Well, friends, we’re at it again. As we continue in our sermon series from the book of Numbers, we have yet another story of rebellion. It seems that Israel never learns – they never learn to submit themselves to the Lord; they never learn that God is God and they are not; they never learn that the Lord’s way is the best way, period. No, Israel insists on having their own way. And so they fall prey, repeatedly, to idolatry, arrogance, selfish desires and rebellion. And today we see yet again that this brings only heartache, pain and judgment upon them.

Like most family fights or church fights (which are essentially the same thing), we have a lot going on here. There are several issues at stake. But the key issue here is power – who’s going to be in charge? Who has authority in Israel? The leader of this rebellion is Korah who is from the tribe of Levi. The Levites were set apart by God to assist in the work of the Tabernacle. They assist the priests, who come from the family of Aaron, in Israel’s worship. Korah was from the Kohathite family of Levi, meaning that he helped to carry the sacred furniture in the Tabernacle when the people were on the move. This was a great honor, as he got to handle some of the holy things set apart for use in the Tabernacle. But that wasn’t enough for Korah; he doesn’t want to just assist the priests – he wants to be a priest. He didn’t agree with the Lord’s decree that only Aaron and his descendants could be priests. "‘You have gone too far!’" he said. "‘The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?’" (Numbers 16:3, NIV). He says here that God was wrong – the whole community is holy. And he accuses Moses and Aaron of high jacking all the leadership opportunities in Israel. He thinks the people should have more authority, more input and more responsibility.

Korah is obviously a persuasive man, for he gets others to join with him in his discontent. Scripture says that two hundred fifty others join him – well-known community leaders and members of the council. Included in this number are Dathan, Abiram and On, members of the tribe of Reuben who are also discontent. They’re not Levites, so they can’t be priests, but they are still unhappy with the leadership of Moses and Aaron. They tell Moses "‘Isn’t it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the desert? And now you also want to lord it over us? Moreover, you haven’t brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards!’" (Numbers 16:13-14, NIV). These men still have Egypt in their hearts; like most of us, they begin to long for the "good old days", which aren’t really good at all. They remember Egypt as a land flowing with milk and honey, not as a land of slavery and oppression. That’s bad enough. But then they blame Moses and Aaron for the events we read about last week – for not leading them into the Promised Land – even though Moses and Aaron were two of the few who wanted to fight when everyone else wanted to go back to Egypt!

This is a big problem for Moses and Aaron. Their leadership and authority are challenged. These men are in rebellion against them, accusing them of being power-hungry and keeping the people down. But Moses and Aaron don’t argue or fight back. Instead, they turn the problem over to the Lord; they let the Lord fight their battles. And to do this, they set up a trial by fire. Korah and his two hundred fifty men are all to take up censers to offer incense before the Lord, as will Aaron – and the Lord will then decide whom He wants as His priest. They put this question of leadership to the test and see what the Lord wants, to see if Moses and Aaron are really the arrogant, presumptuous, power-hungry maniacs Korah, Dathan and Abiram paint them to be. Moses and Aaron are so right with the Lord that they trust Him to vindicate them, to be true to His promises, to uphold His chosen leaders in the face of this rebellion. He tells the people "‘This is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea: If these men die a natural death and experience only what usually happens to men, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the grave, then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt’" (Numbers 16:28-30, NIV).

And indeed, at that very instant, the earth does open up and swallow Korah, Dathan and Abiram and all their people. "They went down alive into the grave with everything they owned; the earth closed over them and they perished and were gone from the community . . . And fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense" (Numbers 16:33, 35 NIV). The Lord proved in a vivid, dramatic way that He is God, and that He has a right to say what is right, what is fair and what is best. He shows that He does not tolerate rebellion against His Word. Indeed, in the New Testament, Korah is cited as an example of a wicked person who turns against the Lord (Jude 11). But in spite of this vivid lesson sent from the Lord about the importance of submission to His authority and leadership, the people still don’t get it. The next day, the community "grumbled against Moses and Aaron, (saying) ‘You have killed the Lord’s people’" (Numbers 16:41, NIV). And yet again, for the third time in Numbers, we have a rebellion against the Lord’s chosen leaders. These truly are a stiff-necked people! And so, yet again, Moses and Aaron must pray, must make atonement for the sins of the people. As a plague from the Lord spreads through the camp, Aaron literally stands between the living and the dead, interceding before the Lord until the plague stops (Numbers 16:48).

And so, to put an end to all of this discontent, God gives a final reminder, a final proof to the people that He means what He says. The leaders of all twelve tribes bring their staffs to the Tabernacle and lay them before the Lord. And the next day, Aaron’s staff has done something miraculous: it alone has budded and blossomed. Not only that, but it’s also produced almonds! And this, along with the earth swallowing up rebels, along with fire from heaven, is exceeding proof from God that Moses and Aaron are God’s chosen leaders, His representatives. Here is concrete proof that rebellion against God’s chosen people is a rebellion against His authority. Aaron’s staff was put in the Ark of the Covenant, along with the Ten Commandments and the jar of manna, as a lasting reminder to the people of the need for submission and obedience to the Lord’s Word. Like the brass covering upon the altar from the censers of the two hundred fifty who died, this is a reminder of the consequences of rebellion, of discontent, of arrogance and selfish ambition, of saying to God "You’re wrong – this is what You should do". And Israel finally realizes, finally sees the results of their sinfulness. It will not be a lesson that lasts – they will need to re-learn it. But for now, they get it.

Today is the first Sunday in Lent. We have begun our long preparation to celebrate Christ’s work on our behalf – His life, His death, His Resurrection. It may seem strange to continue looking at the book of Numbers during Lent – most congregations study the Gospels during this time. But I think Numbers works perfectly in Lent, for we see all throughout this book the need for a Savior. As we look at story after story of a rebellious, sinful people who reject God at every turn, who grumble against Him, who constantly lose faith, we see so very clearly our own need for a Savior – for we are just like Israel in the desert! This is our story, too. We, also rebel against God. We also demand power, authority and status. We also give into our selfish ambitions and flout God’s authority. Like Eve, we give in to our pride, hoping to be "like God". We don’t submit or yield even though God has proven over and over again that He is worthy of our praise and obedience, of our submission and faithfulness. Friends, we cannot save ourselves from this sinfulness! We need a Savior. And thanks be to God – we have a Savior in Jesus Christ! In spite of our rampant sinfulness, and even though we constantly reject Him, He has not rejected us. He has given us Jesus, the Friend of Sinners, the Lover of our Souls. Saving, helping, keeping, loving – He is with us until the end. And nothing but His blood can bring needed healing and forgiveness to us. God saw our problem, and God provided the solution! Hallelujah! Even though we are a rebellious, sinful people, even though we are like Korah, Dathan and Abiram, even though we say to God "You’re wrong – it should be this way", He has still provided a way for us to be made whole, to have a new and blessed life, to be forgiven. He has not rejected us, but has provided the greatest of blessings – His own Son, Jesus Christ. May we accept His gift and yield our lives and our hearts to Him – and to Him alone be the glory!