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Numbers 16-17: Rebellion Against the Priests

Numbers 16

Rebellion Against Moses and Aaron

  • Korah, Dathan, Abiram and 250 
  • Complaint against priesthood
  • Desire for priesthood
    • They looked at priesthood as a means of authority and pride, not as a means for paternity and service
    • Service is a calling - not a choice - Matthew 12:18
      • God chooses the servant and God calls the servant... 12 apostles and 70 disciples
        • No one should come and say "I want to serve" but when God comes and calls you, you should not decline
      • God calls through the channels in the church
        • When God called St Paul and Barnabas - Acts 13:2 "As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, 'Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away." 
      • God chooses the person that He is pleased with
        • Person should first please God and then when he is called to service, continue to please God
      • The ministry of God is done by His power... not by our abilities
        • "And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power" (1 Cor 2:4)
        • The disciples could not leave Jerusalem to serve until they had received the Holy Spirit
      • Not just a servant in some places but in all places
    • Qualities of a servant - Matthew 12:19
      • Servant is a peacemaker "He will not quarrel nor cry out" - not making arguments and hard to deal with, hard to speak with, causing problems, etc.
        • Demon cannot cast out demon... demon of anger cannot cast out demon of falsehood. If you are defending the truth against falsehood, then you will be ineffective if you do it with anger
        • Correcting someone is with gentleness
      • Servant is gentle "Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets"
          • Servant is humble
          • Listening to everyone to learn
          • Monk sitting with St Anthony: "It is enough for me to see your face, my father"
    • How does he do his service - Matthew 12:20-21
      • "A bruised reed He will not break" - the servant will have compassion and mercy on the reed. He will try to support it so it can be healed
        • True servant will see his injured kid and see how he can help him, and he will pray for him
      • "And smoking flax He will not quench" - flax is part of wick of candle and it smokes when there's no oil. the servant will add oil so it lights up again
        • True servant will encourage and uplift
      • "Till he sends forth justice to victory" - justice here means truth
        • By serving in this way, the truth becomes victorious
        • Because the truth will set us free
    • Goal of the service
      • "In his name Gentiles will trust" - for all to trust in God
  • Their brazen censers were taken and were spread over the brazen altar to assure that the blemish
    does not lie in the censers themselves, but in whom so ever used them. For another point of view it was
    used as a sign to discourage anyone else from repeating this tragedy.

Complaints of the People

  • The people started an uprising against Moses and Aaron and accused them of murder
  • Moses and Aaron again intercede for them
  • A plague starts and Aaron takes the censer and walks in the midst of the people
    • This reminds us of when Abouna takes the censer and walks in the midst of all the people during the liturgy many times

Numbers 17

Budding of Aaron's Rod

  • God confirms his choice of Aaron as High Priest in a tangible way to set him apart from the false priesthood
  • Symbolizes the Virgin Mary who presented us with Christ the Lord while remaining a virgin
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