Sunday, February 14, 2016

Numbers: Separate From The Rebels

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date
: Sunday, February 14, 2016
Chapters: Numbers 16-18
Message: Numbers: Separate From The Rebels

Hello My Friend,

Rebel, One who willfully violates a law; to renounce the authority of the laws and government to which one owes allegiance. Every one of us has at one point done something to willfully violate a law, examples of this would be disobeying our parents law, a traffic law, or God's law. Just like any violation of a law, consequences come if we do not follow it. We many not even get caught at the time, but no sin goes unpunished. Now, there is another rebel, this one renounces or rejects the authority of God, this literally comes with the consequences of death and hell. The sad thing is, rebels have a way of attracting people to them, if they follow them, they too will die and end up in hell. “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” - Romans 1:32.

Did you ever get the urge to do something when you were told not to? Of course you did, All of us have. There is something about our flesh that, even if we never thought about doing something, the second we are told not to, we are tempted. While many will resist the temptation quite a few will give in. As you can imagine, the news of the eldest Israelite's not being able to go into the promised land did not go over too well. Even though the Levites were not part of the group, Korah and some Reubenites revolted. Korah gathered every disgruntled person he could find and tried to overthrow the authority of Moses and Aaron, stating that they were making these rules, not God. On top of that, they thought because they were Levites, they were not under the same law.

Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation? And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins. And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.” - Numbers 16:21-26,31,32.

lest ye be consumed in all their sins.” How often do innocent people die because others refuse to obey the rules? You would be surprised at that number. Moses could have kept silent as God was about to destroy them all, but he pleaded for the lives of those who did not follow them, and God heard His plea. While God is in control of all things and will do anything He wants, He is still merciful to those who do not follow the rebels. Today, Jesus stands before God and pleads with Him for every person that comes to Him for salvation. There will come a time when that door will be shut, all of His people will be raptured or risen to meet Him in the clouds, while the rest of the earth will be consumed in all their sins, including those who followed the rebel who started it all, Satan.

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” - Revelation 20:10,12-15.

Rebellion is an example of false religion, people who go against God's commands to serve Him on their own terms. They too will find themselves cast straight into hell for their rebellion. It does not matter if we accept false religion out of ignorance, the same judgment applies to all. To prove that God gave authority to Aaron He commands every tribe to bring a rod and set it before the tabernacle.

And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness. And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds. And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod. And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.” - Numbers 17:6-10.

to be kept for a token against the rebels;” I have this jacket that I bought my ex-boyfriend, I refused to give it back to him because of it's value, but wear it myself. Since I live in the south I rarely need to use it, but once or twice a year I do and am reminded of all that God He has done for me since I dedicated my life to Christ. We all need something we can look back on to remind us that Christ is the one we follow and He truly is our Saviour from more than just hell, He literally saves us from the life we lived when we live under His authority. Following Christ is the single most bravest thing we could do, and when we truly understand what He did for us and saves us from we learn that His commands are not grievous. “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” - 1 John 5:2-4.

If rebels are going to cause the righteous to sin God will separate them, sometimes He is subtle, but most of the time He is going to let the whole congregation know that rebels are not welcome in His Church. God reconfirms the covenant that He made with the Levites, stating that they are given as a gift for Him.

And the LORD said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood. And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before the tabernacle of witness. And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die. And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are given as a gift for the LORD, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest's office for every thing of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest's office unto you as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.” - Numbers 18:1-3,6,7.

and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.” Many people will come and try to serve God under some false religion, but God knows who are His, and unless we are saved no amount of work done in His name will be any good. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” - Matthew 7:21-23.

Today's Prayer: God, At times we can foolish and rebellious people, we need Your guidance and patience at all times even to get through the day. Through Your Word You teach us what is good and what destroys us, bringing us down and others along with us. Lord, cleanse our soul, create a hunger that gives us spiritual cravings for more of You and give us the power to be obedient to Your Word as we study to be approved by You. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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