God, God of the Spirits of All Flesh

SERMON: PASTORA EDITH CRUZ

SERMON # 1112-CHURCH IN THE HOUSES DATE: JULY 22, 2020

TOPIC: "God, God of the Spirits of All Flesh" Numbers 16:1-50 The Israelites were blaming Moses and Aaron for killing the people. But they were not the ones who killed the people, but on the contrary, they saved them! (Vs. 41, 47, 48) There is a problem in man, on earth, the rebels always have their "arguments." Arguments are reasoning used to refute or convince another of something. But, for the argument to be convincing it must be ensured that it is coherent, solid, without contradictions that affect its credibility, that is, without weak points to face replies, answers and refutations that deny or invalidate it. The argument used by the rebels of Korah and his entourage was that all the people in that congregation were saints, and for this reason they resented that Moses and Aaron would be the leaders saying that no one of the congregation should be excluded from offering the sacrifices. "Numbers 16:3 “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and he the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord's assembly?"

I. God called Moses from among the men of that time, from the burning bush on the mountain of God.

A. The Lord called him from the middle of the bush, and said to him: Moses, Moses! (Exodus 3:4)

1. God tells him: I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.

2. God calls him to deliver His people (Exodus 3:1-10).

3. Could you have any argument to propose that someone else could have been there in that call?

4. We know of God's support for Moses by sending the plagues, giving them food (manna), drawing water from the rock, causing the Egyptians to give them fortunes when they left, opening the sea for them to pass safely and reach the land of Canaan, to the promised land.

5. (Numbers 16:2) Korah was a cousin of Aaron (Exodus 6:18-21), it seems that because of the familiarity he believed he had some right to rise up against God.

6. (Vs. 3) They gathered against Moses and Aaron and said to them: Enough of you!

7. It is easy to stand up to demand the power, authority and calling that God has given to another. But we must see that in the life of Moses and Aaron there was pain, many sleepless nights, having to detach from their children keeping them far away, spending nights and days of excessive prayers, few days of good food and having the whole world against them. But what was envy? People like to be leaders on the good day, in pleasant moments, when the Shekinah of Jehovah is there, when God manifests His glory, His Presence! But that is not as frequent as the problems, the gossip and criticism, the teasing, mistreatment, even physical, contempt, etc. I assure you that Korah was not going to resist such offenses!

8. Korah was inconstant and now he was a rebel, not a righteous one who respects God's justice.

9. (Exodus 3:4-11) They want leadership and Moses listens to them and tells them what to do. He ordered Korah and his rebels to appear the next day with censers, "You Levites have gone too far! (Vs. 6, 7)".

10. Because they were sons of Levi, there was no right to rise up against the holy!

11. Burning incense was a priestly function. If God did not recognize them as "priests" He would show it with His displeasure!

12. (Vs. 12-15) Among the rebels were Dathan and Abiram who refused to leave their tents when Moses called them, but they were also rebels who had reproached him for his leadership.

13. (Exodus 3:8) They spoke of the promise made earlier that God would lead them to a land flowing with milk and honey, and here they were complaining with great sarcasm and mockery that Moses had instead led them out of a land that did distill milk and honey, referring to Egypt. Egypt was the place where they were slaves, mistreated with whipping and contempt! But thus, they showed how gossipy and conceited they were, they wanted to have everything at hand, but hidden in their cabins. That is characteristic of those who speak and who are not like Moses. (Vs. 4) When Moses heard this, he fell on his face… That is to be a man with a fighting spirit! Not like those who have the easy word, seasoned with gossip due to envy.

14. (Vs. 16-22, 46) The two hundred and fifty rebels together with Korah appeared before the tabernacle with their censers and Aaron as well, since God would reveal His approval of who could exercise the priesthood.

15. (Numbers 16:19) The congregation of Israel also gathered, perhaps, in sympathy with Korah. "...then the glory of Jehovah appeared to the whole congregation."

16. God spoke to Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from the congregation before He consumed them.

17. However, it was through the intercession of Moses and Aaron that Jehovah's judgment was not carried out.

18. (Vs. 23-35) Then, of the tents where Korah, Dathan and Abiram lived, God tells Moses to warn the congregation to stay away from their proximity.

19. (Vs. 28-30) If those rebellious men die of a natural death, according to “the luck of all men”, then Moses would be discredited. But if Jehovah miraculously caused “…the earth to open its mouth and swallow them…”, then all the people would know that these men had been guilty of rebellion (Vs. 30).

20. This being said, the earth was opened, and it swallowed Dathan, Abiram, Korah, and their families who also murmured.

21. (Vs. 36-40) The censers were sanctified; this was to remember that only Aaron's family had priestly privileges (Vs. 11).

22. (Vs. 41-50) We saw that Moses and Aaron were accused of killing God's people. But God, who in judgment would destroy them all did not do it, because those two men, Moses and Aaron, cried out before the tabernacle of meeting to intercede for them.

23. While the rebels had questioned the priesthood of Aaron, we see that it was he who made atonement for the people and God who called him responded and the slaughter ceased! Amen.