Several times, Abba decided to eliminate Israel and start over:
Really? How bad were these things that Abba wanted to completely destroy them?
Golden Calf - They were wanting to worship the One that brought them out of Egypt -- this is a good thing, right?
Spies - They were being honest -- and being honest isn’t evil.
Korah - He was wanting to move up to the level of priest -- doing more for the Kingdom, that should be a good thing.
People Complaining - Crying out for justice and mercy for those in rebellion -- isn’t this a righteous act?
Let’s consider these instances each in turn to try and detect the root issue with each that warrants death.
Moses was on the mountain receiving the Torah so people would know how to live peaceably and healthily with one another. As the people waited, they became impatient. They were awaiting a response from God but it didn’t come within the timeframe they expected. Or perhaps the timeframe they demanded.
So they decided to build a calf to worship.
They built an idol to replace Abba all the while claiming this thing WAS Abba. There was a twisted justification that took place here. They weren’t denying God, they were trying to create Him. They recognize there is a power that can get them what they want and if Abba won’t do it in the timeframe they demand, they will seek an alternative. And may even call it YHVH.
Isn’t this the epitome of idolatry? Something that has you turn and worship it with your time, energy, and focus. We love higher powers -- we were designed to do so. But there is only One that should fill that role.
But we are impatient. We want that thing. That thing that has the power to give you what you want within a reasonable period of time. This is what drives so much striving in the earth today. Even if we don’t fully bow to it, we sure do bend.
Principle: Impatience leads to idolatry. You will either seek another source (a different god) to get what you want, or worse, you will put the label of “Abba” over the thing that allows you to get what you want. Once you use His Name in vain in this way, the chances of you separating out the world and His Kingdom become very low. And you will then pervert future generations so you must be destroyed.
Perhaps Abba knew His people needed motivation so He sent leaders that would come back and fire the people up to motivate them to boldly go and take their inheritance. So these “leaders” went.
But they gave a poor report on their return.
Even after hearing from Kalev of all the greatness associated with their inheritance, once word came from the other men they wished they had died in Egypt or the desert.
And once they believed a poor report, they prepared to stone Abba’s messengers. Moses and Aharon appealed to the people to trust in Abba but they wanted to kill them anyway.
The news that they had to fight to obtain their inheritance (birthright) was too much for them so they thought it easier to kill Abba’s anointed instead of killing Abba’s enemy.
People that reach this level of twisted understanding must die.
In the event they do repent, however, it is sad to know Abba will not be with them -- even if they decide to go after their birthright. (Numbers 14:39-45)
Principle: Do not put man’s word above Abba’s Word. Ever. If you will lean on the words of man as your source of life, you will die. Always. You will also teach others to follow after man and ignore the Word of God. Man does not live on bread alone but on every Word that comes from the mouth of the Father.
Once the children of Israel decided to repent and go take their inheritance on their own, they were pushed back and could not take the Land because Abba was not with them.
In the wake of defeat, Korah decided it was perhaps poor leadership that caused this death sentence to come upon the people. So he rallied “men of renown” to stand alongside him as he sought to move into the role of priest (cohen). And they all died as a result.
The people of Israel just sat back and watched. They didn’t stand up for Abba and His anointed. They were willing to follow whoever won this power struggle. If you are fluid and flaky, and willing to follow the crowd, you have no place in the Kingdom. It is reserved for those that stand in complete support of Abba and His Son, Yeshua (Jesus).
Principle: Abba has given you a very specific job to do. When you try to take someone else’s job as your own, you will stir up sedition and cause many people to lose faith and die. The thumb is no greater than the ear so learn your role and walk in that fully. If you teach others to take down other people so you can be lifted up, it will be your head that gets lifted up. Encouraging rebellion is a disease that must be eliminated immediately.
And if you decide to just sit and watch the fight without choosing a side, you will be considered lukewarm and spit from His mouth.
After all of this, the people complain. As the firepans were being hammered onto the altar as a reminder not to rebel, they accused Moses and Aharon of murdering their fellow man. Paying close attention, Moses and Aharon didn’t do a thing. It was clear that this fire and the earth opening up was not done by Moses and Aharon -- it had to be Abba.
I don’t believe the people were ignorant of that fact. It seems to me that they were accusing Abba through Moses and Aharon. They didn’t see Abba’s judgment as just. Perhaps they thought they should still be able to obtain their inheritance (birthright) even though they forfeited it. Maybe they assumed that Korah and his followers were actually “good” people and should not have received the judgment they received.
Anyone that claims Abba’s judgments are not just will never be able to submit to His authority. They will always be second-guessing decisions Abba had made so they will never fully submit. And if you won’t submit, you must die or else you will breed rebellion.
Principle: You don’t need to understand Abba’s judgments to submit to His authority.
If a husband won't trust Yeshua’s judgments, he will never submit to His authority.
If a wife won’t trust her husband’s judgments, she will never submit to his authority.
If children won’t trust their parents' judgments, they will never submit to any authority.
And so rebellion is birthed.
Lack of submission always leads to rebellion.
Learn patience. Abba’s timing is perfect and there is no need for you to take it upon yourself to see His promise to you come forward. Wait. And wait some more. Maturity and gratitude grow in the waiting.
Trust His Word and His Word only.
Understand why you are here on this earth. Know which problems are yours and which are not. Go after the problems you’ve been given and ignore those that aren’t yours. Be content with the role He has for you. Be content with the gift He has given you. Stop going after the things that are not yours.
Trust Abba’s judgments and learn to submit. There is life in submission.
Are you impatient and therefore idolatrous?
(Do you strive? Do you need things now?)
Do you believe the reports of man?
(Are you addicted to the news? Are you depressed with the state of the world?)
Do you wish you were someone else?
(Are you wanting an esteemed position? Have you surrendered your birthright?)
To whom do you submit?
(Do we need to look at your children to find out?)
The goal here is not to die.