Jacob, whom God called Israel, was the father of Levi (Levi is his third son). Levi’s son, Kohath, is the father of Korah. Kohath is also the father of Amram who is the father of Moses and Aaron. For a while Moses was lost to the family, but, as God would have it, Moses was the one who led the Israelites out of Egypt. The Levites, including those listed here, were established by God to be the priestly line with Aaron its’ first priest.
This family didn’t get along any better than many of today’s families. Korah, who was probably jealous, accused Moses and Aaron, his nephews, of being high and mighty when, as Korah tells it, the Israelites were really a holy people and not nearly as stiff necked as Moses believed (Numbers 16:3). This bickering turned into an outright rebellion, which didn’t set well with God. By verse 21 God had had it and warned Moses and Aaron away from Korah. By verse 32 God opened up the earth and swallowed up Korah and his rebels (250 men). The Israelites blamed Moses and Aaron for their deaths. Had it not been for Aaron rushing out to save them from God’s wrath (verse 47,48) the entire congregation would have been wiped out.
Aaron was the intercessor for the Israelites just as Jesus is the intercessor for all. Jesus knew full well he was going to be crucified and yet he was willing to stand between the dead and the living and offer himself as a sacrifice.
Today, Christians are asked to ‘stand in the way’ and go to God on the behalf of unbelievers. I especially liked it when our pastor said that faith can make a difference and that patience makes a perfect difference (James 1:4). How marvelous! I shall tuck this one away in my heart and treasure it. Amen. Thank you, God.
This family didn’t get along any better than many of today’s families. Korah, who was probably jealous, accused Moses and Aaron, his nephews, of being high and mighty when, as Korah tells it, the Israelites were really a holy people and not nearly as stiff necked as Moses believed (Numbers 16:3). This bickering turned into an outright rebellion, which didn’t set well with God. By verse 21 God had had it and warned Moses and Aaron away from Korah. By verse 32 God opened up the earth and swallowed up Korah and his rebels (250 men). The Israelites blamed Moses and Aaron for their deaths. Had it not been for Aaron rushing out to save them from God’s wrath (verse 47,48) the entire congregation would have been wiped out.
Aaron was the intercessor for the Israelites just as Jesus is the intercessor for all. Jesus knew full well he was going to be crucified and yet he was willing to stand between the dead and the living and offer himself as a sacrifice.
Today, Christians are asked to ‘stand in the way’ and go to God on the behalf of unbelievers. I especially liked it when our pastor said that faith can make a difference and that patience makes a perfect difference (James 1:4). How marvelous! I shall tuck this one away in my heart and treasure it. Amen. Thank you, God.
