Introduction and Review

Weaver reviews the previous week's message on the foundations for rebellion, recalling the first two pillars: disregard for family and friends, and discontent with one's calling. He sets the stage for continuing in Numbers 16.

Last week we started this message and we're going to continue this week, and probably there are going to be two more following in this chapter as well, because I've been dealing with the foundations for rebellion, and I'm dealing with that subject. So if you'll look at Numbers chapter 16, beginning there with verse 1, the Bible says: Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: and they rose up before Moses with certain of the children of Israel, 250 princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord? And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face. And he spake unto Korah, and unto all his company, saying, Even tomorrow the Lord will show who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near

unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him. This do; take you censers, Korah, and all his company; and put fire therein, and put incense in them before the Lord tomorrow: and it shall be that the man whom the Lord doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi. So last week we began looking at the foundation for rebellion, and I began by telling you that rebellion is as old as Adam, since Adam and Eve rebelled against the Lord, and the very fact that our depravity motivates us and we all possess the propensity to rebellion. And we looked in at Genesis chapter 3 at the rebellion of Eve, and we tried to analyze that passage where Eve saw that the tree was good for food, and pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise.

And I pointed out how that her whole thinking changed. Before, she had not thought that concerning the tree. She had not thought ill concerning God, but now all of a sudden she is looking at that tree and she's looking at it in a totally different light because she has been seduced by the serpent. And so when your thinking changes, your attitude changes, and when your thinking and your attitude change, so do your desires. And once you have a change in your desires, you actually then act. And so she took the fruit and did eat, and the Bible says and she gave to her husband as well. So you also have to remember this from last week, that I pointed out that rebellion can be taught, because in Jeremiah chapter 28 and in Jeremiah chapter 29, God condemned Hananiah and Shemaiah for teaching rebellion. And here's the whole thought: anytime anything that is contrary to God and contrary to his word is being taught, it is rebellion, because you're going to be demonstrating that which is different from what God has ordained and what God has commanded.

And so last week we actually looked at two foundational pillars for rebellion. And the first one is this: the very first pillar is there is always, in rebellion, a complete disregard for family and friends. And I pointed out, based upon Numbers chapter 16 and verse 1, Korah the son of Izhar—Izhar was the brother of Amram, who's the father of Moses and Aaron and Miriam—and so Korah and Moses and Aaron were cousins; they were raised together undoubtedly, and now one cousin is pitting himself against his other cousins as well. And then I also showed where Elzaphan was lifted up above Korah, and of course, that did not please Korah as well.

But the whole point was this: you cannot have rebellion without having a breach in a relationship. I don't care if we're talking about husbands, wives, children—it doesn't matter. There's always a breach in a relationship when you have rebellion, and it begins with dishonoring people and disregarding that relationship. Then the second foundational pillar in rebellion was discontent with one's calling in life. And notice, if you would please, Korah had already been chosen to be a Levite. Of course, he was a Levite. He was chosen to serve around the tabernacle.

But then there was also Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, I pointed out. The Reubenites had never, ever had anything to do with the tabernacle or the ministry; it was always the Aaronic priesthood, it was always the Levites as well. So clearly then we have some men that are discontent in their vocation; they're discontent in their calling. So let me reemphasize this: I said last week, just because God expects us to be content in our calling and in our vocation, that does not mean that we cannot seek to improve ourselves and be the best we can at whatever God has called us to be.

The Third Pillar: Actual Disobedience

Weaver introduces the third foundational pillar of rebellion: actual disobedience. He reads Numbers 16:12 where Dathan and Abiram refuse Moses' summons, demonstrating that dishonor and discontent lead to disobedience.

Whether it's an electrician, a plumber, a carpenter, a preacher, it doesn't matter. Neither does it mean that we cannot ever change vocations. If God opens the door and God in his providence allows us another vocation, that too will be fine. But until God does that, we have to be content with our station in life and with what God has called us to do. And I quoted Martin Luther the Reformer when he said this: the Christian shoemaker does his Christian duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship. And so the point being, you can be the absolute best you can in whatever area that God has called you, because He tells us whatever we do in word and deed, we're to do all to the honor and glory of God.

