Anger, arguments, recrimination; "You're not going to let me go because you're mad at me". It wasn't because he had not done his house work or homework; no, I was the mean person who was mad at him (yes I was angry because I knew he could do better than a D in the class). He couldn't accept the fact that his actions were the cause of loss of privilege, so he had to transfer the anger to somewhere, or someone else. This is a normal reaction that all of us can quickly fall into, 'it's the other guys fault, not mine'; denial of personal responsibility.
In the Old Testament book of Numbers, we find the Children of Israel traveling. Ch 16 is just after the fiasco of the spies going into the Promised Land and bringing back a bad report of the land, Sin of the Spies (Chet HaMeraglim). Because the congregation of the People would not believe Caleb and Joshua, and they doubted Gods ability to help them conquer the land, God sentenced that generation to not be able to cross over into the Promised land. When this sentence sunk home they became angry and murmured against God. A group of them, under the leadership of Korah (Korach) (a cousin of Moses and a Levite), with the support of a couple of leaders from the tribe of Reuben challenged Moses and Aaron as leaders and Priests of God.
"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 yourselves above the LORD's assembly?" (Numbers 16;3 NIV)
Moses was shocked! He fell onto his face on the ground (vs. 4). I don't know, it doesn't say it, but maybe he was expecting a bolt from God himself to come out of the Tabernacle and take this blasphemer out. This scenario continues to play out with Moses taking the Levites that followed Korah to task, reminding them that they get to stand before the congregation ministering on the people, helping Aaron and his sons. They don't have to 'work' for their food, it is supplied from the sacrifices, the people take care of them! He then calls for Dathan and Abiram two of the Reubenites that were leaders of the opposition with Korah. They refuse to come, they start whining! You know the sound, I know you can hear it now:
"We will not come! 13 Isn't it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the desert? And now you also want to lord it over us? 14 Moreover, you haven't brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you gouge out the eyes of these men? No, we will not come!" (Numbers 16:12b - 14 NIV)
"I won't come, I won't come, you can't make me, I won't come." You know the whine (line); we as parents have heard (or will hear) this numerous times. Using the age-old arguments that are nonsensical; 'you aren't doing what you said you would'. Again, they are deceiving themselves, trying to twist the story so that they don't have to bear the consequences of their defiance. Remember, these are Reubenites, at this point, that are trying to set themselves up as priests!
This story ends very tragically for these three main characters; Korah, Dathan and Abiram. After God shows all the People who He has appointed as the Kohen HaGodol (High Priest of God) they, their families, livestock, tents, everything was swallowed up by the ground; in front of the assembly of the People of Israel (vs. 20 – 34). Wow! One second they are there, next; gone. And the people fell down and worshiped the Lord, and everything was okay, right? Not hardly; these are people who have been told that they are going to die in the wilderness, they have some definite denial issues.
41 The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. "You have killed the LORD's people," they said.
42 But when the assembly gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron and turned toward the Tent of Meeting, suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the LORD appeared. 43 Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the Tent of Meeting, 44 and the LORD said to Moses, 45 "Get away from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once." And they fell facedown. (Numbers 16:41 – 45 NIV)
They still won't accept the responsibility of the sin they have committed. Here Moses doesn't try to plead with God for the people, he does tell Aaron to 'Make Atonement' in other words, to plead the case for the people to God:
46 Then Moses said to Aaron, "Take your censer and put incense in it, along with fire from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the LORD; the plague has started." (Numbers 16:46 NIV)
Even though Aaron hurried as fast as he could, 14,700 people died. They died for their sins of disbelief, arrogance and defiance against God. Even though Aarons cloud of incense was raising a cloud of pleasing aroma to God, and it was just covering the sins of the people, it was enough.
Do you remember Pastor Robs sermon on prayer? The one where he reminded us that the prayers of the saints are a continual incense before God (Rev. 5:8). Chaverim, Satan is always looking for an easy way to cause us to 'slip up'. One of the easiest is to whisper 'It wasn't your fault' in our ear. That clerk doesn't know how to count change. Did he really say I couldn't do that? But I'm late!
15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
17Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. 19My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. (James 5: 15-20 NIV)
Let us remember and take personal responsibility and pray for forgiveness.
Barukh HaShem
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