“Standing in the Gap”

Numbers 16. 41-50

“Standing in the Gap”

K. Adrian Scott

June 21, 2026

Introduction.

The book of Numbers has its title because it often recorded the census of the nation of Israel and is, of course, the fourth among the five books of Moses that is often referred to among Christians as the ‘Pentateuch’ or in the Hebrew Bible it is referred to as the ‘Torah’ (‘instruction’) or the Law of Moses.

Here the Israelites have escaped their captives in Egypt and are in route to Yahweh’s land of promise, Canaan. However, for Israel as you know, due to their sin of rebellion and their displaying a spirit of complaining, they were an often-confused people, and therefore there was no clear path for them to Canaan.

Context.

The immediate context in chapter sixteen tells us there is a rebellion against the leaders of Israel, Moses and his brother, Aaron which is led by Korah, one of the ministers of the tabernacle.

In short, the rebellion centered around misguided ego and unrestrained ambition. If you read the context in Numbers 16 you will clearly see that Korah is not satisfied with the privilege and honor of being a Levite and a servant of the Tabernacle but wants to promote himself to the priesthood.

All priests were from the tribe of Levi, but not all Levites were priests. And even though Korah was also from the tribe of Levi, he wanted something he could never have, and that was the priesthood. Why could he never ascend to the ranks of priesthood? Because Yahweh established the priesthood and reserved it only for Aaron ad his sons, and Korah was not one of Aaron’s sons.

As is the case often, Korah wants to take what the Lord has not given him! So, he wanted to be something he could not be, and he attempts to grab more than he could hold by stirring up a rebellion against his leadership among those who sympathized with him.

What would case Korah and his accomplices to rebel against Moses and Aaron because neither Moses nor Aaron wrote the rules, but Israel’s God, Yahweh wrote the Law. So, when looking at this critically it would be fair to say that Korah’s complaint was actually against the Yahweh, but since Korah’s arms are too short to box with God, he chose to pick a fight with Moses and Aaron, mere men like himself, they just happened to have been called by God to their offices.

Numbers 16.5-19 is where we find Moses reasoning with these angry and irrational rebels, but it was to no avail. Korah and his co-conspirators could not be reasoned with. Finally, unwilling to repent of their sin we see God pronouncing their punishment in Numbers 16. 20, 23-33 -

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 21"Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them instantly." 22 But they fell on their faces and said, "O God, God of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will You be angry with the entire congregation?"

23 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24 "Speak to the congregation, saying, “Get back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram."

25 Then Moses arose and went to Dathan and Abiram, with the elders of Israel following him, 26 and he spoke to the congregation, saying, "Depart now from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing that belongs to them, or you will be swept away in all their sin." 27 So they got back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the doorway of their tents, along with their wives and their sons and their little ones. 28 Moses said, "By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these deeds; for this is not my doing. 29 If these men die the death of all men or if they suffer the fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me. 30 But if the Lord brings about an entirely new thing and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that is theirs, and they descend alive into Sheol, then you will understand that these men have spurned the Lord. 31 As he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open; 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who belonged to Korah with their possession. 33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.”

The Text, Telling the Story.

v. 41; “But on the next day all the congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and against Aaron saying, you have killed the people of the Lord.”

Here is another rebellion brewing.

Vv. 42-45; “It came about, however, when the congregation had assembled against Moses and Aaron, that they turned toward the tent of meeting, and behold; the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord appeared. 43 Then Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting, 44 and the Lords spoke to Moses, saying, 45 "Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them instantly." Then they fell on their faces.”

Note: Here is Moses and especially taking on the role of Mediators!

v. 46; “Moses said to Aaron, "Take your censor and put in it fire from the altar, and lay incense on it; then bring it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone forth from the Lord, the plague has begun!"

Preaching Point.

After such a spectacular display of divine judgment against Korah and the others who rebelled against God’s leadership and which should have terrified them, it is inconceivable that the people of Israel would rebel again, especially so soon afterwards!

