In what ways can we apply the warning in Numbers 16:40 today? Reading the Warning: Numbers 16:40 “to remind the Israelites that no unauthorized person other than a descendant of Aaron should approach to burn incense before the LORD, lest he become like Korah and his followers.” God’s Unchanging Principle: He Determines How He Is Approached - Leviticus 10:1-3 shows the same principle when Nadab and Abihu offered “unauthorized fire.” - Hebrews 12:28-29 urges, “Let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” - 1 Timothy 2:5 anchors this truth in the New Covenant: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” Personal Worship: Guarding Against Presumption - Come to God only through the finished work of Jesus (Hebrews 4:14-16). - Examine motives; treat prayer, Scripture reading, and communion as holy, not casual. - Resist inventing private “shortcuts” to God—no ritual, mantra, or self-help technique replaces repentance and faith. - Keep short accounts with sin (1 John 1:9); unconfessed sin dulls reverence. Church Life: Respecting God-Appointed Leadership - Elders and pastors are recognized, not self-appointed (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-3). - Avoid power grabs, cliques, or “Korah-style” factions that undercut biblical leaders. - Hold leaders accountable—but by Scripture, not by gossip (1 Timothy 5:19-20). - Participate in worship “decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40), valuing unity over personal preference. Doctrine and Teaching: Clinging to Revealed Truth - Test every new idea against Scripture (Acts 17:11). - Reject teachings that add requirements for access to God beyond faith in Christ (Galatians 1:6-9). - Keep the gospel central; methods may vary, but the message must not (2 Timothy 1:13-14). Everyday Authority Structures: Cultivating Humble Submission - Family: honor parental and marital roles set by God (Ephesians 5:22-6:4). - Work: respect supervisors “as unto the Lord” (Colossians 3:22-24). - Government: obey lawful authority unless it commands sin (Romans 13:1-7; Acts 5:29). - Seek change through prayerful, respectful means rather than rebellion. Living with Holy Reverence - Let the fear of God produce joyful obedience, not paralyzing dread (Psalm 2:11). - Celebrate the privilege of access through Christ, yet remember the cost of that access (1 Peter 1:18-19). - Daily choose humility over self-promotion, gratitude over entitlement, and surrender over stubbornness—so we will not “become like Korah and his followers.” |
    |