So today I want to begin with the third foundational pillar of rebellion, and that is actual disobedience. So if you look in verse 12 of Numbers chapter 16, Moses has already dealt with Korah and the Levites, and now he's going to try to deal with Dathan and Abiram, the Reubenites. So notice if you would, in Numbers chapter 16 and verse 12: And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up. Now if you've been thinking and if you've been following me, you should have already deduced this point. Why? Because dishonor and discontent always lead to disobedience. So Moses now, out of concern for Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, sent to them to come up to him. Undoubtedly, he wanted to talk with them. He wanted to reason with them. He wanted to plead with them. And he had already dealt with Korah. He had already spoken to the Levites.

Now he wants to speak with these. So what is their response? Their response is, We will not come up.

Moses' Meekness and Biblical Principle of Restoration

Weaver defends Moses' character as meek and his attempt to reason with Dathan and Abiram as a biblical principle of restoration, citing Galatians 6:1-2.

Now, you have to remember this, that Moses was certainly not a tyrant. Moses was not an unreasonable man. Moses certainly was not an arrogant, wicked individual. The Bible tells you very plainly in Numbers chapter 12 and verse 3: Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth. So Moses obviously and clearly was not being tyrannical and overbearing and trying to overreach his authority. Let me point this out: what Moses was doing in seeking to deal with Abiram and Dathan was a biblical principle. It was a biblical principle in the Old Testament. It's a biblical principle in the New Testament. So if you will hold Numbers 16, but look in your Bibles very quickly to the book of Galatians chapter 6 and look at verses 1 and 2. Here is exactly what Moses was attempting to do in dealing with Dathan and Abiram. So in Galatians 6 and verse 1, God says: Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou

also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. So Moses then, as the leader of the people and as one that has been called and ordained by God, had the right and also had the authority to ask Dathan and Abiram to come up and meet with him. Now I want you to go back to Numbers chapter 16 and look in verse 12 again, because I want you to see in this verse the disdain, the dishonor, the disrespect, and the direct disobedience that they gave to Moses. So in verse 12: And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up. So in their response now, they basically denied his power, despised his authority, and would not obey his orders, and they refused to come up to the tabernacle. So instead of obedience, they actually laid charges against Moses, which we will look at shortly. So let me give you very quickly a quote by Matthew Henry dealing with this.

Rebellion is Ultimately Against God

Weaver argues that all rebellion, though directed at human representatives, is primarily against God. He uses Numbers 16:11, 1 Samuel 8, and David's confession in Psalm 51 to show that sin is against God Himself.

Listen to what Henry said: The insolence of Dathan and Abiram and their treasonable remonstrance. Moses had heard what Korah had to say and he had answered it. Now he summons Dathan and Abiram to bring in their complaints. But they would not obey his summons, either because they could not for shame say that to his face, which they were resolved to say, and then it is an instance of some remains of modesty in them, or rather because they would not so much as own his authority, and then it is an instance of the highest degree of impudence. They spoke the language of Pharaoh himself, who set Moses at defiance, but they forgot how dearly he paid for it. Had not their heads been wretchedly heated and their hearts hardened, they might have considered that, if they regarded not these messengers, Moses could soon in God's name send messengers of death for them. But thus the god of this world blinds the mind of those who believe not. But by the same messengers they sent their articles of impeachment against Moses, and their charges run very high. Now let me point something out and I want to emphasize this right now: all rebellion is against the Lord.

I've said this last week. I'm going to say it again: in rebellion you may strike out at men; in rebellion you may strike out at those who represent God, but in reality the rebellion is against God. So if you look in verse 11 of Numbers chapter 16, again, Moses said it like this: For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the Lord: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him? What is he saying? Your rebellion is primarily against God. And what is Aaron? Aaron is nothing. Aaron is the representative of God. What is Moses? Moses is the representative of God. The anger, the disobedience, the rebellion is against God. So when men then appear to strike out at other men in rebellion, in reality, they're striking out at God. If you will recall what God told Samuel, 1 Samuel chapter 8, when the people were demanding a king and it grieved Samuel, and Samuel, the Bible says, prayed to the Lord all night. And then God answered him and said this: Samuel, hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should reign over them. So the rejection of Samuel was really a rejection of God. And of course, they had rejected Samuel. They had rejected his sons, and they were asking for a king. But God said, in reality, they have rejected me.

Now, let me show you what I'm trying to demonstrate. Turn in your Bibles, if you would, please, to Psalm 51. You're familiar with Psalm 51 because it is a psalm of David. It is a psalm of confession for his sins. Everyone knows the fact that David committed adultery with Bathsheba, had Uriah the Hittite, her husband, slain with the sword of the children of Ammon. And David has written a number of penitential psalms, and Psalm 51 is one of them. But if you look at verse 4, David is confessing his sin and he says to God: Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Now let me call your attention to the first part of this verse again: Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight. So let me ask some questions. Number one, did David not sin against Bathsheba? The answer is yes. Did he not sin against Uriah her husband?

