IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

It is Against the Lord

Date: Mar. 9, 2022

Passage

Numbers 16:1-14 (ESV)

Now Korah the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men. And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men. They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?” When Moses heard it, he fell on his face, and he said to Korah and all his company, “In the morning the LORD will show who is his, and who is holy, and will bring him near to him. The one whom he chooses he will bring near to him. Do this: take censers, Korah and all his company; put fire in them and put incense on them before the LORD tomorrow, and the man whom the LORD chooses shall be the holy one. You have gone too far, sons of Levi!” And Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you sons of Levi: is it too small a thing for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do service in the tabernacle of the LORD and to stand before the congregation to minister to them, 10 and that he has brought you near him, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? And would you seek the priesthood also? 11 Therefore it is against the LORD that you and all your company have gathered together. What is Aaron that you grumble against him?”

12 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and they said, “We will not come up. 13 Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you must also make yourself a prince over us? 14 Moreover, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up.”

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 16:11

Therefore it is against the LORD that you and all your company have gathered together. What is Aaron that you grumble against him?”

Discontent with God’s direction to wander in the wilderness, several groups rebelled. Korah was the cousin of Moses and Aaron (1). He and his fellow Levites wanted to take the priesthood (10). 250 community leaders felt Moses and Aaron should be under their authority in making decisions for the whole assembly (2-3). Some Reubenites, Dathan and Abiram, were upset that Moses didn’t lead them into the land flowing with milk and honey (13-14). They banded together to overthrow Moses and Aaron and lead the people of God.

Moses did not engage in a battle for power. Rather, he fell facedown. Moses pointed out that it is God who is sovereign, not people. The LORD chooses who comes near, and who is holy (7). Their rebellion is against God. No human motive or method will succeed. In the church, Christ is sovereign, not people. We do well to check our motives and methods in light of this story.

Moses reminds the Levites of the privilege they have to be near to God (10). God who appoints us to his service and bestows gifts to each one, to be used in building up the whole (Eph 4:11-13). Let’s be thankful for our gifts and exercise them faithfully and wholeheartedly, building up our community.

Prayer: Prayer: Father, thank you for choosing me to be near you. Help me humbly live under your sovereignty and build up Jesus’ church today.

One Word: One Word: Thankfully accept God’s sovereignty

Daily Bread

The Consequences of Deception

Genesis 27:30-46

Key Verse: 27:33

Then Isaac trembled very violently and said, “Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed.”

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