His open-handed provision of grace?
The story that begins in Numbers 16 is the story of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Korah was disgruntled, many sages say, with the his position within the Levitical priesthood. Korah, as the son of Yitzhar, was next in line according to age; but in Numbers 3:30, Moses appoints Elitzafan (see Exodus 4:18). The appointment by Moses seemed to be preferential and biased against Korah. As the story goes in many rabbinical tales, Korah began a muttering campaign. Those who were inclined toward discontent rallied to him (much like what Absalom did in 2nd Samuel 15). There were those who saw this as an advantage for position, like Abiram and Dathan, who established themselves as leaders in the coupe. There was also a fellow named On. When they had about 250 leaders of the camp of Israel on their side, they rose up against Moses and Aaron in defiance.
Moses’ response was to have them stand outside their tents and see if Adonai would destroy them by the ground opening up underneath them and consuming them.
Moses said exactly what would happen. He laid out the perimeters of Adonai’s judgment. If any was willing to step away from Korah and his stooges, step away from the camp and the stuff and toward Moses, they would not suffer this destruction. After an uncomfortable silence, the ground began to rumble and Korah, Abiram abd Dathan, plus all that was with them were planted. I bring up On because he isn’t recorded as being among those who died. It is suspected, by some, that he didn’t actively engage in the rebellion. One rumor is that his wife got him drunk the night before in order to save his life. While all this was going on, he was sleeping it off. Another possibility is that he responded to Moses appeal. When the extension of grace was offered, he stepped away.
It’s funny how we can be. The ground literally opened up before the eyes of Israel and swallowed up Korah and the others, then closed on over the top of them as if they had never been there. The people then look up at Moses in anger and accuse him of murdering God’s people. Right. Moses, tunneled under the tents and pulled a trap, just at the right moment for affect. Or worse yet, somehow God is working for Moses as his personal divine henchman. This latter seems far-fetched to us; but that is very much how the Egyptians viewed the gods of Pharaoh. They were subject to the king of Egypt’s commands. The natural assumption was that this god of Israel was somehow Moses’ servant as well.
God was torqued. He began to kill off the entire population with a plague of death. Moses commanded Aaron to take his censure, to fill it with incense from the altar of incense and run to stand in the path of this plague.
So visualize this: in a sweeping stroke, Adonai was passing death over the people of Israel. They were literally dropping where they stood. You could see it coming. You could see where it had been and the totality of its affect. Which direction would you likely be heading? If you had any brains about you, you would understand, at this point, that the closer you were to Moses, the safer possibilities might be for you. Here is an opportunity for grace: the plague of death is coming. Running away from it is useless; except to run in the direction of Moses.
Now there is another beautiful element to this. All the smart people are running away from the death. What’s Aaron doing? He’s running straight for it! If nothing else could ever be said for Aaron, the guy’s got guts! We can’t help but take a moment to consider what it was that Aaron was carrying: he had his censure which contained the smoldering incense. The significance of this is powerful: here we have incense which represents prayers that are pleasing to Adonai, we have fire which is representative of the Spirit of Adonai, and we have brass which is a symbol for humanity. This doesn’t lose its relevance in Hebrews 5:7
Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
(Hebrews 5:7)
So, Aaron and his censure come face to face with the sweeping hand of death and death is stayed. You didn’t have to get to the other side of Moses to be rescued. You don’t have to come all the way in order to be saved. Moses sent out a representative who ran straight past you and stood in death’s path on your behalf. Salvation is by grace through faith.
Death and destruction are the inevitable consequence of this existence on this earth. It’s not necessarily because we’re such bad people. We just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. That’s not exactly true; but it’s okay if you look at it that way. Fourteen thousand people died because they were closer to the edge of the camp than they were to Moses. You don’t have to be blood-thirsty and raving in your sin in order to be doomed to Hell. You just have to be on the wrong side of the camp. Death is coming. We can see where it has been and the direction it is headed. There are only a couple of options. One, you can ignore it and say, "This can’t really be happening." I’m sure there are some who were thinking that way; but interestingly enough there is no record of that… they’re dead. You could be angry and defiant. Yes, we’ve visited that one already, haven’t we? That sure gets you a long way. Or, you can run for the One who has been in the presence of the Most Holy God and has with Him the presence of the Spirit and intercession in His humanity. The One who has stayed the wrath of God.
I want to tell you that there is a way of escape from the wrath of Adonai (which is coming). I want you to understand that there is salvation in Messiah Yeshua. Run to Him with all the strength you can muster!