Very definitely he had him murdered. Did he not sin against Bathsheba's family? Yes. Did he not sin against his own family? Yes. Did he not sin against the nation? Yes. Well, how then can he say, Against thee, and thee only, have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight? Because he realized that his primary sin was against God himself.

Now, let me show you how God demonstrates this truth. If you look in your Bibles to 2 Samuel chapter 12, because in this passage Nathan has already confronted David, and now God is speaking to David, and look what he says to him. 2 Samuel chapter 12 verses 9 and 10, look at this. God asked David: Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. Now therefore the sword shall never depart out of thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. So in verse 9 God charges him with despising his commandment. In verse 10, he charges him with despising himself. In other words, you cannot despise God's law without despising God himself. So our sins are primarily against God and secondarily against man. Because all sin, all disobedience, all rebellion is against God.

Disobedience as Despising God and His Law

Weaver explains that violating God's law is despising God. He cites 2 Samuel 12:9-10, 1 John 3:4, and other scriptures to show that disobedience brings God's curse and is equated with rebellion.

Now, remember, if you would, 1 John 3 and verse 4, there the Word of God said: Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. So when one violates God's law, he sins not only by despising God's law but by despising God himself. In other words, when we sin, we do exactly that which David did. So it is impossible then to violate the law of God without despising God who gave that law. So let me just show you a few scriptures very quickly that verify everything that I'm telling you. I want you to look in your Bibles first of all to the book of Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy chapter 11 and look at verse 28. Deuteronomy 11 verse 28, watch this. God says: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known. Now notice that particularly when he said, And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way, and then he says, to go after other gods, which ye have not known. Now, the interesting thing is this.

Disobedience, then, indicates that you have rejected God and His law, and that you have gone aside after other gods. Now, you're going to say, I don't go aside after other gods. I'm not interested in worshiping Baal, or Moloch, or Asherah. Oh, but wait a minute. I'm going to show you before we get through. You are after another god, and that god is yourself. It's what you want. It's your desires.

That's exactly what David did. David totally disregarded God and his law so that he could fulfill his desires and what he wished for and what he wanted. So, look in your Bibles, if you would, to 1 Samuel, chapter 12 and verse 15. 1 Samuel, chapter 12, verse 15. Again, God says it like this. Watch carefully. 1 Samuel 12 and verse 15: But if ye will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall the hand of the Lord be against you, as it was against your fathers. Note what he does. He says, But if ye will not obey the voice of the Lord—that is, if you're disobedient—but rebel against the commandment of the Lord. So all disobedience to God and his law is rebellion, and he said the hand of the Lord is going to be against you. So you need to ask yourself this question: if sin and disobedience is not against God, why then does sin and disobedience bring the curse and the wrath of God?

Obviously clearly it is against God. Look, if you would, to Jeremiah chapter 12. Jeremiah 12 and notice verse 17. Jeremiah 12 verse 17: God said, But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the Lord. Now, isn't that an interesting concept? So it's not just individuals that can rebel. It's not just families that can rebel. It's not just churches that can rebel or societies. It's nations. And God said, if they will not obey, then I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation. In other words, rebellion is against God. Look, if you would, to the book of Daniel, turn right over to Daniel, chapter 9 and verse 11. Daniel 9 verse 11: Here's an interesting one. Daniel says: Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, now look at this, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God,

because we have sinned against him. But note, if you would: Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law. How did they transgress God's law? By departing that they might not obey thy voice. In other words, we're not listening to you, Lord. We will leave your law. We will leave. And in doing so, you're dishonoring and despising God. It's just that simple. Now, please note again: the reason we disobey is because we've departed from God. So simply speaking, we despised him and we despised his law in so doing, and we end up bringing the curse upon ourselves. Now I want to show you one verse in the New Testament before I continue. Look, if you would, to the book of Romans chapter 2. Romans chapter 2 and verse 8. Romans 2 verse 8: Here it is. But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath. Look at that verse. If you do not obey the truth, then you are going to obey unrighteousness, indignation, and wrath. So you may either obey the truth or you may disobey the truth and obey wickedness.

