Lesson 62
God Judges Rebellion Lesson Focus Three men rebelled against Moses and Aaron’s God-given leadership. God judged them by supernaturally opening the earth and swallowing them up. The people blamed Moses and Aaron and continued to complain. God sent ery serpents that killed some. Only those who looked to the bronze serpent were saved from God’s judgment.
Key Passages Numbers , :–; John :–
What You Will Learn • How God judged Korah for his rebellion against Moses. • How God showed mercy to the Israelites through the bronze serpent.
Memory Verse Deuteronomy : Know therefore that the L your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.
Adult • Unit Lesson • Limited license to copy issued First Baptist Church, Ozark, MO Prepare to Learn
Scriptural Background After hearing the report of the Moses’ summons to talk. They falsely spies about giants in the land, accused him of making himself a the Israelites refused to enter the prince, trying to kill them in the promised land. For their rebellion, wilderness, and not leading them into God decreed that all the people would the promised land. These lies made wander in the wilderness for years Moses angry, and he asked the Lord until the adults perished. Only Joshua to justify him (Numbers :–). and Caleb, the spies who gave a The next day, the rebels and the positive report and urged the people leaders assembled at the entrance to trust God for victory, would get to of the tent of meeting. This take possession of the promised land rebellious gathering incurred the along with the Israelites under age wrath of the Lord, who was ready to (Numbers :–). destroy the whole congregation of During the wilderness Israel if Moses and Aaron had not wanderings, several men instigated interceded for them. Instead, God a rebellion against the leadership of in his mercy told Moses to warn the Moses, Aaron, and ultimately, God. Israelites to move away from Korah, Korah was from the tribe of Levi Dathan, and Abiram and their and a cousin of Moses and Aaron. dwellings (Numbers :–). He desired leadership and authority. Moses said that if God miraculously Korah gathered Israelite leaders, opened the earth and swallowed up including Dathan and Abiram who the rebels, then the people would were leaders from the tribe of Reuben. know that these men “despised They assembled against Moses and the L” (Numbers :). When Aaron, claiming that all the Israelites he nished speaking, God did were holy because God dwelt among exactly that—an earthquake split them. Then they accused Moses the ground open, and those men, and Aaron of exalting themselves their families, and their belongings to positions of authority (Numbers fell into the chasm—and the earth :–). Moses proposed a test where closed over them. The Israelites God would show whom he wanted panicked and ¡ed. Then re from to be priests. Moses recognized that the Lord consumed the leaders pride and jealousy were behind the who were vying for the priesthood men’s actions. They were not only (Numbers :–). challenging his and Aaron’s authority In spite of these judgments, the but also God’s since he appointed Israelites continued to complain. them (Numbers :). Dathan and The next day, they accused Moses Abiram refused to even answer of killing the rebels and leaders. God
• Lesson Adult • Unit Limited license to copy issued First Baptist Church, Ozark, MO responded by sending a plague that serpents that bit the people, causing was only halted by Aaron making many to die. The people recognized atonement for them (Numbers their sin and came to Moses and :¢–). Later in their travels, asked him to pray on their behalf. the people became desperate and God answered with an amazing grumbled for water. Moses and Aaron picture of the coming Savior. He had did not follow God’s instructions for Moses make a bronze serpent and providing water from a rock, and set it on a pole in the camp. Anyone for their disobedience, God said who was bitten by the snakes could they would not enter the promised look to the serpent and be healed land either (Numbers :–). The (Numbers :–¤). Just as the bronze complaining continued when the serpent saved the people from people griped about food and water, physical death, Christ was raised on even saying they hated the manna a cross so that all who look to him God provided (Numbers :). This for salvation may be saved from time, God judged them with ery eternal death (John :–). Historical/Apologetics Background People may wonder why God :–). Unfortunately, even this instructed Moses to make the great picture of salvation was twisted bronze serpent for the people to for pagan worship. Years later in look to for healing. But there are the promised land, the Israelites several lessons God wanted to teach worshipped the bronze serpent until his people. First, God was teaching King Hezekiah destroyed it ( Kings them about faith. There was nothing :). How easy it was for them to supernatural in the bronze serpent slip into pagan practices instead of that could heal them; only God worshipping God alone. could do that. But he wanted the One question that arises from people to have faith in his Word that Korah’s rebellion and God’s judgment they would be healed if they looked is why the families of the rebels to it. Second, the serpent on the pole were destroyed along with