| LESSON 7 | *November 7 - 13 |
| Power Struggle |
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| LESSON 7 | *November 7 - 13 |
| Power Struggle |
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| SABBATH AFTERNOON |
Read for This Week's Study:
Gen. 17:10–17; Numbers 16, 17; Josh. 4:3–9; Matt. 26:13; Luke 22:19. |
Memory Text:
"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18). |
| An ill-disguised hatred against
Moses and Aaron still rankled in the hearts of the multitude. To be condemned
to wander in the wilderness until the first generation out of Egypt died
seemed more than many of them could bear. Instead of submitting to God’s
judgment, some began to plot how they could rid themselves of the two brothers,
as if somehow these two men, and not God, were the ones responsible for this
situation.
“Korah, the leading spirit in this movement, was a Levite, of the family of Kohath, and a cousin of Moses; he was a man of ability and influence. Though appointed to the service of the tabernacle, he had become dissatisfied with his position and for some time . . . had been secretly opposing the authority of Moses and Aaron . . . . He finally conceived the bold design of overthrowing both the civil and the religious authority.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 395.
This week’s lesson should be a powerful reminder to us of corruptness
of the human heart. Pride, jealousy, and love of power, if cherished and
left to fester, can manifest themselves in horrific ways. God alone knows
how much pain, uffering, and loss have resulted and will result from those
who, knowing better, allow these bitter seeds to bear their harvest. May
we learn from the mistakes seen here, and not make the same ones ourselves.
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*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, November 14.
| SUNDAY | November 8 |
Rebellion (Again)
Read
Numbers
16:1–3. Read carefully the rebels’ words to Moses. What
four lies are found there?
Here, again, we see the manifestation of Satan’s original sin in heaven. No matter how exalted these men and princes were, or the high positions that they held, it wasn’t enough for them. They wanted more.
How careful we must be!
What
else was behind their rebellion? Why, too, were these
charges so utterly false?
Num.
16:12–14.
What’s so incredible are the words of these men, calling Egypt (Egypt!) the land flowing “with milk and honey.” It’s amazing how sin was so able to pervert their judgment that the country of their slavery and bondage was now referred to by them in terms that represented God’s Promised Land!
| What are ways in which we deceive ourselves, ways in which we rationalize
or justify our sins and wrong deeds? How can we protect ourselves against
this sad and dangerous spiritual trap?
|
| MONDAY | November 9 |
If the Lord Creates Something New
Look at Moses’ reaction to these men (Num. 16:4–11). Despite the exalted position that they had been given, they wanted more. Moses clearly saw that.
Even more important, if you listened to their words, it seemed as if they were rebelling against Moses and Aaron, as if these two, of themselves, had usurped all this authority, had overstepped their bounds, and had exalted themselves over everyone else, as well as having led them into the wilderness to kill them.
In
reality, however, who were they truly rebelling
against?
Num.
16:11.
Again, one has to wonder where these men came up with such false charges. Whose power split the Red Sea—God’s, or Moses’ and Aaron’s? Who brought manna for them every morning—God, or Moses and Aaron? Who was it that manifested the cloud by day and the fire by night—God or Moses and Aaron? It’s hard to imagine how, with all that they had witnessed, they could have acted as they did.
Read
Numbers
16:15–35. Notice Moses’ words in
verses
28–30. What is the saying that shows what the real issue was?
Think of their situation. If these men had been able to foment a wider rebellion, who knows the horrible consequences that could have come. The children of Israel, as it were, hardly grounded in the Lord as they should be, easily could have gone totally astray. They had to know that the Lord was in control, that the Lord was the One who was leading them, and that Moses and Aaron were doing what God had called them to do and were not acting in their own behalf. All this should have been obvious, but again, sin has a powerful way of clouding our minds. The spirit of rebellion, once fostered, is hard to quell, and often takes on a momentum all its own.
| How susceptible are you to feelings of envy regarding those who have
position or authority over you? What can you learn from Christ’s example
that could help you overcome this potentially ruinous sentiment?
|
| TUESDAY | November 10 |
Memorials
Archaeological research in Palestine has not uncovered many written materials (other than the Dead Sea scrolls), yet the Scriptures refer to a variety of memorials as visible signs to recall continuously to Israel’s memory their meaning. For instance, in Genesis 28:11–22 Jacob set up a stone memorial in order to remember the covenant promises that God had made to him and to his descendants.