The Self-Enthronement of Rebellion

Weaver discusses the Greek word 'eritheia' (contentious) to show that rebellion involves self-seeking and dethroning God to enthrone oneself. He connects this to the attitude of 'We will not come up.'

Now, I want to call your attention to the word contentious. Eritheia is the Greek word. And while it is translated in our Bibles as strife, contention, contentious, Strong—Augustus Hopkins Strong, a Baptist preacher, wrote Strong's Concordance and also a systematic theology book—he goes farther in explaining what this word actually means, contentious. I want you to listen to this quote he said: Although it is translated as strife, contention, contentious, it also means electioneering or intriguing for office. Apparently in the New Testament, a courting distinction, a desire to put oneself forward, a partisan and factious spirit which does not disdain low arts. The word is found before New Testament times only in Aristotle, where it denotes a self-seeking pursuit of political office by unfair means.

You say, what has that got to do with what you're talking about? Here's what it has to do. Because in sin and in rebellion we dethrone God and enthrone ourselves. That's the low arts. That's the electioneering. That's putting yourself forward. It's saying, Lord, I don't want you. I don't want your word. I don't want you telling me what to do. I will do exactly what I want to do. That's exactly what it means. Now so, here is the thing: all sin is a wicked proclamation that we are a god and that we are a law to ourselves. So in our sin, we then do like Korah, Dathan, and Abiram in their rebellion. We gather together a company against the Lord, and we say to the Lord just like Dathan and Abiram said to Moses, We will not come up. In other words, let me translate it: We will not obey. I don't care what you say, Moses. We are not listening to you. And that's exactly what happens in our disobedience to God. We're telling him we're not listening to him.

We will do our own thing. Now, I want you to go back to Numbers chapter 16, because this even gets worse in one sense of the word. So we're talking about the foundational pillars for rebellion. Not only is there a dishonor toward a family or friend, disregarding family and friends; not only is there dissatisfaction with the calling; there's actual disobedience. And here's the fourth thing I want you to know: the fourth foundational pillar of rebellion is a perversion of truth

The Fourth Pillar: Perversion of Truth and Character Assassination

Weaver introduces the fourth pillar: perversion of truth and malicious assassination of character. He reads the charges of Dathan and Abiram against Moses in Numbers 16:13-14, showing their twisted logic.

and a malicious assassination of character. So if you look, beginning with verse 13, here's what Dathan and Abiram say. Here's the charge that they bring against Moses. They say in verse 13: Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us? Moreover, thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up. Now the charges against Moses are absolutely malicious, derogatory, and wicked. Please understand what I'm about to say. The attack upon Moses was in reality an attack upon God. Let me explain it like this: when they are telling you what they think of Moses, they're telling you what they think of God. When you think about this, look at the SPLC. Look at the ADL. Look at all of these institutions that malign godly individuals and faithful individuals. What are they doing? They're striking out against God. Their attacks are against God.

The men are just simply in the way. They're the ones that can be seen. So, here they are attacking Moses. You must remember this point. I'm going to drill this home. You must remember this: a rebellious person does not and cannot think clearly, logically, rationally, or biblically. And the reason he cannot think rationally, clearly, logically, and biblically is because all he's interested in is defending himself, justifying himself, and his course of action. I'm going to give you the scripture in just a moment, but stop and think about this. Look at all the rebellion that's going on. Look at the Black Lives Matter movement. Look at Antifa. What are they doing? We deserve this. Look how we've been treated. Look how you folks have done and what you've done to us.

The Perverse Mindset of Rebellion

Weaver explains that rebellion causes irrational, illogical, and unbiblical thinking. He uses the example of calling Egypt a land of milk and honey and the charges of attempted murder and tyranny against Moses.

We deserve this. This is right for us. What are they doing? Justifying rape, robbery, pillage, arson, looting, killing. You know, our Lord said it like this in Luke 16 and verse 15. He was talking to the Pharisees and he said to them: Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. What did he say? Ye are they that justify yourselves before men. Wow. I don't know if you've heard this black woman justifying all the looting and stealing and robbery, but she does so very distinctly, very clearly: You owe it to us. And we're doing it. What else do you expect?

