The South’s Gonna Rise Again
Did anyone else notice that these people leading the revolt are all from the tribes on the south side of the tabernacle? A little rebel yell?
According to Numbers 4, the Kohathites (Levites through the lineage of Kohath) were the moving men. When it was time to move, Aaron and his sons prepped the pieces of the tabernacle, covering them in blue cloth and leather, “then the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them; but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die.” (Numbers 4: 15)
Korah was the cousin of Moses and Aaron. Dathan and Abiram were Reubenites, the first born of Israel, the first in the census, but now having slipped to 4th in line when the camp moves, behind the camps at the east by the entrance to the tabernacle.
Now, they aren’t going into the promised land, at least not any time soon. They are so close to the holy articles of the camp, but can’t touch them. More work, more hard labor, more moving about, no individual glory, no recognition.
With all the tensions in the camp, it probably didn’t take much to brew discontent. Just a little misdirected leadership, someone with a bold voice and big ego and lots of others would fall right in to the crowd.
I love Moses’ response, time and again. When individuals rise up from within, Moses falls face down. Numbers 16:4, “When Moses heard this, he fell facedown.”, Numbers 16:22 “Moses and Aaron fell facedown.” In these cases, I’m not sure if this was their battle position or if they were simply ducking to get out of the way of what they knew the Lord was going to bring.
Where in your life are you “standing up for yourself”, when you rightfully should be going down on your face in front of God? What battles are you fighting, claiming God is behind you, when the right place to be is behind God?
God makes His point in a clear and unquestionable way. The earth literally opens up and swallows the leaders of the rebellion. Their tents, possessions, family, all gone. Their followers are consumed by fire from the Lord, leaving only charred remains and bronze censers.
I think the question over sides should have been resolved.
My Answers:
4.
a.
“You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourself above the Lord’s assembly?”
b.
Build a coalition – but, also, not much, because the people were so prone to sin, i.e., more work to keep them in line than slip
c.
Yes, in past jobs
5.
a.
K:jealous, bold, organizer, rable rouser, he was a “community organizer”
D&A: Followers – sons of the first born
M: Fighting position – face down in from of the Lord
b.
I can become frustrated over “grunt jobs”. I can allow myself to get swept up in the complaints of others. I also know the right place is on my knees in front of God.
6.
a.
God – 16:11
b.
4. fell face down, 8-11 Chastised: isn’t it enough…? It is against the Lord, 12-15 Summoned, Got Angry, 21-22 Interceded: will you be angry against the entire assembly when only one man sins
(The title of this post is a bad reference to a 35 year old movie about the bombing of Pearl Harbor – Tora! Tora! Tora!)
The Notes are Good 