Nov7-13: Power Struggle

 
Teaching Points

1. Read Numbers 16 and make an outline of the chapter.  

ANSWER:

• Num. 16:1-3 Uprising from Korah, Dathan, and Abiram
• Num. 16:4-7 Moses’ challenge to Korah and all his company
• Num. 16:8-11 Moses’ rebuke to Korah
• Num. 16:12-14 Dathan and Abiram’s complaint
• Num. 16:15-19 Moses called Korah and his company and Aaron to the door of the tabernacle
• Num. 16:20-22 Moses interceding for the rebellious congregation
• Num. 16:23-35 God’s judgment upon Korah, Dathan, Abiram, their family and 250 men who were offering incense.
• Num. 16:36-40 The censers of the 250 men turned into thin metal sheets to cover the altar.
• Num. 16:41-50 Aaron between the dead and the living

2. Read Numbers 16:1–3. Read carefully the rebels’ words to Moses. What four lies are found there?

ANSWER:

• Lie #1-Accusing Moses for taking too much upon himself.
• Lie #2-Acclaiming that the entire congregation is holy.
• Lie #3-Acclaiming that God is among the entire congregation. 
• Lie #4-Accusing Moses for lifting himself above the congregation.

OBSERVATION:

•  “Korah, the leading spirit in this movement, was a Levite, of the family of Kohath, and a cousin of Moses; he was a man of ability and influence. Though appointed to the service of the tabernacle, he had become dissatisfied with his position and for some time . . . had been secretly opposing the authority of Moses and Aaron. . . . He finally conceived the bold design of overthrowing both the civil and the religious authority.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 395.
• Who rebelled in this story? A cousin of Moses.
• What kind of man was Korah? A man of ability and influence.
• Why did he rebel? He had become dissatisfied with his position.
• How did he rebel? He had been secretly opposing the authority of Moses and Aaron.
• What did he want? To overthrow both the civil and the religious authority.
• Korah already had an exalted position. Why did he want more? Did Korah feel that Moses was not doing a successful job? Not getting things done fast enough?

APPLICATION QUESTION:

• Are you holding a position in your church? Are you dissatisfied with your position? Do you have the desire to take control of the church in order to make it better? How do you check if or not you have the spirit of Korah?

2. Observe the other accusations in Num. 16:12-14

ANSWER:

• Num. 16:13 Calling Egypt a land flowing with milk and honey.
• Num. 16:13 Accusing Moses for bring them out of Egypt to kill them.
• Num. 16:13 Accusing Moses for seeking to be leader among them.
• Num. 16:14 Accusing Moses for not being able to enter the land of Canaan.

OBSERVATION:

• It is Korah leading the “renown men” to be killed because he had led them to rebel against God.
• It is Korah seeking to be the leader above all others.
• It is the spirit of Korah that will delay from entering into the land of Canaan.
• Often the accusation of the accuser is an expression of the accuser’s secret desire.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

• Are you spiritually sensitive enough to recognize in yourself “good intentions” that are actually secret desires for control and power?

3. Read Num. 16:36-40. What was God’s purpose in turning the brazen censers to thin plates to cover the altar? 

ANSWER:

• To be a memorial unto the children of Israel that only “the seed of Aaron” can come near to burn incense before God.

OBSERVATION:

• I am observing that this “altar” was the altar of burnt offering.
• Ex. 38:1-2 The altar of burnt offering was already “overlaid with brass”
• If so, then the altar had the second layer of brass.
• I can imagine how the worshippers who came to the altar were reminded that they should not have the same rebellious spirit of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.
• I have to say that the spirit of Korah is very similar to the spirit of Satan when he rebelled in heaven.

4. Read Numbers 16:41–50. What should this tell us about fallen human nature? How did their accusation reflect the same accusation that Korah and the others had just made?

ANSWER:

• Fallen human nature can be so blind, refuse to acknowledge the truth, have a twisted mind, and be unreasonable.
• Their accusation totally reflected the accusation of Korah and the others. Most likely they were influenced by the spirit of Korah and the others—so deceived by the influence of Korah that not even visible evidence of God’s judgment could change their minds.

OBSERVATION:

• I am totally guessing here, but is it possible to think that Korah, Dathan, and Abiram were looked up to by these people? Perhaps Korah and the others had that leadership quality of intelligence, charisma, and authority. Maybe Korah and the others showed great compassion and care for these people, much more than Aaron and Moses. Maybe they spent more time with these people than Moses. Maybe Korah and the others were feeding these people with personal griefs and complaints.  Obviously, it is difficult to know all the background details, but for some reason Korah and the others had people’s respect and love. So be very careful whom you respect and love!

APPLICATION QUESTION:

• Do you have someone you respect and love, yet that same person tends to talk negative about other people and about how they were being mistreated by others?
• If you do then are you sure that that person is worthy of your respect and love?
• How do you know if you are not supporting someone blindly?

5. Read Numbers 17. Make spiritual observations on Aaron’s rod that was budded.

SPIRITUAL OBSERVATION:

• How did God prove that Aaron and his descendants are the priests of the Lord’s sanctuary? By the miracle of Aaron’s staff blooming and producing almonds.
• What was the miracle? Producing a life out of a dead rod.
• It is interesting to observe that the death of the rebellious people did not prove Aaron and his descendants as the priests of the sanctuary, but producing life from Aaron’s dead rod settled all questions.
• Is God trying to teach us that fire and brimstone messages do not really change people’s heart, but quiet and life-giving messages do?
• If the miracle of Aaron’s staff blooming and producing almonds can be interpreted as a resurrection, then is it possible to say that the true high priest is the one that resurrects from the dead? All earthly high priests lived and died; but only Jesus Christ was dead and is alive forever more to be our High Priest.
• It is also interesting to note that Aaron’s rod came from an almond tree. And in Jeremiah 1:11-12, the Bible says that the almond tree means God will make sure His word comes true. I do not know how this is connected to Aaron’s rod but it is interesting to observe the possible spiritual connections.

CONCLUSION:

• Numbers 16 is about the rebellion of Korah and his gang. Numbers 17 is about reconfirming Aaron and his descendants’ priesthood. God can reveal His great and terrible judgments, but He can also show His quiet and gentle side. The power of God is not only revealed in loud, clashing thunder, but also in how tiny blades of grass can grow out and break through a hard concrete.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

• Do you have a problem with the way God judged Korah and his gang? If you do, then why? Could you think of a better way to deal with Korah?

APPLICATION QUESTION:

• How would you know if you have the spirit of Korah or not?
• Do you easily talk negative about your leadership to others around you? Could you do a better job if you are chosen to lead out in the church?
• What should you do if you cannot respect your authority?