I'm just simply pointing out the fact that's exactly what happens in rebellion. Now I want to show you their perverseness. Look, if you would, back in verse 13. Look at verse 13. They say to Moses: Is it a small thing that thou brought us up out of the land that floweth with milk and honey? Really? I thought Egypt was a land of slavery, bondage, misery, and want. Yeah, they did have their leeks and onions and garlic and fish in Egypt, but they certainly did not have milk and honey. And what they did here is so absolutely perverse it is unreal. They took the promise of God and the promised land that God promised to them, which was described as a land that floweth with milk and honey, and applied it to Egypt.

They did just the opposite. You talking about having a perverted mind and perverted logic? They most certainly did so. So, Dathan and Abiram were doing precisely that which had already been done and condemned by God. They were despising the promises of God by despising the promised land. So, if you look back to Numbers chapter 14, and look at verses 30 and 31. Numbers 14, verses 30 and 31. Look at this. God says to these people: Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised. So now they are despising the promised land and saying that Egypt was the promised land. Wow. Now I want to show you something. Look in your Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy chapter 32 and look at verse 5. Deuteronomy 32 and verse 5. Here's what God said concerning this people. He says in

verse five: They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation. Now, the Hebrew word for perverse means that which is perverse, twisted, crooked, and distorted. Now, when you and I use the word pervert, we normally think of a sexual deviant. But the word pervert or perverse has more to do with truth. God calls these people a perverse people, that is, they're twisted, they're crooked, they're distorted in their thinking. Let me tell you something else: perversion is a despisement of God. The Bible says in Proverbs 14 and verse 2: He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him. So perverseness then is a denial of, a refuting of, a rejection of, a repudiation of truth. And not only that, when people reject God's truth, God will send even a perverse spirit into them, which causes their mind to even go crazier in their logical processes, which turns them into illogical processes.

For instance, look in Isaiah chapter 19. I'm sure you do not remember it, but years ago, I preached about five messages from this text on how God destroys nations. But in Isaiah chapter 19 and verses 13 and 14, you can see this very clearly, and I hope you can see what is happening in the American government as well as the governments of the world. Look what happens when there is a rejection of truth. Verse 13: God says, The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof. In other words, they're destroying their own country. Why? The Lord hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit. So when you reject God, when you reject His truth, God says you're going to end up like a drunken man wallowing around in your own vomit. You're just destroying yourself. You're destroying your nation. It's just that simple.

Now, the interesting thing is this. Our Lord in the New Testament in Matthew 17:17 and Luke 9:41 referred to His generation as a faithless and perverse generation. Now what I want to do is this: I want to show you three New Testament passages that use the word perverse, and I think you need to understand perverseness deals with truth. You can pervert the truth. If you look in your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 20. Acts chapter 20, and those of you who read your Bible, you will know that in this passage Paul has called the Ephesian elders, the pastors, to Miletus, and he speaks to them at Miletus, and here's what he ends up saying to them in verse 30. Look at it. In fact, let's read verse 29. He says: For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things—that is, untrue things—to draw away disciples after them. In other words, he

said some of you are going to pervert the truth, and you're going to pervert it just to get disciples, just to get recognition, just to get a following. And so obviously clearly here it is talking about perverting the word of God, perverting the truth of God. If you would turn right on over to the book of Philippians. Philippians chapter 2—Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians—look in Philippians chapter 2 and verse 15. Again he says: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world. Nations can be perverse. We have a perverse nation. Most of the countries in the world have a perverse nation because we disobey God, we do not follow his word, his law. And so he says that we should learn to be blameless and harmless, and sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation. And then if you would turn right on over to 1 Timothy chapter 6. 1 Timothy chapter 6 and look at verse 5. 1 Timothy chapter 6 and verse 5: Again, perverseness has to do with truth. He says: Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw

thyself. Perverse disputings of men, perverse reasonings of men of corrupt minds, who are destitute of the truth: he said withdraw yourself. Now, with these verses in mind, I want you to go back to Numbers chapter 16 because I want us to analyze the charges that they laid against Moses and I want you to see the perverseness therein. So if you look in Numbers chapter 16, let's read verses 13 and 14 again. Numbers chapter 16 beginning there verse 13: They say to Moses, Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us? Moreover, thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men?

