GOD UPHOLDS THE PRIESTLY OFFICE

Passage: Numbers 16:36-50

Key verse: 16:48

NIV

36 The Lord said to Moses, 37 “Tell Eleazar(A) son of Aaron, the priest, to remove the censers(B) from the charred remains and scatter the coals some distance away, for the censers are holy— 38 the censers of the men who sinned at the cost of their lives.(C) Hammer the censers into sheets to overlay the altar,(D) for they were presented before the Lord and have become holy. Let them be a sign(E) to the Israelites.”

39 So Eleazar the priest(F) collected the bronze censers brought by those who had been burned to death,(G) and he had them hammered out to overlay the altar, 40 as the Lord directed him through Moses. This was to remind the Israelites that no one except a descendant of Aaron should come to burn incense(H) before the Lord,(I) or he would become like Korah and his followers.(J)

41 The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. “You have killed the Lord’s people,” they said.

42 But when the assembly gathered in opposition(K) to Moses and Aaron and turned toward the tent of meeting, suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord(L) appeared. 43 Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the tent of meeting, 44 and the Lord said to Moses, 45 “Get away from this assembly so I can put an end(M) to them at once.” And they fell facedown.

46 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer(N) and put incense in it, along with burning coals from the altar, and hurry to the assembly(O) to make atonement(P) for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord;(Q) the plague(R) has started.” 47 So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people,(S) but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them. 48 He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped.(T) 49 But 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah.(U) 50 Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance to the tent of meeting, for the plague had stopped.[a]

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Footnotes
  1. Numbers 16:50 In Hebrew texts 16:36-50 is numbered 17:1-15.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

36 [a] Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 37 “Tell Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest to take up the censers out of the blaze. Then scatter the fire far and wide, for they have become holy. 38 As for the censers of (A)these men who have sinned at the cost of their lives, let them be made into hammered plates as a covering for the altar, for they offered them before the Lord, and they became holy. (B)Thus they shall be a sign to the people of Israel.” 39 So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which those who were burned had offered, and they were hammered out as a covering for the altar, 40 to be a reminder to the people of Israel, so (C)that no outsider, who is not of the descendants of Aaron, should draw near to burn incense before the Lord, lest he become like Korah and his company—as the Lord said to him through Moses.

41 But on the next day all the congregation of the people of Israel (D)grumbled against Moses and against Aaron, saying, “You have killed the people of the Lord.” 42 And when the congregation had assembled against Moses and against Aaron, they turned toward the tent of meeting. And behold, (E)the cloud covered it, and (F)the glory of the Lord appeared. 43 And Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting, 44 and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 45 (G)“Get away from the midst of this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” (H)And they fell on their faces. 46 And Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, and put fire on it from off the altar and lay incense on it and carry it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for (I)wrath has gone out from the Lord; the plague has begun.” 47 So Aaron took it as Moses said and ran into the midst of the assembly. And behold, the plague had already begun among the people. And he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. 48 And he stood between the dead and the living, and (J)the plague was stopped. 49 Now those who died in the plague were 14,700, (K)besides those who died in the affair of Korah. 50 And Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the tent of meeting, when the plague was stopped.

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Footnotes
  1. Numbers 16:36 Ch 17:1 in Hebrew
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

First, the priestly office is considered as holy (36-40). After God made fire come up out of the censers and burn the 250 men who challenged the priesthood, Eleazar the priest had the censers hammered flat and fastened to the altar. The censers would be a sign to remind the Israelites that no one, except a descendant of Aaron, should burn incense before God. The priestly offices within the church are holy must be upheld. Second, Moses and Aaron demonstrate why the priestly office is so important (41-50). The people were grumbling and questioning the legitimacy of God's judgment. God's judgment was looming. Moses and Aaron quickly engaged their priestly role. They fell face down, praying. They took up the censors and made atonement for the peoples' sins. Aaron was doing something, anything, by faith. In doing so he stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped. God accepted their prayers and atonement offerings, but not before 14,700 people died.

Prayer: Lord, raise up shepherds who can respond quickly and minister to the people.

One Word: Shepherds who can quickly pray for the people