IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Between the Living and the Dead

Date: Mar. 11, 2022

Passage

Numbers 16:36-50 (ESV)

36 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 37 “Tell Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest to take up the censers out of the blaze. Then scatter the fire far and wide, for they have become holy. 38 As for the censers of these men who have sinned at the cost of their lives, let them be made into hammered plates as a covering for the altar, for they offered them before the LORD, and they became holy. Thus they shall be a sign to the people of Israel.” 39 So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which those who were burned had offered, and they were hammered out as a covering for the altar, 40 to be a reminder to the people of Israel, so that no outsider, who is not of the descendants of Aaron, should draw near to burn incense before the LORD, lest he become like Korah and his company—as the LORD said to him through Moses.

41 But on the next day all the congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and against Aaron, saying, “You have killed the people of the LORD.” 42 And when the congregation had assembled against Moses and against Aaron, they turned toward the tent of meeting. And behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared. 43 And Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting, 44 and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 45 “Get away from the midst of this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” And they fell on their faces. 46 And Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, and put fire on it from off the altar and lay incense on it and carry it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone out from the LORD; the plague has begun.” 47 So Aaron took it as Moses said and ran into the midst of the assembly. And behold, the plague had already begun among the people. And he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. 48 And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped. 49 Now those who died in the plague were 14,700, besides those who died in the affair of Korah. 50 And Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the tent of meeting, when the plague was stopped.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 16:48

And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped.

God dealt with the rebels and spared the whole assembly after Moses’ and Aaron’s intercession (22). God used the cleansed censers as an object lesson with two points: First, God’s holiness. The holy God provided a way to dwell with them through sacrifices on the altar. The layered bronze pointed to it. Second, God is sovereign. God chose Aaron’s family for the priesthood on the basis of God’s sovereignty alone; not popular opinion, human ability, or other criteria. By these God provided both the means and method to dwell with his people in covenant relationship.

But the people still did not pay attention to God. The next day, focusing only on Moses and Aaron, the people grumbled and accused them of murder. God appeared again at the tent of meeting. His holy presence brought a plague among the rebellious people. Moses instructed Aaron to carry out his priestly duty and make atonement for the people. As he did so, standing between the living and the dead, the plague stopped. Aaron’s priesthood was limited by his own weakness and eventual death. Jesus, our great high priest and mediator, always lives to intercede for us (Heb 7:25). Jesus became the once-for-all atoning sacrifice for us (Heb 10:14).

Prayer: Prayer: Father, you are holy and sovereign, and we are sinful rebels. Thank you for making a way for us to live with you through our high priest Jesus. Help me come to him humbly today.

One Word: One Word: Jesus is our great high priest forever

Daily Bread

The Consequences of Deception

Genesis 27:30-46

Key Verse: 27:33

Then Isaac trembled very violently and said, “Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed.”

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