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Korah and His Followers - The Book of Numbers · Bible in a Year with Jack Graham

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  Speaker 1: Let us pray. And when Moses heard it, he fell
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  Speaker 1: upon his face. Number 16.4. Dear Heavenly Father, as I
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  Speaker 1: step into this season of my purpose, I thank you
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  Speaker 1: for protecting me against people who would try to corner
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  Speaker 1: me and accuse me with false stories. Thank you that
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  Speaker 1: your protection provides a way out when others seek to
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  Speaker 1: destroy my destiny. When I'm faced with challenging people, I
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  Speaker 1: will be like Moses. I will drop to my knees
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  Speaker 1: in prayer and seek a solution in your presence, because
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  Speaker 1: wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there's freedom and liberty.
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  Speaker 1: Through your power, I know that even though the attacks
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  Speaker 1: seem unrelenting, I can rest my mind knowing that with
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  Speaker 1: each attack, I will remain untouched, because you surround me
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  Speaker 1: with a cloud of glory and protection. Confirm my calling
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  Speaker 1: like you confirmed Moses. I give you permission to take
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  Speaker 1: over my trials and to silence all opposition. I confess
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  Speaker 1: that without you, I'm limited. But with you on my side,
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  Speaker 1: I am a force to be reckoned with. What God
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  Speaker 1: has for me is for me, and I'm coming after
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  Speaker 1: it all. In Jesus' name. Amen. Listening to these daily
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  Speaker 1: prayers strengthens your relationship with God. Continue hearing from the
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  Speaker 1: Lord by listening to today's Bible in a Year. Brought
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  Speaker 1: to you by BibleInAYear.com.
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  Speaker 2: Korah and his followers. In our last story, Moses sent
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  Speaker 2: spies to the land of Canaan Ten out of the
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  Speaker 2: twelve spies brought back negative reports and scared the people
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  Speaker 2: into wanting to go back to Egypt. God, fed up
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  Speaker 2: with their constant doubts, denied them access to the promised land.
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  Speaker 2: They were banished to die in the wilderness, and their
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  Speaker 2: children would be the ones to inherit the land. In
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  Speaker 2: this story, we learn about Israel's first organized rebellion. Seeds
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  Speaker 2: of doubt were sown by Korah from the tribe of Levi.
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  Speaker 2: Those who rise up against Moses regret it deeply, as
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  Speaker 2: inspired by the book of Numbers.
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  Speaker 3: Hello, I'm Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible
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  Speaker 3: in a Year podcast. In our last episode, we discovered
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  Speaker 3: that the Israelites' lack of faith cost them. It cost
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  Speaker 3: them God's promised land, at least for that generation. Because
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  Speaker 3: they failed to trust in God to give them the
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  Speaker 3: land and to defeat every enemy and They listened to
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  Speaker 3: ten spies who spoke words of fear. The entire generation
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  Speaker 3: would now die off. They would never see the promised land.
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  Speaker 3: Only Caleb and Joshua would experience the promise that God
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  Speaker 3: has given. We've previously heard the story of Miriam and
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  Speaker 3: Aaron defying Moses, but in today's reading, we'll learn of
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  Speaker 3: the first rebellion of the people. Led by Korah, a Levite,
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  Speaker 3: the people will turn against Moses, but their actions will
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  Speaker 3: have terrible consequences. And God will use their actions to
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  Speaker 3: remind His people that when they oppose His plans and
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  Speaker 3: resist His will, there is judgment to follow. Let's listen
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  Speaker 3: now to today's reading.
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  Speaker 2: The stars lit the skies like sand on the seashore.
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  Speaker 2: The camp was silent, and all of Israel slept in
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  Speaker 2: their tents, all but a few. Korah. A son from
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  Speaker 2: the tribe of Levi had gathered a few of the
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  Speaker 2: elders around some burning coals. Together they stood in frustration
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  Speaker 2: and jealousy towards Moses. They whispered amongst themselves, conniving and
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  Speaker 2: scheming against Moses and Aaron. A wicked grin could be
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  Speaker 2: seen at the corner of Korah's face as they planned
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  Speaker 2: their coup. The men arose in the morning with intensity. Korah,
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  Speaker 2: with 250 chiefs behind him, marched to the tent of Moses.
