Read: Numbers 15:17-16:40; Mark 15:1-47; Psalm 54:1-7; Proverbs 11:5-6
God gave provision for the nation and the individual because we will be judged on those two fronts. God foresaw a time when the Israelites would stray so far from the truth that they would not even know they were breaking his laws. He made a way for them to come back. He also did this for the individual. We have been given a wonderful gift of a conscience but when our conscience has been so compromised and we have never been told the truth, God does not hold us responsible until we are taught the truth. Then we are held responsible.
Korah was one of the Levites from the family of Kohath. They were responsible for the most holy things in the Tabernacle like the ark itself. He was from an anointed heritage yet he rebelled against Moses along with 250 of the most prominent of Israel. They were jealous of Moses and Aaron’s positions as leader and High Priest. Moses tried to meet with them to discuss it but they wouldn’t have it so God summoned them to a showdown between Moses and Aaron and them.
They were all to bring censors burning with incense to present before the Lord. God was ready to kill the whole congregation but Moses interceded for the people and asked God just to judge the guilty. God had Moses separate the rebels from the rest of the people and opened up the earth and the earthquake swallowed them up along with their families and all their possessions. Their censors were all that were left so Moses had them hammered to the altar to remind the people not to rebel and covet the office of the Levite.
This is the picture of what Satan and his angels did when they rebelled against God and were thrown down to hell in chains.
The Old Testament can seem so harsh at times but these are all lessons to teach us. When we covet the ministry of another person or their walk with the Lord, it is not pleasing to God or healthy for us. We are all loved by God and the greatest thing we can do is to help others reach their destiny. If we put God first and honor others we will reach our destiny without striving.
The way the Sanhedrin treated Jesus and tried him secretly at night broke so many of their self-made laws because their jealousy had reached the point of murder. It is hard to read about the crucifixion without emotion. Jesus did all this for us. He chose to lay down his life. They didn’t take it from him. He willingly laid down his life to become the final sacrifice for sin.
Lord, thank you over and over for becoming sin for us and dying on the cross. May we walk in freedom and gratefulness.
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