God Judges Rebellion

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Introduction

Last week we saw the promise of the land given to Abraham within reach of the Israelites. It had been 400 years since the land Abraham walked through had been promised by God. Moses sent a group of 12 spies to search out the land, and they came back confirming it was a land with abundant provision. God was faithful to keep his promise, but the people faltered and did not receive the promise.

• • Write on the board, “How can staring at a bronze serpent heal a snake bite?”
  Why didn’t the people want to enter the land? Ten of the spies convinced the people that the inhabitants of the land were too large and numerous and the cities too strong for them to have victory.
• Who was willing to take the land? Joshua and Caleb trusted God’s promise and encouraged the people to enter the land while the other 10 spies persuaded the people to disobey God.

  When God gives a command, he gives the means to carry out that command. He told the Israelites he would fight for them, but they chose to listen to the 10 spies rather than God.

• What was the consequence for their disobedience? God said that anyone from the age of 20 and up would not see the promised land and would die in the desert. Of that generation, only Joshua and Caleb were allowed to enter because of their trust.

  Dismayed, the people tried to take the land on their own, but God was not with them, and they were swiftly defeated by the Amalekites and Canaanites. God would not allow them to do on their own what they wouldn’t attempt with him leading them into battle.

  Today, we are going to look at several examples of what happened during the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness of Sinai.

Korah’s Rebellion

As God provided the instructions for building the tabernacle and worshipping in it, he set apart the tribe of Levi and the sons of Aaron as those who would serve as priests and servants for the Israelites (Numbers 8:14–26). This special role is often acknowledged as the Aaronic or Levitical priesthood. It was an honor that no other tribe received. The other tribes were given various roles, but the heart of man is wicked. Jealousy grew in the camp, bringing more rebellion against God’s plan for his people.

Let’s read Numbers 16 together and look at how this jealousy brought destruction to the camp once again. Divide the passage for class members to read aloud. If time is short, you might consider reading portions and summarizing others.

• Who were the men involved in the rebellion against Moses? Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and On. Since On is not mentioned later, it seems he stepped aside.
• Were they the only ones involved? No, there were also 250 chiefs from among the tribes whom they likely recruited to join them in their rebellion against Moses and Aaron.
• What accusation did Korah bring against Moses and Aaron (v. 3)? Korah accused them of exalting themselves over the assembly.
• Was this a true accusation? No, God himself had appointed Moses as their leader and Aaron as his helper. And it was Aaron who was appointed as high priest by God.
• How did Moses respond to the accusation? He fell to his face.
• What test did Moses provide to settle the dispute? He said that the 250 men should come and present censers of incense along with Korah, and the Lord would choose between them.
• What echo do you see in verses 3 and 7? Korah accused Moses of going “too far,” and Moses uses the same language to tell the 250 that their desires have gone too far in seeking to be priests rather than just servants in the tabernacle.
• What does Moses recognize about their complaint in verse 11? While outwardly they are complaining about Moses and Aaron, they are really complaining against God.
• What further false accusations did Dathan and Abiram bring against Moses (vv. 12–14)? They accused him of bringing them out of a land flowing with milk and honey (Egypt), to kill them in the wilderness, and make himself a prince over the people.
• Were any of these accusations true? No, they were the opposite of truth. Moses wanted to lead them into the land flowing with milk and honey, but they were not willing. The people faced God’s judgment in the wilderness, not Moses’—Moses interceded to save them multiple times. And he gave up the position of a prince in Egypt as God called him to lead the Israelites.
• When the people were gathered and Moses called them to separate from the tents of the three men, how did they respond? The people got away from their tents, and the accused men stood at the door of their tents with their families.
• What test did Moses give to show whether God was for his leadership or for Korah’s leadership? He said that if God was for them, they would die a natural death. If God was for Moses, these three men and their tents (households) would be swallowed up by the ground.
• How was it shown that these men “despised the Lord”? The ground swallowed up the tents and households of these three men.

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  What does Numbers 26:9–11 add to our understanding of this passage? The sons of Korah did not die, so they must have separated themselves from their father’s tent when Moses gave the warning. These are the sons of Korah who wrote (or performed) many of the psalms (e.g., the title of Psalm 42).
• What was the fate of the 250 men who brought their censers before God? They were consumed with fire.
• What was done with their censers? They were gathered and formed into a cover for the altar as a reminder of the judgment God brought on those who were not authorized to burn incense (vv. 36–40).
• How did the congregation respond to these events (the following day)? They came the next morning accusing Aaron and Moses of killing “the people of the Lord.”
• How did God respond to the people’s complaint? God appeared from a cloud in his glory at the tent of meeting and told Moses and Aaron he was going to consume the people.
• How did Moses respond? Moses and Aaron both fell on their faces before God, and Moses instructed Aaron to use a censer to atone for the people’s sin.
• What judgment had God passed on the people? He sent a plague among them, which was stopped by Aaron’s intercession.
• How many of the people died in that judgment? 14,700 died from the plague.

Discover the Truth

As we read this, we might find ourselves wondering several things. We know it is a true account, but there are some interesting things to consider.

