“Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent 2 and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. 3 They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “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?” 4 When Moses heard this, he fell facedown.” Numbers 16:1-4
“ As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions. 33 They went down alive into the realm of the dead, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. 34 At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, “The earth is going to swallow us too! And fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.” Numbers 16:31-34 NIV
Eternal God,
The book of numbers is distressing. Your people rebel, then they suffer and die. they disobey and they suffer and die. Here we see Korah jealous of Moses. Does he meet to talk about it. No he gathers a gang to support him. Moses he does not react but falls facedown. In despair, disappointment, humility? Then he challenges them. They are to take 250 incense censers and offer them to the Lord. Surely they remembered what happened to Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-7). Well they went in when they shouldn’t have, with incense, and came out all right . . . till the fire came.
There are those who will not believe in God, those who will not submit to God and those who wrestle with His teaching. It brings me back to You, the God of choices, yes but with eternal consequences. I do not want to believe in hell but the Bible teaches me otherwise. In the context of the whole Bible there has to be judgement. Without it there would have been no need for Jesus to come and die to save us from it. I would not know the joy of forgiveness and the promise of heaven in Jesus.
We do not want to step away from those today who do not know You. They are our family and friends. So we fall to our knees and ask that You soften their hearts, open their eyes to see You and the choice to step away from death and whatever is beyond and know Your future and eternal life.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Saturday 8th March 2025
Looking, I could not find many hymns today that mention hell, so here we are with the very well known hymn whose last verse does.
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but Thou art mighty;
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven
Feed me now and evermore;
Feed me now and evermore.
Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing waters flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, Strong deliverer
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield.
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death, and hell’s destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan’s side.
Songs of praises, Songs of praises,
I will ever give to Thee, I will ever give to Thee.
Repeat last verse.
Lyrics: William Williams.
Translated from Welsh by Richard Williams.