What Moved On? Num. 16: 1-35 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

What Moved On?

Num.16:1-35

This chapter is the account of “The rebellion of Korah”, and how the earth opened and swallowed them up. By this time in the wilderness, Moses must have thought things were finally going to settle down. The tabernacle had been built, Levi trained, manna falling from heaven, and Aaron for the most part, behaving. I don’t know, but I guess that this was a bright sunny Monday morning when Moses’s world changed in a moment. Korah and 3 buddies took 250 men and revolted against Moses. What we want to look at is the man named “On”. He was involved enough to be mentioned in verse one, but never shows up again. At some point during this event he was moved to QUIT, STOP, and TURN AROUND. He didn’t suffer the consequences of the others. Something changed his direction. What moved On?

He Realized:

 He had a distorted view of his rebellion

[verse 3] they gathered against Moses and Aaron

[verse 11] Moses assured them that they were gathered together against the Lord!

It’s one thing to rebel against your parents, teachers, or boss; but when you rebel, you are rebelling against God.

[Psalm 51:3-4] “For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.”

[1 Sam.8:1-7] “they have rejected me”

[1 Sam.15:23] rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft- You probably would never ever attempt witchcraft, yet any rebellion of authority is as the same.

This is why we are so concerned at any form of rebellion in our youth, we know how serious it is.

Maybe On realized this and it moved him to stop, what about you?

 

He had a distorted view of his circumstances

[verse 12-14] they perceived broken promises

I can imagine that they were discouraged, and just like us had a distorted view of their circumstances. In reality, he had food and raiment, “let us therewith be content”. Sometimes we need to step back and see where God has taken us.

Maybe on realized this and it moved him to stop, what about you?

  

He had a distorted view of his standing with God

[verses 23-27] they had been doing wrong for a while -, built a tabernacle                                                                                               He had been testing God’s longsuffering.

How long is God’s longsuffering? How long should he put up with you?

Maybe he thought that God approved of this second tabernacle, really?

Be sure not to include God in you lies? [Gen.27:20]

Maybe On realized this and it moved him to stop, what about you?

   

He had a distorted view of himself

[verses 8-10] seeking the priesthood

[Ps.106:16] Envy was the sin

[verse 1] On was from the tribe of Reuben not Levi, and had no hope of what he was demanding

[2Cor.10:12] God wants you to be you, that’s a full-time job.

Maybe on realized this and it moved him to stop, what about you?

 

He had a distorted view of what he already had

[verse 4, 22] He had a humble man of God as his leader

He had no idea how blessed he was

[Num.12:1-16] God made it very clear that Moses was ok with him

Maybe on realized this and it moved him to stop, what about you?

 

He had a clear view of this happening before

[verse 6-7, 16-18] On had seen this before

[Lev.10:1-3] it didn’t turn out well

[1 Cor.10:11] for our admonition (warning, caution, gentle reproof)

Through Bible reading and preaching you have a multitude of examples to help you not make fatal mistakes.

Maybe on realized this and it moved him to stop, what about you?

 

Conclusion:

 We really can’t say what is was exactly that moved On to not continue in this rebellion. Maybe one day in Glory we can ask him. Maybe God is using this account to admonish you to stop your rebellion.