• What questions come to your mind in light of what we just read? Discuss various questions including the irrational accusations of the rebels and the people, how quickly they seem to forget about God’s provision, the ongoing intercession of Moses for the people, God’s severe judgment on rebellion, etc.

  The most important thing we should take away from this passage is the truth that God demands to be worshipped as he prescribes. Aaron and the other priests had been put into their offices by God. While it was not “fair” that he chose one group over another, it was God’s right to do so. We do not get to question what God has decreed—we are to serve him as he calls us to. We are to worship him in spirit and truth (John 4:24).

  He is jealous for his own proper worship and would not allow those he had not chosen to carry out the roles of the priests. This same theme comes up several times in Israel’s history, and God always brings swift judgment on those who disobey. It might seem harsh for God to judge these sins with death, but that is a great reminder of how serious sin is. We cannot forget that even the “smallest” sin is a sin against an infinitely holy God.

Fiery Serpents

Following the judgment on the rebels, the chiefs of the tribes each brought a staff to the tabernacle. God again showed his choosing by causing Aaron’s rod to bud while the others did not. The rod was kept in the ark of the testimony as a reminder. Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, died, and the people complained again about not having water. At Meribah, Moses violated God’s command to speak to the rock to bring forth water, instead striking it with his staff. Because of this, Moses and Aaron were barred from entering the promised land. And then Aaron died. The time was getting close as the rebellious generation was dying off in the wilderness.

Now we are going to look at one final account before the Israelites head north out of the wilderness to take the promised land. They had asked to pass through the land of Edom, but they were refused and would have to go the long way around. Turn to Numbers 21:4–9 and we are going to read about another instance of how their grumbling led to more trouble. Have someone read the passage aloud.

• What direction were the Israelites headed? Since Mount Hor is to the north of the Red Sea, they were headed south to go around Edom on its east. The Red Sea is likely a reference to the Gulf of Aqaba and another reminder of leaving Egypt through the sea that God had parted for them.
• How did the people respond to the long detour? They became impatient.
• Whom did they complain against? Here it is noted that they complained against God and Moses.
• What did they complain about? The common refrain of being led out of Egypt to die in the wilderness is used as well as complaints of lacking food and water and despising the food they had.
• What was the “worthless food” they loathed? This is referring to the manna God had been providing for them for 40 years, so they weren’t really without food—they just wanted different food.
• How did God respond to the complaints of the people? He sent fiery serpents among them.
• What is a “fiery serpent”? This is a descriptive term used of venomous snakes whose venom causes the flesh to feel like it is burning and the wound gets hot.
• What was the result of the snake bites? Many of the Israelites died from the bites.
• How did the people respond to the situation? They acknowledged their sin of speaking against God and Moses and asked Moses to pray that God would take away the serpents.
• In response to his prayer, what did God command Moses to do? God told Moses to make a bronze fiery serpent and attach it to a pole.
• How was the serpent to be used? Anyone who looked at the serpent on the pole would live.
• What was the serpent made of? Most translations say it was bronze, but it is also translated as brass and comes from the root word for copper. (It was probably a copper alloy.)
• Who provided the way of life after the snake bite? God.
• How did the bronze serpent bring relief? Anyone who looked to the serpent after being bitten would live. This was an act of faith in believing that the serpent God had provided would bring life. One who was bitten had only to look up to the serpent, trusting in God’s provision of relief.

Discover the Truth

So, once again, we see the Israelites complaining about their circumstances and blaming God and Moses for their circumstances. And as a result of their grumbling, God judged them once again. We can see how seriously God takes even the sin of complaining, bringing the consequence of death to those who commit that sin.

• What is the main point of this passage? This is another reminder of the nature of man complaining against God even in his abundant provision, God’s just punishment of sin, and his provision of relief from the judgment.

  We often find ourselves complaining about what we have. But the truth is, all of it has come from God—he is our provider. When we complain about our circumstances, we are complaining about what God has given us and we are sinning against our Creator. God is just to judge us for our sin, but he is also merciful and provides salvation for us. Just as he provided relief from the fiery serpents for all who would look to the serpent lifted on a pole, he has provided forgiveness of sins by another who was lifted up. God provides the healing for his people as they seek his remedy by faith.

The Serpent and the Son Activity

We are going to look at a passage in the New Testament that connects directly to what we just read. The bronze serpent is used as a type of Jesus—a shadow in the Old Testament that points to Jesus.

In your Student Guide, you will find the Serpent and the Son activity. I want you to use the passages that are given there to compare the bronze serpent and the Son of Man who were both lifted up on a pole. Have the students work in small groups to complete the activity.

Connect to the Truth

As you looked at the comparisons, I hope you can see what an amazing picture of the gospel was foreshadowed in God’s provision of the serpent.

This serpent lifted on a pole was a type of Christ. The physical healing from a snake bite by faith is analogous to the Son of Man offering eternal life to all who look to him in faith. There was no magic in the image itself; the object of the faith was God who provided the healing to all who trusted in his provision.