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  Speaker 2: They assembled together against Moses and Aaron. They brought him
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  Speaker 2: out in front of the congregation as if on trial.
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  Speaker 2: The Israelites took notice of what was happening and began
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  Speaker 2: to gather around Korah and Moses. Korah smiled at the
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  Speaker 2: attention and raised his voice for all the people to hear.
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  Speaker 2: He pointed to Moses. How dare you, Korah shouted. Everyone
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  Speaker 2: here is holy, Moses. You are not the only one
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  Speaker 2: among us anointed by God. So why do you choose
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  Speaker 2: to exalt yourself? Are you better than all of us?
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  Speaker 2: He spoke with a frightening charisma. Moses refused to play
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  Speaker 2: Korah's game. The people watched Moses anticipating a clash of
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  Speaker 2: alphas fighting for the right to lead. Moses looked at Korah.
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  Speaker 2: no doubt remembering the time he once strangled an Egyptian
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  Speaker 2: soldier in the sand. Yet instead of fighting or speaking,
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  Speaker 2: he fell on his face. The crowd watched as Moses
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  Speaker 2: took the position of bowing. While Korah exalted himself in
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  Speaker 2: front of the people and puffed his chest, Moses laid
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  Speaker 2: there silently in the dirt, mumbling prayers to God. Moments passed,
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  Speaker 2: and the people held their breath waiting for Moses to
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  Speaker 2: answer Korah. He looked up and rose to his feet.
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  Speaker 2: When Moses lifted his head, an intensity could be seen
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  Speaker 2: shooting from his eyes. His gaze locked on to Korah,
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  Speaker 2: the look of a warrior king, a posture strengthened by
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  Speaker 2: the Spirit of God. Moses spoke plainly and directly. He said,
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  Speaker 2: In the morning, the Lord will show who is his.
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  Speaker 2: We will both bring offerings to him, and he will
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  Speaker 2: choose among us. And Moses turned to leave. Before departing,
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  Speaker 2: he looked to all 250 men and said, You have
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  Speaker 2: gone too far, sons of Levi. I know why you
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  Speaker 2: rise up against me. The leadership God has given you
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  Speaker 2: was not enough. And he turned back towards his tent.
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  Speaker 2: Later that day, Moses sent for two elders of the congregation,
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  Speaker 2: Dathan and Abiram. He needed support from people with influence,
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  Speaker 2: yet they denied him, saying, We will not join you.
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  Speaker 2: You have denied us the land flowing with milk and honey.
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  Speaker 2: You have banished us to die in the wilderness, and
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  Speaker 2: now you act as king over us. At that instant, Moses'
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  Speaker 2: anger ignited within him. If they had only known the
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  Speaker 2: hours he had spent begging God to spare them. Countless
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  Speaker 2: times Moses had beat his chest before God, asking him
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  Speaker 2: to take his own life instead of theirs. If they
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  Speaker 2: had only known the sacrifice it took for him to
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  Speaker 2: watch the Egyptians, the people he was raised with, to
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  Speaker 2: drown in the Red Sea. And now they question his integrity,
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  Speaker 2: his humility, and his devotion to them. MOSES'S EYES BURNED
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  Speaker 2: WITH RAGE AND HIS FISTS CLENCHED. WITH FURROWED BROW HE
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  Speaker 2: BEAT HIS CHEST ONCE AGAIN AND LOOKED TO GOD. NOT
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  Speaker 2: EVEN A DONKEY I HAVE TAKEN FROM THEM. I HAVE
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  Speaker 2: GIVEN THEM EVERYTHING. DO NOT RESPECT THEIR OFFERING TOMORROW. THE
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  Speaker 2: NEXT MORNING MOSES ROSE UP TO MEET WITH KORA AND
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  Speaker 2: HIS MEN. THE ENTIRE CONGREGATION SURROUNDED THEM AS THEY WOULD
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  Speaker 2: A COLOSSEUM. MOSES AND KORA STOOD OPPOSITE OF ONE ANOTHER.
