Reading it Right - Summary

Our time in here will be connected to our evening session

Learn to study the Bible on your own

it would be wrong of me to ask you to join in the fight for the legacy that has been passed down if we do not give you the tools to do so

give you space to practice it as we go

Summary

We are going to read our passage, I typically read it through, think on it for a minute and then read it again

there is no rush… except today because we only have about 25 minutes.

Numbers 16:1–5 CSB

1 Now Korah son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took 2 two hundred fifty prominent Israelite men who were leaders of the community and representatives in the assembly, and they rebelled against Moses. 3 They came together against Moses and Aaron and told them, “You have gone too far! Everyone in the entire community is holy, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?” 4 When Moses heard this, he fell facedown. 5 Then he said to Korah and all his followers, “Tomorrow morning the Lord will reveal who belongs to him, who is set apart, and the one he will let come near him. He will let the one he chooses come near him.

Give a little context to the story

Moses had issued another order from the Lord to the people of Israel

put tassels on your garments, they have to be blue and they will remind you to follow the laws of the Lord

that does not seem like much, but when you are against the one telling you what to do, any little thing can set you off

Enter Korah and all the names that are hard to say

we are all good people, who are you that you should be over us

we are good enough to go to the Lord on our own

Moses says fine… grab some fire pans (metal bowls that were used to carry hot coals and incense) and tomorrow we will see

Summary - a brief statement of the account of something

so write out now, one or two sentences that summarizes this short passage

Korah and others come against the one the Lord has anointed to lead the people of Israel to the promise land. He believes all are good enough to come to God on their own without Moses and Aaron as mediators.

Teaching on passage

Korah did not trust God and his messenger

Some people always have to drive

we are to be content in what God has called us to be

that does not mean that we do not do the best, take opportunities that come

but we do not strive to be “somebody”

Christ is enough!

I will always be a small town pastor, I won’t have a mega church in the city… unless God brings it about

Meeting several years ago with a Director of Missions

He was trying to get me to leave my church for a bigger church, He told me, “If you are not careful, you will always be a small town pastor.”

God will reveal his truth and the sinful will be punished

notice Moses posture in our passage

humble - i don’t need to lead, we will let the Lord decide

later he asks God not to destroy the whole community

Numbers 16:31–35 CSB

31 Just as he finished speaking all these words, the ground beneath them split open. 32 The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, all Korah’s people, and all their possessions. 33 They went down alive into Sheol with all that belonged to them. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly. 34 At their cries, all the people of Israel who were around them fled because they thought, “The earth may swallow us too!” 35 Fire also came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were presenting the incense.