Offerings and the Sabbath

One Reply to “Offerings and the Sabbath”

1. “After you enter the land I am giving you as a home…” (Numbers 15:2)

   “When you enter the land to which I am taking you…” (15:18)

   Working on the Sabbath was punishable by death in these days, something unthinkable in my mind. “A man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day…so the assembly took him outside the camp and stoned him to death as the Lord commanded Moses” (15:32-36). No wonder the Pharisees sought to kill Jesus for Sabbath violations, though their motivation was misguided and out of step with reality. Everything we do must be done with respect to God first. In the days of Moses, these people were unruly and lacked discipline. God provided a place for them to live, a land for which they had not earned, yet they rebelled and whined and defiantly tried to reject God. These were difficult times to be sure.

   Korah’s Rebellion (mentioned in Jude, v11)

   Korah became insolent and rose up against Moses (Numbers 16:1,2), along with 250 Israelite men, approached Moses and Aaron, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?” (16:3). Moses invites Korah, Dathan and Abiram, along with their band, to take a test, to appear before the Lord with censers. Moses is concerned that God is going to punish the entire assembly and pleads with God, “O God, the God who gives breath to all living things, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?” (16:22). So God commands that everyone move away from Korah, Dathan and Abiram, away from their tents, anything that they have touched.  Moses addresses the assembly, “This is how you will know that the Lord has sent me…” (16:28) and he tells the people what will happen: “the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associate with Korah, together with their possessions” (16:31). What was the reaction? “The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. ‘You have killed the Lord’s people'” (16:41). “Wrath has come out from the Lord; the plague has started” (16:46) and 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah” (16:49).

   Sons of Korah

   But the sons of Korah did not die (26:11). I found an interesting article that included the following:

   After seven successive generations, the prophet Samuel arose from the line of Korah. The Korahites became doorkeepers and custodians for the tabernacle; one group joined King David in various military exploits and won the reputation of being expert warriors. However, the most remarkable thing to note about the sons of Korah is that during the time of King David, they became the great leaders in choral and orchestral music in the tabernacle. Of all of the psalms in the Bible, about 25 are attributed to the sons of Korah. 
   Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/sons-of-Korah.html#ixzz3PGoGVMcB

   Levites and Tithing

   Instead of an inheritance, the Levites will use the tithes of the people to support themselves:  “The Lord said to Aaron, ‘You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites'” (18:20). But the Levites are not exempt from their own tithing, “you also will present an offering to the Lord from all the tithes” (18:28). It is enough to serve the Lord, I don’t need anything else, no fame, no fortune. I trust the Lord to provide all I need each day.

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