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  Speaker 2: With their offerings prepared before God, the Lord whispered in
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  Speaker 2: the ear of Moses, Tell the people to separate themselves
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  Speaker 2: from Korah.
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  Speaker 3: And his men.
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  Speaker 2: Moses raised his voice for all to hear. Depart from
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  Speaker 2: these men immediately, lest you be swept away. Stay back.
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  Speaker 2: So the crowd stepped back from Korah, Dathan, and Abiram,
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  Speaker 2: and their families. The three men stood by watching Moses
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  Speaker 2: with their offerings in front of them. Moses rose his
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  Speaker 2: staff to Korah. Moses, once slow to speak and stuttering,
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  Speaker 2: spoke clearly and powerfully. His voice boomed and the people trembled.
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  Speaker 2: This day you shall know it is the Lord who
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  Speaker 2: has sent me. Nothing I have done has been from
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  Speaker 2: my own power. Moses pointed to the men and shouted,
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  Speaker 2: If these men die a natural death, then I am
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  Speaker 2: made a liar and God has not sent me. But
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  Speaker 2: if the Lord comes now and swallows them up into
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  Speaker 2: the fiery shadows of Sheol, then you shall know whom
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  Speaker 2: God has chosen. In an instant, as Moses spoke, the
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  Speaker 2: land trembled and shook. A roar could be heard from
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  Speaker 2: the mountains, and the ground began to split. The earth
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  Speaker 2: opened up before Korah and his men like the mouth
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  Speaker 2: of a beast, and they were swallowed up into the
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  Speaker 2: jaws of Sheol. The screams of the three men stabbed
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  Speaker 2: the ears of all who were present, and fire ascended
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  Speaker 2: from the depths and consumed all 250 men. The congregation fled.
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  Speaker 2: fearing they would also be consumed by the earth. The
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  Speaker 2: next day, the camp still smelled of burnt flesh and brimstone.
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  Speaker 2: The place where the earth had torn in two was
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  Speaker 2: within sight and acted as a haunting reminder of God's power.
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  Speaker 2: The panic of that day had subsided and was replaced
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  Speaker 2: by grumbling. You have killed God's people, they said to
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  Speaker 2: Aaron and Moses. Then they sought to harm Moses and
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  Speaker 2: Aaron and in that instant the presence of God surrounded
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  Speaker 2: the tent of meeting. Israel had learned nothing from the
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  Speaker 2: day before. Moses and Aaron ran to the tent, knowing
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  Speaker 2: full well the fury of God was going to unleash
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  Speaker 2: once again.' Get away from the people!' God said to them.'
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  Speaker 2: For my wrath is coming!' Moses turned to Aaron and
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  Speaker 2: gave him incense to spread among camp, to intercede and
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  Speaker 2: plead for God to have mercy. Aaron ran like the wind,
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  Speaker 2: wanting to save the people from the wrath of God.
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  Speaker 2: But he was too late. A plague had descended upon
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  Speaker 2: them like a tempest. Moses and Aaron made atonements as
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  Speaker 2: fast as they could, but not before the Lord had
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  Speaker 2: taken 14,700 lives. The next day, God had Moses gather
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  Speaker 2: the elders from the tribe of Levi to take shepherd's
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  Speaker 2: staffs and lay them at the altar. The one whose
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  Speaker 2: staff would bud with flowers would be the one appointed
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  Speaker 2: by God as priest over Israel. God would make it
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  Speaker 2: undeniably clear through a miraculous sign who would be in
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  Speaker 2: charge of the Levites now that Korah was gone. The
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  Speaker 2: next day, Aaron's staff had budded flowers and almonds, and
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  Speaker 2: no one questioned who God had chosen. Fear and trembling
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  Speaker 2: marked that season for Israel. They lived in constant dread
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  Speaker 2: of what God might do to them if they complained again.
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  Speaker 2: From this posture, they would begin to discern wisdom, truth,
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  Speaker 2: and justice. Israel's wrestling match with God was not over,
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  Speaker 2: nor was God's desire to bless them completely.