We will not come up. So, first of all, as I've already pointed out, their thinking was clearly fogged and perverted when they referred to Egypt as a land flowing with milk and honey. Onions and garlic and fish do not equate with milk and honey. Also, slavery, drudgery, beatings, and torture do not refer to liberty and freedom or milk and honey. So, clearly then, their thinking is askewed; they are insane, they're illogical, they're irrational, and they're certainly not biblical by any stretch of the imagination. Secondly, I want you to note in this passage: they charge Moses with attempted murder. They said, Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of the land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in this wilderness? Wow. They have forgotten that they had sinned against God so grievously and provoked him that he said to Moses twice, Step aside, I'm going to kill every one of them and I'll make of you a great nation greater than they are. And Moses fell on his face and interceded, and God spared them twice. Moses did that. They have forgotten how Moses led them through the wilderness. They'd forgotten how Moses had interceded for

them, and they are charging him with attempted murder. You brought us out here to murder us? Wow. You're talking about skewered thinking, that is it. Here's the third charge: they charge Moses with a design upon their liberties. They say, Except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us. In other words, Moses, you brought us out here to enslave us. You're worse than Pharaoh. You are nothing more than a tyrant. They didn't look at Moses as a protector. They didn't look at Moses as a father. They didn't look at Moses as a leader or as a servant of God. No, no, they said you brought us out here that you might be a ruthless, cruel tyrant. That's why you just want to elevate yourself, that's it. Now let me point something out to show you how wrong they really were. And when they said, Except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us—Moses was not a prince. He was a king. And God made him so. Moses held three offices. He was prophet, priest, and king.

Rebellion Blinds and Hardens

Weaver shows from Deuteronomy 1 how Israel's rebellion led to irrational decisions, refusing to obey God whether He said go or stay. He emphasizes that rebellion blinds the mind and creates an unteachable spirit.

We will not come up. So, first of all, as I've already pointed out, their thinking was clearly fogged and perverted when they referred to Egypt as a land flowing with milk and honey. Onions and garlic and fish do not equate with milk and honey. Also, slavery, drudgery, beatings, and torture do not refer to liberty and freedom or milk and honey. So, clearly then, their thinking is askewed; they are insane, they're illogical, they're irrational, and they're certainly not biblical by any stretch of the imagination. Secondly, I want you to note in this passage: they charge Moses with attempted murder. They said, Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of the land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in this wilderness? Wow. They have forgotten that they had sinned against God so grievously and provoked him that he said to Moses twice, Step aside, I'm going to kill every one of them and I'll make of you a great nation greater than they are. And Moses fell on his face and interceded, and God spared them twice. Moses did that. They have forgotten how Moses led them through the wilderness. They'd forgotten how Moses had interceded for

them, and they are charging him with attempted murder. You brought us out here to murder us? Wow. You're talking about skewered thinking, that is it. Here's the third charge: they charge Moses with a design upon their liberties. They say, Except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us. In other words, Moses, you brought us out here to enslave us. You're worse than Pharaoh. You are nothing more than a tyrant. They didn't look at Moses as a protector. They didn't look at Moses as a father. They didn't look at Moses as a leader or as a servant of God. No, no, they said you brought us out here that you might be a ruthless, cruel tyrant. That's why you just want to elevate yourself, that's it. Now let me point something out to show you how wrong they really were. And when they said, Except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us—Moses was not a prince. He was a king. And God made him so. Moses held three offices. He was prophet, priest, and king.

I'm going to show you that in the Bible. You know he was a prophet because he declared the word of God to these people. You know he was a priest. Not only was he a Levite, but may I remind you, it was Moses who anointed the tabernacle. It was Moses who anointed Aaron and his sons. It was Moses who offered the sacrifices for Aaron and his sons until they became the priests. So we know Moses was a priest. We know that Moses was a prophet. And if you look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 33 and verse 5, you'll find that Moses was also a king. Watch it.

In fact, let's read verses 4 and 5: Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob. And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together. So Moses then represented Christ in the sense that Moses prefigured Christ in the fact that he possessed all three offices that Christ possesses. He was prophet, priest, and king. So they are charging Moses maliciously. Fourthly, I want you to note this: they blame their failure to inherit the land upon Moses when it was their sins that kept them out. They said in verse 14: Moreover, thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields or vineyards. Wow. May I remind you that when they got to the border of the land, the people said, What we need is to send out spies so that we can find out how we are to go up into the land.

