The plague has started…
Quick, get the incense and make atonement.
“Numbers 16”
I have been praying about the reason or the reasons why the church (as a whole) struggles so much, never in my wildest dreams did I think I would get an answer like this. I have heard over and over how people do not agree with the way the church is going, how things are run or the way it is functioning. I am sure you know about the rebellion against Moses in the wilderness, but it has never struck me so hard before. I want to go over the story….in the Message translation to amplify the issues.
1. Korah didn’t like the direction Moses was taking the people; he stated that all the people were holy and godly, and they all could here from God.
Numbers 16:1-3 Getting on his high horse one day, Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, along with a few Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—rebelled against Moses. He had with him 250 leaders of the congregation of Israel, prominent men with positions in the Council. They came as a group and confronted Moses and Aaron, saying, "You've overstepped yourself. This entire community is holy and God is in their midst. So why do you act like you're running the whole show?"
When Pastor or Pastors hurt your feelings, or if you disagree with the direction the church is going, be very careful not to rebell against the Pastor. It maybe true that we hear from God as well as them, and we may feel that the headship is overstepping their boundries but that is no excuse for this kind of behavior. God hates this kind of rebellion. Remember, the people were in the midst of God as well, the were equalivant to Christians today. They were in the congregation amongst the people of God. They were the people of God.
2. We know that the ground opened up and swallowed them, I don’t want to rehearse this again but you can read about it if you would like in Numbers 16:4-33.
3. Now here is where I really want to focus, notice that not everyone in the rebellion was swallowed up.
v, 34-35 At the sound of their cries everyone around ran for dear life, shouting, "We're about to be swallowed up alive!" Then God sent lightning. The fire cremated the 250 men who were offering the incense.
The 250 men were offering the incense, is a picture of prayer….they were praying to God but they still were struck down. You maybe praying but that doesnt mean your not acting out against Gods annointed, and you may be in danger.
v. 41 Grumbling broke out the next day in the community of Israel, grumbling against Moses and Aaron [the pastors]: "You have killed God's people!"
42 But it so happened that when the community got together against Moses and Aaron, they looked over at the Tent of Meeting and there was the Cloud—the Glory of God for all to see.
43-45 Moses and Aaron stood at the front of the Tent of Meeting. God spoke to Moses: "Back away from this congregation so that I can do away with them this very minute." They threw themselves facedown on the ground.
Notice: the next day after the 250 men were swallowed up, the people came together grumbling and complaining against Moses and Aaron (the Pastors) and immediately God arrived to judge them again just like the previous day. It started with their mouthes!!! We need to keep our negative opinions about our pastors and headship to ourselves...
5. The plague started….
v. 46 Moses said to Aaron, "Take your censer and fill it with incense, along with fire from the Altar. Get to the congregation as fast as you can: make atonement for them. Anger is pouring out from God—the plague has started!"
47-48 Aaron grabbed the censer, as directed by Moses, and ran into the midst of the congregation. The plague had already begun. He put burning incense into the censer and atoned for the people. He stood there between the living and the dead and stopped the plague.
49-50 Fourteen thousand seven hundred people died from the plague, not counting those who died in the affair of Korah. Aaron then went back to join Moses at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. The plague was stopped.
14,700 people died from the plaque that was started because of COMPLAINING against the headship!!! Not to mention the 250 that died the day before! All because the people spoke against their headship....Our pastors need our prayers. If you do not think they are doing what is right, heed this chapter...do not give the devil a foot hole in your church and pray for them. God is big enough to guide them in the direction they should go. Pride always makes people think they can do a better job, or they know whats best. Lucifer was full of it.
6. The plague needs to be stopped. Pastors...please pray for your congregation.
I can’t help but wonder how many have fallen off because of this type of rebellion…There is nothing worse than to be poisoned by a fellow believer about things the Pastor is doing wrong. No one benefits from it, and there is no edification in it. People are turned off by it and no fruit is produced.