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  Speaker 3: Today's story begins with an early morning meeting led by
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  Speaker 3: Korah from the tribe of Levi. He, along with 250 leaders,
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  Speaker 3: were gunning for Moses and Aaron. They were envious of Moses'
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  Speaker 3: very special place in the community and wanted equality with him.
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  Speaker 3: Worse than that, they sought to discredit his leadership. So
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  Speaker 3: they went to Moses and Aaron and laid it all
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  Speaker 3: out in front of the entire community for everyone to hear.
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  Speaker 3: They essentially said, what makes you think you are so special?
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  Speaker 3: God has made us all holy. You're no different than
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  Speaker 3: anyone else. Get off your high horse. But Moses would
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  Speaker 3: not engage in an argument with them. He and Aaron
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  Speaker 3: fall on their faces, humbling themselves before God. When he
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  Speaker 3: answers Korah, he proposes a test. Both groups would bring
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  Speaker 3: an incense offering to God and they would see who
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  Speaker 3: God would choose. But then he spoke boldly with the
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  Speaker 3: conviction of a real leader and called out Korah and
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  Speaker 3: the others for their actions. Had not they already been
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  Speaker 3: set apart as leaders? Was that not enough? Moses lets
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  Speaker 3: them know in no uncertain terms that the one they
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  Speaker 3: were really opposing is the Lord. Moses calls on other
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  Speaker 3: leaders like Dathan and Abraham, and they are also bitter
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  Speaker 3: about the loss of the promised land, and they're blaming Moses,
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  Speaker 3: and so they side with Korah. Filled with anger, Moses
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  Speaker 3: goes before God to urge him not to accept their offering.
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  Speaker 3: The next morning, as Moses, Aaron, and Korah and the
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  Speaker 3: 250 leaders gathered themselves with their offerings, the congregation stands
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  Speaker 3: with Korah, which is an affront to God himself. God
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  Speaker 3: tells Moses to stand back so he could consume the
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  Speaker 3: entire congregation. But Moses and Aaron demonstrated true leadership and
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  Speaker 3: prayed for the lives of the people and pointed the
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  Speaker 3: rebellious towards repentance. When we come up against those who
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  Speaker 3: oppose us, even those who oppose God, do we leave
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  Speaker 3: them alone to their own destruction? Do we relish their punishment?
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  Speaker 3: Or do we step in and try to rescue them
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  Speaker 3: by pointing them to God? Christ himself faced rejection and
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  Speaker 3: opposition that we cannot imagine, yet he interceded on our
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  Speaker 3: behalf just as Moses does here for the people. God
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  Speaker 3: tells Moses to have the people get away from Korah.
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  Speaker 3: They obeyed. As Moses is speaking to Korah and the others,
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  Speaker 3: the ground opens up and swallows all 250 men, their homes,
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  Speaker 3: and their families. The people blame Moses and Aaron, saying
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  Speaker 3: they killed the men. So God says he will wipe
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  Speaker 3: them away with the plague. Again, Moses and Aaron seek
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  Speaker 3: to make atonement for the people's sin with burnt offerings.
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  Speaker 3: They succeed in stopping the plague, but not before 14,700
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  Speaker 3: people perish. God sends a sign the very next day,
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  Speaker 3: flowers budding from Aaron's staff to show everyone whom he
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  Speaker 3: had chosen to lead the Levites. The people were now
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  Speaker 3: living in fear of God's judgment, but this would not
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  Speaker 3: be the end of God's struggles with his stubborn, wayward people.
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  Speaker 3: And yet his blessing and promise remained upon them. Dear God,
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  Speaker 3: thank you for Moses' example of humility and servant leadership.
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  Speaker 3: Thank you for how this story, points us to Jesus
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  Speaker 3: himself who took our wrath and our sin and intervened
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  Speaker 3: on our behalf before you. We are so thankful for
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  Speaker 3: your salvation. In Jesus' name, amen. Thank you for listening
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  Speaker 3: to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm Pastor Jack
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  Speaker 3: Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download the Pray.com app and make
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  Speaker 3: God and experience Him in your life, be sure to
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  Speaker 3: visit jackgram.org. God bless you.