What is the solution to this sinful rebellion problem? Because death was prevailing in the camp. The plague was raging among the people! Up to this point 14,700 people had already died, and more were to come if a cure isn’t quickly found. Gloom, despair, pain, agony and fear all made themselves at home, while grace and mercy were not welcomed! The effects of sin went beyond what personal hygiene could cover up!These are not surface wounds where a cosmetic remedy would suffice. No, people are actually dying!

However, God has a plan, like God always does, and God gave the plan to Moses - “...make atonement for them.” This is God’s solution to the problem of sin in the hearts of the people of Israel, and for that matter, it is the solution for our transgressions as well!

v. 47; “So Aaron took it as Moses said and ran into the midst of the assembly. And behold, the plague had already begun among the people. And he put on the incense and made atonement for the people.”

Preaching Point #2.

It is one thing for Yahweh God through Moses to tell Aaron what to do for the people’s salvation, but it is another thing for Aaron to do it. Here is obedience on behalf of the one called to be a Savior of the people. This of course, is a direct reference to the obedience of Jesus in the New Testament who was chosen by the Father to be the Mediator between God and rebellious people like me and you and who took up the mantle of being our sin-bearer! Although these people are too sick to think about it, they should be praising God that Aaron was obedient to God, and it was completely on their behalf because Aaron was not working for his personal benefit since he was not one of those who were being rebellious. Aaron was innocent of that sin. This also points to the innocence of Christ who as the sacrifice did what the Father told him to do.

Where did all this love come from? Where did all this forgiveness come from?

v. 48; “And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped.”

Preaching Point #3.

Aaron wet to the place of vulnerability, right in the same camp where the sick was being attended which made him subject to the very same plague, but the plague did not touch him! Here is Jesus who walked among us on this rebellion plagued earth where sin abounds but yet he was untainted by sin Himself - “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”

It was by the command of God Aaron took his mission voluntarily; he did not argue with God the Father’s will but was obedient to that will just as Jesus was obedient to the will of His Father as He was sent to the cross - “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22.42).

Aaron, like Jesus was in between the dying on His right and His left side while on the cross, and then the living who had gathered to chastise Him and ultimately witness Christ’s death.

Preaching Point #4.

Oh, Aaron willingly exposed himself to the same disease that has sickened and even killed others. And some who love Aaron may have said. Don’t go! You might also die if you stand there! But Aaron must go. There were those who the Lord wanted to save, so he must go to save the dying. So, Aaron was chosen to do this work as the High Priest and the Mediator between God and these sick human beings. There in “Death Valley” he stood with deadly germs floating all around him as opposed to being seated because there was work to do. Do you remember how that the High Priest never sat down while in the Tabernacle and the Temple while he was offering sacrifices on behalf of the people. Aaron stood for those who could not stand! He stood in place of those victimized by the gut punch of this deadly plague and needed a deliverer. Aaron feared nothing but succumbing to the will of God and he stood to stop the plague’s dominance and devastation.

The power to stop death and close the grave was placed in Aaron’s hands and only in Aaron’s hands. Only he could do this. As scary as this task was, as lonely this walk must have been to preface of doom was, as painful as this walk past the already dead and the soon-to-be-dead was, Aaron walked that lonesome valley and then stood between the sickness and healing. He stood in the middle of the dying, the degenerate and the disobedient! Aaron walked between life and death, earth and glory, or earth and Sheol. He stood between the hopeless and the hopeful, between the helpless and the help-seeking; between the young and the not so young!

The text does not tell us how long Aaron stood there, but as I think about it, I do now know how Aaron stood there alone and exposed. This posture as the Mediator for Israel was not his idea, but he stood there tall because it was the will of God! Aaron the High Priest stood there between the living and the dead until His work was done! Until every dying person received new life! He stood there until he could say, “It is finished!” (“tetelestai” Greek). He stayed on his tak until his mission was accomplished and the will of God was done!

Don’t sit down, Aaron! Stand there until the weeping cry no more! For the High Priest to sit down implies his work is done. So, stand there, Aaron. Stand until the hurting is healed and the lost are found! Stand Aaron until the undertakers have no more work; stand until the gravediggers can be sent home! Don’t sit down Aaron. Please do not sit down until the last dying person is spared death and the plague has lost its grip and death is dead! Stand Aaron, until faith has replaced fear and until hope is resurrected and healing is possible. Stand, Aaron!