the men. was also a reminder of their sin, Numbers :¢ records that Dathan which brought the judgment of the and Abiram came out of their tents poisonous snakes. Finally, God was and stood with their wives, sons, and giving a picture of the coming Savior. little ones. When the earth opened Just as the serpent was raised up on up, Korah and these men, along with a pole, so Jesus was raised up on the their households and possessions, fell cross to su¨er. The people had to alive into the pit, and the earth closed believe God would save them when over them (Numbers :–). This they looked to the serpent, and we may seem like a harsh punishment must believe in Christ’s sacricial for the families of those men, but death and subsequent resurrection there are several things to keep in to be saved from eternal death (John mind. First, all people, no matter
Adult • Unit Lesson • Limited license to copy issued First Baptist Church, Ozark, MO their age, are sinners by nature army ( Chronicles :). God would deserving of God’s wrath. It is only have been just to punish all the people by his great mercy that we are not for assembling against him, but they all consumed (Lamentations :– were spared. Although the people KJV). Second, God emphasized the didn’t heed the warning—even in the seriousness of rebellion by including miracle of an earthquake—and spoke the families in the punishment. against Moses the following day, God Rebellion spreads and a¨ects others. mercifully allowed Aaron to stand in Korah, Dathan, and Abiram involved the gap for them to stop the ensuing the leaders from other tribes. The plague (Numbers :–). Bible even lists rebellion with the sin These accounts of rebellion and of witchcraft ( Samuel :). God judgment should be warnings to knew that the Israelites would not us. In fact, the Apostle Paul said survive as a ¡edgling nation if they that they were written down for rebelled against his authority and our instruction ( Corinthians his appointed leaders. They had to :–). The apostle warns us be unied in their obedience to God not to desire evil, not to indulge in and his laws. This lesson had to be sexual immorality, and not to put memorable for the people, and it was. Christ to the test or grumble as Over , years later, Jude warns some of them did. Like they were, against false teachers who reject we, too, are weak and prone to God’s authority and follow in the sin. But thankfully, God gives us footsteps of Korah’s rebellion (Jude :, this promise: “No temptation has :). Finally, God still demonstrated overtaken you that is not common mercy in this account. Moses told the to man. God is faithful, and he will men to return the next day, which not let you be tempted beyond your gave them time to repent, but they ability, but with the temptation he didn’t. He also showed mercy to the will also provide the way of escape, people by warning them to remove that you may be able to endure it” themselves from the rebellious men. ( Corinthians :). May we take Korah’s sons heeded this warning the way of escape that God provides. and were spared (Numbers :), And when we don’t, may we have and their descendants would include soft hearts to recognize our sin and the prophet Samuel, musicians in the confess it quickly, looking to Jesus service of King David ( Chronicles for forgiveness and cleansing! :–), and warriors in David’s AStudying God’s Word How can staring at a bronze serpent heal a snake bite?
• Lesson Adult • Unit Limited license to copy issued First Baptist Church, Ozark, MO Take notes as you study the following passages.
Korah’s Rebellion Numbers
Numbers : –
Fiery Serpents Numbers : –
The Serpent and the Son Activity In the early days of Jesus’ ministry, he had a late-night encounter with Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. You have probably read the account, and maybe you have wondered what the serpent being lifted up was all about. Read John :– and answer the following questions.
. What does the phrase “lifted up” mean (also see John :, :–)?
. Who is the Son of Man?
. What is the purpose of the Son of Man being lifted up?
. What parallels can you draw between the bronze serpent passage and what Jesus describes in this passage?
Adult • Unit Lesson • Limited license to copy issued First Baptist Church, Ozark, MO . What ever happened to the bronze serpent? (See Kings :.)
Application . We know that God has instituted authority structures in our lives. Parents are to lead children (Ephesians :–). Husbands are to lead their wives (Colossians :). Elders are to lead the local church (Hebrews :). Why has God provided this structure, and how does this relate to the account of Korah’s rebellion?
. Some people claim that there is no physical evidence for the existence of the Israelites in Sinai for years. How does Jesus refute this claim in John ?
. 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 nd yourself unsatised with?
. If you nd yourself being discontent with the situation you are in, how can you confess that as sin and direct your thinking toward being content?
. 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?
. What do the two accounts we have looked at today remind you about the character of man and the character of God?
GPrayer Requests
• Lesson Adult • Unit Limited license to copy issued First Baptist Church, Ozark, MO