Could it be that these stories are not so much about Adonai in His righteous power in indignation; but more about His open-handed provision of grace?
The story that begins in Numbers 16 is the story of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Korah was disgruntled, many sages say, with the his position within the Levitical priesthood. Korah, as the son of Yitzhar, was next in line according to age; but in Numbers 3:30, Moses appoints Elitzafan (see Exodus 4:18). The appointment by Moses seemed to be preferential and biased against Korah. As the story goes in many rabbinical tales, Korah began a muttering campaign. Those who were inclined toward discontent rallied to him (much like what Absalom did in 2nd Samuel 15). There were those who saw this as an advantage for position, like Abiram and Dathan, who established themselves as leaders in the coupe. There was also a fellow named On. When they had about 250 leaders of the camp of Israel on their side, they rose up against Moses and Aaron in defiance.
Moses’ response was to have them stand outside their tents and see if Adonai would destroy them by the ground opening up underneath them and consuming them.
Moses said exactly what would happen. He laid out the perimeters of Adonai’s judgment. If any was willing to step away from Korah and his stooges, step away from the camp and the stuff and toward Moses, they would not suffer this destruction. After an uncomfortable silence, the ground began to rumble and Korah, Abiram abd Dathan, plus all that was with them were planted. I bring up On because he isn’t recorded as being among those who died. It is suspected, by some, that he didn’t actively engage in the rebellion. One rumor is that his wife got him drunk the night before in order to save his life. While all this was going on, he was sleeping it off. Another possibility is that he responded to Moses appeal. When the extension of grace was offered, he stepped away.
It’s funny how we can be. The ground literally opened up before the eyes of Israel and swallowed up Korah and the others, then closed on over the top of them as if they had never been there. The people then look up at Moses in anger and accuse him of murdering God’s people. Right. Moses, tunneled under the tents and pulled a trap, just at the right moment for affect. Or worse yet, somehow God is working for Moses as his personal divine henchman. This latter seems far-fetched to us; but that is very much how the Egyptians viewed the gods of Pharaoh. They were subject to the king of Egypt’s commands. The natural assumption was that this god of Israel was somehow Moses’ servant as well.
God was torqued. He began to kill off the entire population with a plague of death. Moses commanded Aaron to take his censure, to fill it with incense from the altar of incense and run to stand in the path of this plague.
So visualize this: in a sweeping stroke, Adonai was passing death over the people of Israel. They were literally dropping where they stood. You could see it coming. You could see where it had been and the totality of its affect. Which direction would you likely be heading? If you had any brains about you, you would understand, at this point, that the closer you were to Moses, the safer possibilities might be for you. Here is an opportunity for grace: the plague of death is coming. Running away from it is useless; except to run in the direction of Moses.
Now there is another beautiful element to this. All the smart people are running away from the death. What’s Aaron doing? He’s running straight for it! If nothing else could ever be said for Aaron, the guy’s got guts! We can’t help but take a moment to consider what it was that Aaron was carrying: he had his censure which contained the smoldering incense. The significance of this is powerful: here we have incense which represents prayers that are pleasing to Adonai, we have fire which is representative of the Spirit of Adonai, and we have brass which is a symbol for humanity. This doesn’t lose its relevance in Hebrews 5:7
Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
(Hebrews 5:7)
So, Aaron and his censure come face to face with the sweeping hand of death and death is stayed. You didn’t have to get to the other side of Moses to be rescued. You don’t have to come all the way in order to be saved. Moses sent out a representative who ran straight past you and stood in death’s path on your behalf. Salvation is by grace through faith.
Death and destruction are the inevitable consequence of this existence on this earth. It’s not necessarily because we’re such bad people. We just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. That’s not exactly true; but it’s okay if you look at it that way. Fourteen thousand people died because they were closer to the edge of the camp than they were to Moses. You don’t have to be blood-thirsty and raving in your sin in order to be doomed to Hell. You just have to be on the wrong side of the camp. Death is coming. We can see where it has been and the direction it is headed. There are only a couple of options. One, you can ignore it and say, "This can’t really be happening." I’m sure there are some who were thinking that way; but interestingly enough there is no record of that… they’re dead. You could be angry and defiant. Yes, we’ve visited that one already, haven’t we? That sure gets you a long way. Or, you can run for the One who has been in the presence of the Most Holy God and has with Him the presence of the Spirit and intercession in His humanity. The One who has stayed the wrath of God.
I want to tell you that there is a way of escape from the wrath of Adonai (which is coming). I want you to understand that there is salvation in Messiah Yeshua. Run to Him with all the strength you can muster!
