Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

-We’ve talked about God’s righteous standard for Pastors

-We’ve talked about God’s righteous standard for Deacons & Trustees

-We will now talked about what God requires from the Congregation.

-Often in a great book or exceptional movie they will show you the ending then go back and pick up the details to show how a certain ending came to be......So we are going to go back two millenium from this when this text in Hebrews was written.

-Often in a great book or exceptional movie they will show you the ending then go back and pick up the details to show how a certain ending came to be......So we are going to go back several millenium to see how this failure to submit to the Leadership plays out....

-We are going to go back about 2500 years to tell a story that encapsulates this text we just read in Hebrews.

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Setting: The Wilderness of Kadesh Barnea

Time: The Children are wandering in the Wilderness because of their failure to inhabit the land of Canaan

Characters: Korah a Son of Levi, the Sons of Reuben, 250 prominent men of Israel, The Congregation, Moses & Aaron sons of Levi

Transition Statement: Immediately in (v.1) the action starts

I. Korah’s Coalition

Numbers 16:

-(v.1) instead of building up to this scene the writer jumped right to the climax of the story.

In this text a group of families have linked up to take action against Moses & Aaron.

It is imperative that we do a little background work on them to ascertain their history.

-(v.1)

The Text names two Major families.

The Kohath who were part of the Tribe of the Levites.

The Levites where the priest.

It also names Dathan, Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth all of them were from the tribe of Reuben.

Reuben was the first born of Jacob.

-Now lets see if there was any connection to these tribes:

-(v.10)

Reuben and his Sons where south of the tabernacle.

Reuben was Jacob firstborn, but Reuben lost the birthright many years prior.

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“The Church needs leaders who needs to understand the Times, and know what the church should do”

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-(v.29) Kohath and his sons where on the south side of the Tabernacle also.

-( v.31) Korah’s was responsible for all the utensils used in the sacrifice, they were of the Levitical tribe, but they did not handle the sacrificing of the animals.

This position was not the highest in the order of the Levitical priesthood, but it was still very essential.

Amram was one of the sons of Kohath.

Amram married Jochebed, making him the Father of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

So Korah was cousin to Moses.

Aaron and his offspring were called by God to the office of High Priest

-Based on these factors we can come to some conclusion.

The Sons of Reuben and the Sons of Kohath began to have midnight pity parties related to Moses and Aaron rule over Israel.

We might say they live in the same hood together, and they both unified over their common enemy Moses and Aaron.

a. Korah-(v.9)

Moses seems to be saying that Korah is dissatisfied with his amount of authority and leadership, so he is politicking for more

b.

Sons Reuben-This is more speculative, but they may have been mad about not having a more prominent role based on the lost of their 1st born birth right.

-(v.2) “Men of Renown” This phrase means well-respected men of the community.

The best and the brightest.

Men that have a lot of influence.

Korah was able to recruit more people to his cause, 250 men to be exact

Application

Coalitions in the church will most always start with people who are doing ministry in close proximity to one another.

They sing in the choir together, they are on the marriage ministry together, they are serving on the Hospitality team together.

People who sow discord often unify together for different reason, but the principles of discord are most always related to submission to authority.

II.

Korah’s Coup

Numbers 16:

-(v.1)

Now when you look at the listing of the dissenters Moses puts Korah, then the Sons of Reuben, the chosen well respected men of the Children of Israel and finally some from the congregation.

This seems to imply that there was some recruiting going on.

-(v.1)

Now when you look at the listing of the dissenters Moses puts Korah, then the Sons of Reuben, and finally some from the congregation, and the chosen well respected men of the Children of Israel.

This seems to imply that there was some recruiting going on.

-(v.1-2) “took action and they rose up before Moses” and “They assembled together against Moses and Aaron” eventually after Korah was able to get some key strategic people he was able to confront Moses.

-(v.3)

Korah then gives his reason for rising up.

a.

We are holy also; meaning you are not better than us.

b.

You have gained power by force/manipulation, and by implication not by the Calling of God.....Belittled the calling of Moses.

The group furthermore asserted that Moses and Aaron were self-appointed rather than divinely ordained, an accusation far more true of those registering the complaint

R. Dennis Cole, Numbers, vol.

3B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 262–263.

Pt of Application: -isn’t interesting that people who like to start foolishness often do it by accusing the leader of the same charge that they are currently committing.

-(v.4) “Moses fell on his face” This is a powerful practical example of what should be our first response to uprising, disunity and discord in our families, churches, workplaces, and our government.

Moses reaction suggest that this problem is too big for him to handle and that he needs a divine response from above.

Numbers 16:

-(v.5-7)

Moses issues a challenge to Korah: In the morning we will let God choose who is holy and who is not.

Take censers(plates), some incense, and fire.

Then come into the presence of God and let him decided who’s sacrifice is holy.

-(v.5-7)

Moses issues a challenge to Korah: In the morning we will let God choose who is holy and who is not.

Take censers(plates), some incense, and fire.

Then come into the presence of God and let him decided who’s sacrifice is holy.

-(v.7) “You have gone far enough, you sons of Levi!” Moses had reached his breaking point.

Now both Moses and Korah knew that what Moses was proposing was a death sentence to the one that was not chosen by God.

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-Moses and the congregation knew what happened to the brothers who were disobedient and tried to offer sacrifices to the Lord.

Korah and the 250 men of renown are so convinced of their own holiness that they take Moses up on his challenge.

III.

Korah’s Claim

Numbers 16:9-

-(v.9)

Moses asks “is it not enough” Korah; the Lord has separated you from all the congregation(he has given you a specific calling) and given you a place near to him.

We can derive Korah intention from Moses’s comments to him.

a. Spiritual-They handled all the utensils related to worship of God.

b.

Practical- their encampment was located right on the south side of the tabernacle.

They along with Levi’s two other sons where all encamp nearest to the tabernacle.

-(v.10)

Moses tells Korah that Yahweh has brought honor to your whole family, and yet this does not seem to be enough??? Moses then get to the heart of the issue via a question: “and are you seeking for the Priesthood also????” Moses knew the answer to this already.

This question is rhetorical.

Korah was unsatisfied with his role, and wanted more.