Types of Redemption in the Old Testament
Korah’s Rebellion & The Plague
Numbers 16 - Background

1. The pride and rebellion of Korah against Moses and Aaron was sin. If we look back at Leviticus 6 - 9, we see that God was raising up Aaron by teaching him the priestly responsibilities. God had chosen Moses and Aaron as priests The people had seen God approve of Aaron. (Leviticus 9:22-24) and here was this troublemaker Korah bringing 250 others like him to question their authority.
   
   
2. Sin leads to death. God gave a chance to the people to separate themselves from the judgement of Dathan and Abiram. The earth opened up and swallowed them all. The 250 chiefs were also burnt up by fire from the Lord.
   
• James1:14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
  
  
3. There is a compassion for the people. When they heard God’s judgement, immediately they fell facedown and interceded.
• Number 16:22 Then they fell on their faces, and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and You be angry with all the congregation?”
• Romans 8:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned. 17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
• Numbers 16:44 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 45 “Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” And they fell on their faces.
• Romans 8:34 It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
  
  
4. Numbers16:47 Then Aaron took it as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and already the plague had begun among the people. So he put in the incense and made atonement for the people. 48 And he stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped.
• This is a picture of what Christ did for us. Like Jesus, Aaron entered into the midst of disease and sickness.
• Jesus was the atonement, He paid the price, He stood between the living and the dead. There is an infection of sin in the world, which only the cross and intercession of Jesus Christ can stay and remove.
• Eziekiel 22:30-31 So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. 31 Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord GOD.