Numbers 16:1–17:13
My full title for Numbers 16:1–17:13 was:
“He will bring us into this land”: And We Will Respect God’s Choice of Who Leads and Who Serves
I am writing this with a half-hour to go before the first 2020 Presidential Election. How’d you like to be those two?! How’d you like to be Moses or Aaron?
The infamous rebellion against Moses and Aaron recorded in these chapters is one of the most intense narratives in the Old Testament. What makes it even more intense to preach or teach is that we’re living in days when leadership at all levels faces skepticism and cynicism.
To help you tackle this large preaching portion you might consider the following structure:
- Two more challenges to leadership (vv. 1-3a, 41)
- The wrongheaded thinking that causes it (vv. 3b, 12-14)
- Our response to the situation (vv. 21, 24, 26-27a, 45)
- God’s judgment and mercy (vv. 4-11, 22, 27b-40, 46-50; 17:1-13)
(I know that’s a lot of verses, but if you have time, take a look at the fit between these verses and the major points.)
First, simplify the sermon by noting that Korah and company function as a “go and do otherwise” exemplar. So we worship this morning by not following their attack on God’s leadership. Put positively, we respect God’s leadership.
Second, be ready to dig in theologically when you get to 16:3-5 and the question of whether only Moses and Aaron were holy or, according to Korah, the whole congregation was equally holy.
Third, Moses’s reaction was incredible to me. I think I would be tempted in light of the attack against him to gladly agree with God’s plan (16:21). Instead Moses intercedes for the congregation!
Fourth, as we’ve seen so often in Numbers, this lengthy narrative provides an excellent opportunity to highlight the holiness and judgment of God.
Finally, God’s mercy and Israel’s confession/repentance are highlighted in these scenes as God stops the plague and Israel says,
“Behold, we perish, we are undone, we are all undone. Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of the Lord, shall die. Are we all to perish?” (17:12-13)
And if you’re fond of a Christ-centered reading of such texts, you might land on 16:22 (“…shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?”) or 16:47 (“And [Aaron] put on the incense and made atonement for the people”). Concerning the former, one man, Adam, did sin and the human race experienced the judgment of God. However, one Man, Jesus Christ, was righteous and faced the judgment of God so that we by faith could be acquitted. The second one is an easy leap to the cross.
And as always, may our Lord receive glory in the church and in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:21) as you work hard for Him each weekend.
Randal
As I was reading Numbers 16, I could feel the intensity building throughout the situation, much like every day leading up to this presidential election. I laughed out loud at one point, thinking to myself, how crazy these men are rebelling, and God wants to do away with them, yet Aaron and Moses are willing to throw themselves down and want to intercede for them. I can’t help thinking as a Pastor leading others am I praying on behalf of my fellow Christian brothers and sisters, asking for God’s mercy on them. Am I reminding them of the authority from above and pointing them back to Christ who unites us. 1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” Am I reminding myself and others that our first love and allegiance is in Christ Jesus first and foremost? Thanks, professor Pelton for pointing me to this scripture and for reminding me that people repeat history.
Welcome, Chris. I am glad to be studying with you now through the LBC|Capital course, Advanced Homiletics. Normally we would meet soon, but COVID did us in! I appreciate your thoughts on the importance of pastoral leadership, especially in times like these. God’s best favor to you, brother. I hope these short posts are helpful for your own ministry.
Thank you, Chris, for joining the conversation. What a difficult time for leadership in our nation and the Church!
it is easy to see the rebellion against God and his servant in the text but it is also representative of Israel’s continued rebellion culminating in the rejection of Christ himself. With the repeated occurrence of rebellion and God’s mercy, God demonstrates his faithfulness to his promises in the covenants which are all fulfilled in Christ. Moses’ intervention models and foreshadows the ultimate mediator in Jesus. Just as they should have submitted to God’s servant Moses as their leader, the people should submit to the Son of God. God’s mercy and grace is shown in the atonement. As he stood between the living and the dead stopping the plague. This ultimate atonement is made by Jesus as he stood between living and the dead. What is the hope for Israel and everyone else? It is not in their own ability to obey. Rather, the only hope is that the Mediator stands between the living and the dead.
Such a great Christ-centered reading of this text, Tae! Thank you for displaying that kind of hermeneutic on the site. Looking forward to more of this approach when we gather on Zoom for a couple of residency days.
Reading this blog caused me to reflect upon America’s current climate and its presidential election as well. The numbers narrative mentioned by you is a good backdrop for leadership pertaining to the church and country. With that being said, I was able to look through Daniel’s lens regarding God’s perspective on leadership. Daniel 4:17 ESV states, “The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.” This was true for Israel’s leadership, and it is true for America today. This is God-centered preaching. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for spending time with me, Antoine. I am glad we can study together. Good insights too about Daniel’s leadership and character.