Friday, September 08, 2006

day 2 (pm) - continued

The Haunting Remembrance...

Third, the shittim wood for the Altar of Burnt Offering (or also called Brazen Altar) was to be "overlayed" or covered with bronze - most likely a melted down bronze in liquid form to cover the shittim wood boards which made up the four-sided Altar.

So where - in the desert - did the Israelites get the bronze? Not to mention the gold, silver and all other precious metals and costly materials in constructing the huge Tabernacle.

When the Israelites was freed after 430 years of slavery under God's might hand of judgment upon theie oppressors, the Egyptians, God made sure they were repaid plenteously for centuries of toil without reward: He moved the hearts of the Egyptians so that they poured their wealth to the departing freed nation of Israel:

The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country. "For otherwise," they said, "we will all die!" So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing. The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. The LORD had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians.(Exodus 12:33-36)

A bit more background material needs to be presented here.

Numbers 16 records one of the most horrific demonstration of how God deals with the rebellious - especially those rebelling against established apiritual authority.

Korah and his followers, most of whom were descendants of Levi (whose tribe was designated to ministering before God in the Tabernacle) rebelled against Moses' leadership.

Pastor Kim admonished how being in some form or manner of church service can often lead to arrogance and conceit if not checked by others, especially when one does not submit himself to church leadership and authority, and to guard our hearts against spiritual solitude - of being "set apart" in a way God had not intended.

The Korah and his followers, over a period of time while serving in such holy duties as maintaining the articles within the santuary of God, considered themselves above the others. Perhaps even above their own brother Levites who were given other tasks, seemingly less-significant tasks. Pride ensnared them.

In response to their rebellion (not a small group comprising of about 250 men), Moses instructed them to prepare 250 censers, one for each, with fires in them - fire from the Altar of Burnt Offering. Moses assured them that the next morning God will show who is justified before God, and whom God has chosen: Moses or the 250 rebellious men following Korah.

The next morning, when the foolish rebels gathered in a huge group (stupidity in numbers) before the Tabernacle entrance and this was God's reaction:

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Separate yourselves from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once." (Numbers 16:20-21)

He is angry, to say the least. And God was ready to kill all Israelites if Moses' plea is anything to go by:

But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and cried out, "O God, God of the spirits of all mankind, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?" (v.22)

God relents and tells Moses and Aaron and all those right in the head to separate themselves from Korah and the rebels.

Not only were Korah and his household swallowed up by the earth instantly, fire from the Lord came down and consumed all 250 men holding the censers in their hands. (Numbers 16:31-35)
The 250 censers were made of bronze, Scripture tells us.

Every times the Israelites saw the Altar of Burnt Offering, they were given a stark, visual reminder of that day and Korah and his destroyed followers. They were exposed to vivid reminder, a haunting reminder of what rebellion against God and his established authority meant and costs.

...to be continued...

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

whoaaaa... O.O
numbers 16... O.O
sooo crazy!
i was so amazed after reading this, that i HAD to read it out loud to my little brother...

i hope he is convinced that reading the Bible IS fun! :P

Anonymous said...

I hope so too!!!

=)