After the Israelites entered the Promised Land they had to offer a list of offerings about which the Lord had instructed them.

Punishment for Sins
If the Israelites unintentionally failed to keep any of the commands of God they had to present a burnt offering as an aroma pleasing to the Lord along with a grain and sin offering. The priest would make atonement for them. Any one who sins defiantly would be cut off from the people. The man who does any work on the Sabbath Day would be stoned. The people had to obey all the commands of God and be consecrated to God.

Rebel of Levites
God’s severe punishment fell on Korah, Dathan and Abiram who were Levites. They rebelled against Moses and Aaron and said they cannot set themselves above the Lord’s assembly because all are holy. The Lord would never tolerate rebellion against His faithful servants.

They had treated the Lord with contempt. The punishment came! The ground under them split apart and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them with their families and all their possessions. The next day the whole Israel community grumbled against Moses and Aaron for killing the three men with their families. God sent a plague which killed 14,700 people. Aaron made atonement and only then the plague stopped.

Aaron’s Rod
Following God’s command Moses collected 12 staffs from the leaders of the tribes and Aaron’s staff was among g them. Moses placed the rods before the Lord in the tent of the testimony. Only Aaron’s staff which belonged to the house of Levi had budded, blossomed and produced almonds. The Israelites were afraid that all would die. God gave clear commands regarding the duties of priests and Levites and also regarding the offerings for the priests and Levites.

Think it Over
Beware of Opposition
From this passage we see that our holy God will never tolerate opposition against the ministers of God chosen to do God’s service. They are chosen by God, so we should never raise our voices against God’s chosen ministers. They are holy unto the Lord. They should be given our full support, co-operation and sincere prayers for their ministry.

Mrs Caroline Chellappa 📝
Chennai
16-08-2020

Korah’s rebellion Numbers 16

Korah, leader of a great conspiracy was a levite and was responsible for the most holy things of the tabernacle. Initially, he tookDathan,Abiram and On and 250 Israelite men to start the revolt. They did not want to serve in the tabernacle, as directed by God but sought priestly position.

Moses told them to come back the next morning v5 overnight one of the four men On backed out. Thus he saved himself and his family

Moses called Dathan and Abiram to warn them but they refused to meet him v12. Their pride and arrogance sealed their fate and their fate of their families.

The lord told the people to pull back from the tents of korah, Dathan and Abiram.and the people and the sons of korah did.we see in 26:11 sons of korah did not die. They obeyed the lord.

But the rebels stood before their tents and the earth opened her mouth and these rebellious men went down alive in the pit.v31_34. So we learn that we should not aspire to do the work that the lord has not allocated to us.

The descendants of those sons of korah ( who escaped death) were the song leaders in David’s time. They wrote Ps 42_49,Ps 84. In Ps 84:10 they wrote I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God than dwell in the tents of wickedness

Cynthia Sathiaraj
Chennai