Well, Moses said that's a good idea, and so 12 spies went out for 40 days. They came back, and every spy except Joshua and Caleb gave an ill report. Wow. We saw the Anakims there. We saw cities walled up to the heavens there. No, we can't go in. And Caleb and Joshua said, Whoa, we're more than able to conquer. Let's go get it right now. No, no, no, no, no. They refused to go in. They were right there, and now they're telling Moses, You didn't bring us here. Yes, Moses brought them there. It was their sin. It was their rebellion. And wow. The Bible says in Proverbs chapter 19 and verse 3: The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the Lord. And certainly their foolishness perverted their way as well. And so they're charging Moses with a failure to bring them into the land when it was their fault. It was their sin. And fifthly, I want you to note they say in verse 14:

Wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up. Now this proves my point. I told you that a person in rebellion cannot think clearly, rationally, logically, and certainly not biblically. Their attitude is, We see what's going on. We know what's going on, and you can't fool us. What are you going to put out the eyes of these men? Are you going to blindfold us? Are you going to make us sightless so that we will have to follow you? That was their attitude. We're not going to follow you, Moses. We're not going to do anything. Now, see, rebellion not only blinds the eyes, it blinds the mind. Rebellion causes one not to see clearly,

to think clearly, or understand rationally. The Bible says in the book of Proverbs chapter 18 and verse 17: He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him. And so these people thought they were just, and they were wicked and ungodly. Now listen carefully: Dathan and Abiram did not have a teachable spirit. Anyone who is in rebellion against God does not have and cannot have a teachable spirit. They refuse to hear. They refuse to heed. They refuse to obey.

They said, Moses, we're not following you. We're not doing one thing that you've asked us to do. Don't ask us anymore. We will not come up. That's it. So let me say this another way: unless God works in the heart, you're wasting your breath to try to speak logically, clearly, rationally, and biblically to a rebellious person because they will not hear.

Now, I want to make just one application. And this one application to me is an excellent example of the fact and reality that rebellion causes one not to be able to think clearly, logically, rationally, and biblically. So if you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy chapter 1. I've just told you how God had brought the children of Israel to Kadesh Barnea, and they were there at the boundary. They sent out the spies, the spies came back and brought up an ill report upon the land, except Joshua and Caleb, disheartened the people. And of course the people then refused to go in. And God said, Okay, a year for a day. You're going to wander for 40 years in this wilderness. 40 years. Well, I want you to look at what happens. Look in Deuteronomy chapter 1, and let's begin there with verse 37. Look what Moses said.

He said: Also the Lord was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither. But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it. Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it. Now watch this: But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea. So God says, Look, they've refused to go up. You're going to wander 40 years in the wilderness. And now watch: Then ye answered and said unto me, We have sinned against the Lord, we will go up and fight, according to all that the Lord our God commanded us.

And when ye had girded on every man his weapons of war, ye were ready to go up into the hill. And the Lord said unto me, Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies. So I spake unto you; look at it now; and ye would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment of the Lord, and went presumptuously up into the hill. And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, even unto Hormah. And ye returned and wept before the Lord; but the Lord would not hearken to your voice, nor give ear unto you. So here it is. God said, Go in.

They said, We're not going to go in. We can't win. We can't fight. God said, All right, fine. 40 years in the wilderness then. Oh, no, no, no. Lord, we've sinned against you. We will fight. We will go up. God says, No, don't go up. They're going to kill you. I'm not among you. They refused to listen to God, and that's why he said, So I spake unto you, and ye would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment of the Lord. So my question is this: Who could charge these people with clear, rational, logical thinking? No one. Because they would not listen. They would not hear. They would not think. They would not obey. And they just wanted to do what they wanted to do. The point being, unless God opens our eyes, unless God opens our ears in our rebellion, we will not hear, we will not see, we will not listen, we will not understand.

Conclusion and Application

Weaver summarizes the four pillars and calls for self-examination to root out any spirit of perverseness or rebellion, praying for submissive and obedient hearts.

All of these things go together. The very first, there's a breach in a relationship. You cannot be rebellious without destroying a relationship. You cannot be rebellious without discontent. You cannot be rebellious without disobedience. And when you are rebellious, there's a perverseness of your spirit where you twist and distort the truth; you become crooked in your thinking; and you can maliciously, willfully attack anyone and everyone who is opposed to you because you're trying to justify yourself and your actions. We need to make sure that we do not have in our lives a spirit of perverseness or a spirit of rebellion. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask for your grace and for your mercy, for your goodness and kindness. And Lord, we do pray for these on the prayer list and ask for your blessing upon them. But Lord, we pray that you would clear our minds and clear our hearts and give us, Lord, a submissive, believing, obedient, humble heart before thee, that we may hear and heed and obey thy words. In the name of Jesus Christ we ask and pray. Amen.

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