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The Challenge to Korah

Text: Numbers 16:16-50
12 October 2015

THE CHALLENGE TO KORAH

1. A fair challenge

2. To be before the Lord   (Numbers 16:16)

a) Korah and the Levites
b) Aaron and his son
c) To take censers

KORAH

1. He accepted the challenge   (Numbers 16:19)

2. He gathered all the congregation against Moses   (Numbers 16:1)

VENUE

At the door of the Tabernacle of meeting   (Numbers 16:19)

THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD

1. The glory of God was made manifest   (Numbers 16:19)

2. The congregation of Israel saw God’s glory   (Numbers 16:19)

THE WORD OF THE LORD

1. God spoke to Moses and Aaron   (Numbers 16:20)

2. Word given

a) Moses and Aaron were to separate themselves
b) The rebels would be consumed   (Numbers 16:21)

INTERCESSION

1. In great humility

They fell on their faces   (Numbers 16:22)

2. Addressing God

a) The God of the spirits of all flesh   (Numbers 16:22)
b) Acknowledging the sin of one man   (Numbers 16:22)
c) Pleading that the followers of Korah be spared   (Numbers 16:22)

GOD’S WORD TO MOSES

1. Favourable response to intercession

2. Word of God to be made known to the congregation

3. Separation from:

a) Korah
b) Dathan and Abiram   (Numbers 16:23-24)

MOSES AND THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL

1. Confronting Dathan and Abiram   (Numbers 16:25)

2. Speaking to the congregation

a) Depart from the wicked men
b) Touch nothing of theirs
c) Danger of being consumed in all their sins   (Numbers 16:26)

DIVINE JUDGMENT

1. Moses’ word to Korah   (Numbers 16:28-30)

a) If death comes naturally, the common fate of men
b) Then the Lord has not sent Moses
c) A divine act of God- the earth will swallow up the rebels

2. Divine judgment meted out   (Numbers 16:31-35)

a) The earth swallowed up the sons of Korah
b) Fire from heaven destroyed the 250 men who were offering incense

IMPORTANT LESSONS LEARNED

1. A sign to the children of Israel   (Numbers 16:38)

2. The censers used by the sons of Korah

a) They were considered holy
b) But the sons of Korah were not!
c) They had sinned against their own souls   (Numbers 16:38)

3. The censers were hammered out and made into a covering for the altar   (Numbers 16:39)

a) As a memorial
b) No outsider, not from the line of Aaron should offer incense   (Numbers 16:40)