How
was this terrible rebellion against Moses and Aaron
memorialized?
Num.
16:36–40. What especially was this memorial to remind them
of?
Most of the memorials mentioned in the Old Testament reminded Israel of God’s will, His goodness, grace, and covenant blessings. They pointed the person Godward, upward, toward the Lord. For example, the rainbow after the Flood (Gen. 9:13), circumcision (Gen. 17:10–17), the Passover festival (Num. 9:1–14), the blue tassels on their clothing (Num. 15:38–41), or the memorial stones Joshua erected at the Jordan crossing (Josh. 4:3–9).
In contrast, the bronze plates in the court were a preventative memorial to warn a stranger or a nondescendant of Aaron from attempting to usurp the priesthood. In a broader sense, it would remind people of what happened when humans—rationalizing their own greed, ambition, and desire for power—rebelled against God. It was a memorial, warning people to “be not as Korah, and as his company” (Num. 16:40).
What
are some other memorials you can find in the Bible,
and what are their purposes? See, for instance,
Exod.
20:8–11,
Num.
31:54,
Matt.
26:13,
Luke
22:19. In what ways were the animal sacrifices a kind of memorial?
| What things about the Lord and His promises do you constantly need
reminding of? Why is it important to keep those promises constantly before
you?
|
| WEDNESDAY | November 11 |
Between the Living and the Dead
We would think that the judgments that fell upon Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and the 250 princes would have sobered the wilderness congregation. After all, fire was coming down from heaven and consuming some, while the earth was opening up and consuming the others. What more could the Lord have done to show His righteous indignation at such outright rebellion and apostasy?
Read
Numbers
16:41–50. What should this tell us about fallen human nature? How
did their accusation reflect the same accusation that Korah and the others
had just made?
What this amazing account should reveal to us is that the spirit of rebellion among some of the people hadn’t ended with Korah. It remained in the camp, even after all that just had happened. It’s hard to understand how anyone could have acted that way, especially after what they had just witnessed. Again, this only goes to show us how once we start the slide toward rebellion and apostasy, we might find ourselves doing some very crazy and irrational things. How crucial that we, through God’s grace, claiming His promises (1 Cor. 10:13, Phil. 1:6), die to these sentiments before they lead us toward ruin.
Read
Numbers
16:48. What does the idea of Aaron standing between the living and the
dead mean? How do we, in this scene, get a glimpse of what Jesus has done
for us?
| Are you among the living? Justify your answer.
|
| THURSDAY | November 12 |
Aaron's Rod That Budded
Although thousands had died in the rebellion stirred up by Korah, the Lord knew the issue of priestly leadership had yet to be settled. Even with all that He had done, the powerful and painful judgments poured out on the rebellious, God must have known that the people were still restless. With justification, He could have wiped them all out, though it was never His desire to do that. Even after all that had happened, the Lord still was willing to work with these people and reveal His saving grace to them.
Read
Numbers
17 and answer the following
questions:
There was no way that this miracle of Aaron’s staff blooming and producing almonds could be denied. The Israelites had to admit that God had wrought a miracle within the tabernacle that, once and for all, designated Aaron and his descendants as the priests of the Lord’s sanctuary. The tragedy is that it cost so much suffering to get the point across. What’s amazing is that the Lord was willing to do even more for them in order to set them straight.
From our perspective, it’s so easy to condemn and judge the Hebrews.
Yet, what if we look at ourselves, individually
(2
Cor. 3:15)? Why is it often so hard for us to learn the lessons that
God seeks to teach us? Why, even when we have been given more than enough
evidence of God’s love and grace, do we fail to trust Him? Why do we
make the same mistakes over and over? Even more important, why is it crucial
that we not seek to justify our mistakes?
|
| FRIDAY | November 13 |
Further Study:
| Read Ellen G. White, “The Rebellion of Korah,” pp. 395–405,
in Patriarchs and Prophets.
