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A Complaining Spirit

Text: Numbers 16:41-50
19 October 2015

A COMPLAINING SPIRIT

1. It reared its ugly head again

2. A complaint was lodged against Moses and Aaron

3. The complaint

“You have killed the people of the LORD”   Numbers 16:41

4. Place of the confrontation

At the Tabernacle   (Numbers 16:42)

5. Who complained?

The congregation of Israel   (Numbers 16:42)

THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD

1. The Glory of the LORD appeared   (Numbers 16:42)

2. Moses and Aaron were there   (Numbers 16:43)

A WORD FROM THE LORD

1. A threat was issued

2. Contents

“Get away from among the congregation, that I may consume them in a moment”   Numbers 16:45

RESPONSE OF MOSES AND AARON

They fell on their faces   (Numbers 16:45)

1. Appropriate humility

2. Prayer

MOSES’ ADVICE TO AARON

1. He understood what God meant

A plague from God had been unleashed   (Numbers 16:46)

2. He knew how to respond

3. His advice to Aaron

a) Censer with fire from the altar
b) Incense to be put in the censer
c) Take it quickly to the congregation
d) Make atonement   Numbers 16:46

AARON HEEDS THE ADVICE

1. He did all the above

2. He ran to do Moses’ bidding

3. Made atonement for the people   (Numbers 16:47)

4. He stood between the living and the dead   (Numbers 16:48)

5. The plague stopped   (Numbers 16:48)

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO DIED

14,700 people perished   (Numbers 16:49)

OTHER PEOPLE WHO STOOD IN THE BREACH

1. Moses   (Psalm 106:23)

2. Phinehas   (Psalm 106:30)