And just what was the motivation for Moses and Aaron? Upon hearing the dreadful sentence of the people from God, both Moses and Aaron prayed to their God on behalf of those destined to die. This is the mediatorial work of Moses and Aaron, the High Priest. And it makes us think of when Jesus faced the same dilemma; when the world and its compounded sins had accumulated and offended Almighty God, Jesus went into a garden, the Garden of Gethsemane, and Jesus also prayed as He was to take on the sin of the world.

Preaching Point #5.

So, Moses and Aaron prayed. Yet, they could have risen to their feet and walked away and let these rebellious people fend for themselves, but they did not. They could have carried out their own will and did nothing, and if they had executed their will rather than God’s will the entire camp of Israel could have conceivably been destroyed by the plague. But something would not let them walk away. Something would not let them choose to do nothing about the heavy sentence handed down from the court of heaven. But it was not ‘something’ but ‘someone’ who would not allow these righteous brothers to see their fellow Israelites needlessly die. It was God Almighty Himself who determined to save even those stubborn, the contrary and the rebellious. It was God’s will to save them!

What was it that was so powerful that despite the heaviness of the weight of judgment upon the people; despite the plague of death and its accompanying agony that lay before them, there was some virtue that was more powerful than the sting of death they faced, and it was love, God’s love! It was a abiding love that was stronger than any fear or indifference.

So, stand Aaron. Stand in the gap between these rebellious people and an angry God! Aaron and Moses who both would represent the coming Mediator and sacrifice, the Lord Jesus, stand! Stand, please stand because it is our only hope and our only help! And make a sacrifice for the people even though they are not deserving of it. Take the name of your God with you because nothing can be done in your own power and nothing can assuage or lesson the anger of God! Nothing can disengage God’s righteousness. Lord, by our free grace and debt-free mercy make your people worthy to enter your promises, not be virtue of their own deeds, but by virtue of this sacrifice in the hands of Aaron that is being made on their behalf!

Preaching Point #6.

And Yahweh accepted the sacrifice of Aaron because it was not the will of God that any should perish, but that all Israel would enter the land promised and provided them by their God.

Aaron could have walked out of that field to save himself but stayed there that he might save others!

What kind of love is this? Was there a chorus of voices of those who could now throw away their graveclothes? Was there a ‘hallelujah’ from those whose death sentence has been reversed? Was there a ‘thank God’ from those who received a second chance?

O, what amazing love! “How could it be that thou my God, would die for me” the hymnwriter asked.

What a Savior! He did not have to do it, but He did! Aaron, the one who was talked about and often rejected like Christ, did not let that ridicule stand in the way of offering up himself so that others may live! He was accused but he did not say a mumbling word! Aaron was despised and rejected like Jesus was, but yet he did the will of God just the same.

What amazing love, Aaron, like Jesus, exposed himself to the power of sin’s plague, that is the power of death, but he stood for us all who have offended God and who were helpless to save themselves.

vv. 49-50; “Now 14,700 people died in the plague, in addition to those who died in the event with Korah. 50Then Aaron returned to Moses at  the entrance of the tent of meeting, and the plague was stopped.”

The first portion of these two verses reminds us that those who rebel or give support to those who work against God’s holy agenda will be judged and judged harshly.

And what was God’s solution? The deadly plague lost its power to kill after Aaron made his life-saving sacrifice. Aaron worked the work of him who sent him! The camp of Israelites was no longer a property of judgment but became a camp of repentance and forgiveness! It was no longer a nightmarish field, but a field of dreams.

Proposition. Who were the actions of Aaron pointing us to? His action of mercy is pointing us to the Lord Jesus Christ, Christ’s walk of obedience to Calvary, and His finished work on the Cross, even to the point of His death.

The Close.

Will you from this day forward like Aaron and like Christ, point the spiritually dying to new life in Christ?