“I question whether genuine rebellion is ever curable. . . . “Rebellion and apostasy are in the very air we breathe. We shall be affected by it unless we by faith hang our helpless souls upon Christ. If men are so easily misled, how will they stand when Satan shall personate Christ, and work miracles? Who will be unmoved by his misrepresentations? Professing to be Christ when it is only Satan assuming the person of Christ, and apparently working the works of Christ? What will hold God’s people from giving their allegiance to false Christs? ‘Go not ye after them.’
“The doctrines must be plainly understood. The men accepted to teach
the truth must be anchored; then their vessel will hold against storm and
tempest, because the anchor holds them firmly. The deceptions will increase,
and we are to call rebellion by its right name. We are to stand with the
whole armor on.” —The SDA Bible Commentary, Ellen G. White
Comments, vol. 1, p. 1114.
|
Discussion Questions:
 What are ways in which sin deceives us? How can
we know if we are being deceived by it? (After all, isn’t part of the
deception of sin to make us think that actually we’re not being deceived?)
What role does the Bible play in answering this question? How can others
help us, as well?
|
Summary:
| The rebellion of Korah and his associates against Moses and Aaron was
so deep-seated that God had to destroy them and their followers by earthquake,
fire, and plague. This account should serve as a warning against envy and
jealousy, as did the memorial bronze plates on the altar. If we would pray
for our leaders and cherish what God has done for them and us, we may be
spared the internal troubles that beset ancient Israel in Korah’s
uprising. |
| I N S I D E Story | ||
| Mad Man Goes to Church
by CHARLOTTE ISHKANIAN Mekonin lived in a farming village in Ethiopia. Many people in this village didn't like Adventists, and some even wanted to destroy the local Adventist church. One day people noticed that Mekonin was behaving erratically. He became angry easily and even tried to kill his wife. Fortunately, she and their children fled to her parents' home. As Mekonin's behavior became more demonic, the neighbors feared for their own safety. They chained him to a pillar in his home and stayed a safe distance away. Then someone mentioned that when the Adventists pray for people, they're healed. The next Sabbath morning several strong men bound Mekonin in chains and led him to the Adventist church. The men sat down on a bench near the back surrounding Mekonin, ready to subdue him if he became aggressive. The visitors sat quietly through Sabbath School and church. Then the pastor, deacons, and church elders gathered around Mekonin and prayed for him. "Why don't you throw water on him?" one of the neighbors asked. The pas-tor explained that the power to heal Mekonin was in Christ, not in the water. The pastor asked the men to bring Mekonin back the next day for prayer. On Sunday the neighbors returned to the Adventist church with Mekonin, but this time he came without the chains. About 60 people came to pray for Mekonin or to watch what happened. The following Sabbath, Mekonin visited the Adventist church again. He walked with some Adventist members and was not bound by chains. Mekonin took part in the worship service. The pastor knew of another Adventist church nearer to Mekonin's home and asked the local elders to go to Mekonin's home and pray with him. Other Adventist groups learned about Mekonin's condition and joined in praying for him. Within two weeks Mekonin was healed of the demons who had possessed him. Mekonin's wife learned that her husband had been healed; she and her children returned home. Mekonin and his wife joined the Adventist church, along with neighbors who had once wanted to destroy the church but had seen God heal Mekonin in answer to the believers' prayers. Today six Adventist churches stand in the area near Mekonin's home, testimonies of God's goodness and power to save. Your mission offerings help spread the gospel in farming villages and large cities around the world so that people chained by darkness can be freed by Jesus, the Light of the World.
CHARLOTTE ISHKANIAN is editor of Mission. |
||
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However open and outright the rebellion we looked at this week, what are
others ways that the same spirit can be manifest among us? How can we recognize
it when it arises among ourselves, especially when it’s often cloaked
under guises that make us think we’re not rebelling really, but instead,
really standing up for what is right? How do we know the
difference? 
Why
are memorials, either religious or secular, important? What are some secular
memorials common in your culture, and what do they represent?