• What does the phrase “lifted up” mean (also see John 8:28, 12:30–34)? This phrase is used very literally with both the serpent and the Son of Man being raised. But Jesus also uses it as a euphemism for crucifixion. It does not mean, as we might use it today, to praise or exalt someone. This sense is often used when people refer to these passages in John, but Jesus meant to speak of his crucifixion.
• Who is the Son of Man? This is a name Jesus applies to himself and is a Messianic title drawn from Daniel 7:13.
• What is the purpose of the Son of Man being lifted up? Whoever believes in the Son of Man and what was accomplished when he was “lifted up” would have eternal life.
• What parallels can you draw between the bronze serpent passage and what Jesus describes in this passage? a) Both the serpent and Jesus were raised up on a pole; b) both happened to save people from death, though the serpent was salvation from physical death, not eternal death; c) the serpent brought salvation from a physical snake bite while the crucifixion brought salvation from the effects of a spiritual “snake bite” that brought sin into the world; d) both speak of judgment for sins against God; e) both are offered freely to all who are sick from a snake bite/sin; f) both require faith that God will provide healing/salvation; g) both are provided by God; h) neither requires anything but faith of the one looking for healing; i) both are sufficient for complete healing/eternal life.
• What ever happened to the bronze serpent (2 Kings 18:4)? King Hezekiah tore down the idols and places of false worship as well as the bronze serpent that the Israelites had been worshipping as Nehushtan. Snakes were symbols of the fertility cult in Canaan, and this serpent that had originally been used to point to healing from God was now being idolized and likely blended with the worship of false gods. Hezekiah broke it into pieces to stop its abuse.

Application

Sin is serious. God is holy. Our sin deserves judgment, but there is also mercy. And that mercy is given to us by God himself. The one we have sinned against provides the escape from our just punishment. While we might look at the Israelite rebels as fools, or we might think we are better than the Israelites who grumbled in the face of God’s constant provision, we need to remember that we were once rebels too. And it was only by the grace of God in Jesus Christ through the working of the Holy Spirit that we can now honor God with our lives. God has provided everything for us, and we should offer great praise to him for his wonderful works.

We can look at these events and see both positive and negative examples. Moses and Aaron sought to honor God in their lives, though they faltered and faced consequences at times. Many of the other Israelites tended to complain and grumble against Moses as their leader and God’s provision in so many areas. At this point, there were probably few in the assembly who even remembered what life was like in Egypt, but they still longed for the false memory of the land where they had been enslaved. God provided faithfully for them, but they wanted something else—God’s provision was not good enough for them.

Let us make sure that we think of how we can apply these ideas as we leave and go out into the world we live in. We want to make sure that we are not merely hearing the Word, but seeking to be doers of what we read in it.

• Slide #37

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  Slide #42
  We know that God has instituted authority structures in our lives. Parents are to lead children (Ephesians 6:1–3). Husbands are to lead their wives (Colossians 3:18). Elders are to lead the local church (Hebrews 13:17). Why has God provided this structure, and how does this relate to the account of Korah’s rebellion? While we often think we know best, God always knows what is best for us. We should submit to his plan and not seek to overthrow those he has placed in authority over us. If we are in those positions, we should lead in love and not harshly (Matthew 20:25–28). Korah’s attitude was that he deserved something God had given to someone else, and he convinced others to pursue the same thing. This is a sinful attitude. If there are abuses of authority in a church, God has given prescriptions to resolve those issues (1 Timothy 5:19–21). Another area of concern is with women desiring to be pastors and how many denominations have abandoned Scripture in that area.
• Some people claim that there is no physical evidence for the existence of the Israelites in Sinai for 40 years. How does Jesus refute this claim in John 3? Unless Jesus is deceiving his listeners, then Moses really made a bronze serpent and the event really happened. To deny the event recorded in Numbers 21 is to call Jesus a liar in using it as an example.
• As you consider the provision God made for the Israelites amid their constant grumbling, in what ways do you act the same way? Is there an area of God’s provision that you find yourself unsatisfied with? Discuss various answers. The area of finances could be one where people feel unsatisfied, but remind them that God promises to provide for our physical needs (not necessarily our wants).
• If you find yourself being discontent with the situation you are in, how can you confess that as sin and direct your thinking toward being content? Using the principle of putting off sinful habits and attitudes and putting on God-honoring habits and attitudes (Ephesians 4:20–24), you can recognize your sin, confess it, and give thanks to God for what you have received from him. Replace complaining with thanksgiving. In light of your current situation, your biggest problem—the judgment of your sin—has been taken care of in Christ.
• How does seeing the provision of the serpent in the wilderness and Jesus connecting that account to himself help you understand or trust God more? Discuss various answers.
• What do the two accounts we have looked at today remind you about the character of man and the character of God? Discuss various answers including God’s holiness, justice, and mercy, and man’s fallenness and need for a Savior.

Group Prayer

Be sure to pray with your class before you dismiss them.

• Praise God for his justice.
• Ask God for thankful hearts to acknowledge his many good gifts.
• Thank God for giving us leadership in the home and church.