Apostacy, Plague, and Propitiation: Numbers 16

Numbers 16

This is a simple exposition of Numbers 16.

The Rebellion

Korah, in his rebellion, opposed Moses’ and Aaron’s divine responsibility/position of authority and headship over the nation of Israel. Korah and his men claimed what was not rightfully theirs’—that is, the mediatorial (if that isn’t a word, I dub it a word, meaning, the role of being a mediator, or something like that) position between God and His people and the responsibility/prerogative to lead them.

Perhaps Korah was angry and opposed Moses (literally “assembled together against”) for the following reasons:

“The nation was under a sentence of God's judgment, and these men knew that they were a part of the doomed community. Perhaps they thought that by a forced change of guard they might even reverse the fortunes of the people. The verb translated "they came as a group" suggests an organized, well thought-out conspiracy. This was not just a momentary, casual play of a motley crew. They had not just come up to Moses and Aaron but "against" (NIV, "to oppose") them; the preposition is significant.”[1]

This was a planned attack against God’s agent, seeking to undermine God’s theocracy.

Here are some points of application and truth that we can glean from this passage.

1. Notice that those who came together said, “You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?” (v. 3).

This statement is at least partially true. The congregation of the sons of Israel was a “holy” congregation. They were set apart by God for His purpose: i.e. making His name/glory known. Moses earlier even wished that they were all prophets of the Lord (11:29)—a foreshadowing of the New Covenant and the priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:9-10).

However, Korah is absolutely incorrect in his accusation of Moses and Aaron. They had not exalted themselves, but in their humility were exalted by God (the Lord had chosen them and made them to be the leaders, and they had not taken advantage of their position to extort the people (v. 15).

There are many like Korah today, as there always have been (cf. Jude 8-12). They oppose God’s rulership, often seeking to exalt themselves to power or to have things the way they perceive they should be. Without fear they oppose the Mediator of the Most High. They exalt their own “gospel,” though it is damnable (cf. Galatians 1:8-9). They also oppose the true Church—God’s established order. They claim the Church to have usurped power that has not been granted it, preaching that the Church is not the rightful spiritual heir of Christ, or claiming the Church has no right to the actions it takes/claims it makes.

2. Notice Moses’ humility. Upon his face Moses said, “Tomorrow morning the LORD will show who is His and who is holy, and will bring him near to Himself; even the one whom He will choose, He will bring near to Himself.” (v. 5)

Moses, like the archangel Michael, does not exalt himself in his position (Jude 9). Rather, he leaves judgment up to the Lord, and so rebukes those who bring harassment by his humble trust in God’s supremacy. He let those in rebellion come before the Lord with offering in hand (vv. 12-14).

This is how we must respond. God will one day judge those who oppose Him—hopefully now, bringing them under the knowledge of their own condemnation and to acknowledge their need to repent and receive God’s gift in Christ, rather than on the Final Day. Let God be your vindicator (though this does not mean that you do not defend yourself against their accusations—but not for your sake, but for theirs’ and God’s glory, cf. vv. 7, 15).

3. There was envy among the ranks. The Lord had already separated those who rebelled even from the rest of the congregation. They were the sons of Levi, and so had a privileged position to minister before the Lord. (vv. 8-11).

Brothers and sisters, this can even be a problem today. Do not seek to exalt yourself to the position which is not your own. God has set you apart for a purpose; He has created the Body to be made up of many members to do His work and to fulfill His purposes. If you are not an elder, do not harass those who are. God has given them that responsibility and so help them, do not hinder them (Hebrews 13:7). If God has called you to a leadership position, and only if He has, fulfill it. Otherwise, fulfill your calling and you will be rewarded, living a simple, quiet life (1 Thessalonians 4:11).

Also, notice that the Lord does not play the favorites game. Though these were Levites, those who were set apart for special service, when they rebelled, the Lord, in His holiness, put them down. He consumed them with fire and swallowed them up in sheol alive. He did this to all who conspired against His established order (vv. 25-35).

“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29). Though Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and the rebels offered sacrifices to the Lord, they did not offer their sacrifices in a pleasing manner. Though their offspring were guaranteed the promised land, yet they did not revere the Lord, nor did they show gratitude for His steadfast love. Thus, they were consumed, as will be all who oppose God. And yet He will use their wicked sacrifices for His purposes and glory (vv. 36-40).

4. The rebels did not trust God’s sovereignty and supremacy. They blamed God for not giving them what they did not deserve—in fact, what they had rejected (cf. 13:25-14:10) (vv.12-14). They rebelled because things were not progressing as they desired for them to progress.

5. In His timing, the Lord vindicated those who are His (vv.19-40). He destroyed those who rebel. This is God's divine right. He is sovereign. He is God. He has the right to destroy all who are against Him. This is part of what it means for God to be God. We have no rights before Him.

6. Those who are of the Lord should not associate with those who rebel (vv. 23-24). This does not mean that we should not be witnesses to the lost, or that we should not do anything with them (1 Corinthians 5:9-13). Rather, it means that we must join them in their wicked ways. It means that we must not draw close theologically and in practice to their errors. We must stand firm, without wavering, upon the proven gospel of Christ. We must be separate and distinct.

7. We must act as mediators between God and those in rebellion. As Moses stood and made supplications before God on behalf of the rebellious Israelites, so too must we. This was part of God’s plan (While God did change His mind in a genuine relationship with Moses, Open Theists are wrong when they say that this was not God’s plan and ordination in the first place. If God were to destroy the Israelites, He would not be able to fulfill His promise to Abraham and His work of calling all nations to Himself under the Lordship of Christ, the Lion of Judah).

Dear Christian, pray for those who rebel against God’s gospel. Petition God that He might remove their hard hearts and give them hearts that will obey Him. Your prayers could be the means by which God accomplishes His will.

8. Those who have not been given the priesthood are not to fulfill it (v. 40). Do not look for the “liberal christians” or any other group to preach the gospel. It has not been given to them. They are laymen, and have not been given this responsibility/privilege.

However, let us also remember that the dispensation of Aaron’s priesthood has ended (I use the word “dispensation” with caution, for I know the connotations it brings). All believers, including the laity, are priests to our God. We can all come before the throne because we have our Mediator in heaven (Hebrews 4:15-16).

The Mediator and the Plague

9. The people grumbled against God and continued in rebellion. Though God had spared them, and Moses and Aaron had supplicated before the Lord to have the mercy He showed, yet the people blamed them (v. 41).

So are all sinners. We too were once sinners/enemies, dear brothers and sisters. We too grumbled against the Lord.

10. The burning wrath of God was/is against all those who rebel. This is to you who continue to grumble and sin against the Lord. Those who are against Him, He desires to “consume them instantly.” (v. 45) His anger burns against you. It is only His merciful patience with you, bought by the blood of Christ, that gives you the breath to live and keeps Him from destroying you in Hell right now. He could take away your life at any moment, and He would be absolutely just in doing so; “for the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

Yet, Christians, notice that against Moses and Aaron plead on behalf of the people (v. 46). So must we. Though sinners refuse the gospel and continue to rebel, even in hostility, yet our response must be to plead for them—that God would have mercy.

11. The plague ravaged the people, just as sin and death do with all sinners. Because of their sins, God sent a plague among the people (v.46)—He administered justice. The plague of death, the wages of sin, will take the life of all who continue in it.

12. Aaron, according to the will of Moses, the one who sent him, took for a soothing aroma before the Lord to make atonement (46-48). He offered incense on behalf of the people to appease God’s wrath. On account of this atonement through Aaron’s mediation, “the plague had been checked” (50).

Aaron was a symbol of Him to come. Christ is our Mediator. He did the will of Him who sent Him (as Moses was “god” to Aaron and Aaron was Moses’ prophet—Exodus 4:14-16). Christ made atonement for the people of the Lord.

For His offering, Christ offered up His own life (cf. Hebrews 8:3, 9:28). Christ stood “between the dead and the living” (v. 48) just as Aaron had done. Thus He checked the plague of death. The power of death no longer has its reign over those whom Christ has separated to be alive. Thus, just as only those whom Aaron separated to be alive were kept from death by the plague, so also only those whom Christ makes alive will be spared from the wrath of God and ultimate death by the plague of sin.

---

[1] Gaebelein, Frank, The Expositor’s Commentary, Number 16:3.