BETWEEN THE LIVING AND THE DEAD

Numbers 16:36-50 / Keywords 16:48

He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped.

 16:36 The Lord said to Moses, 37 “Tell Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, to remove the censers from the charred remains and scatter the coals some distance away, for the censers are holy— 38 the censers of the men who sinned at the cost of their lives. Hammer the censers into sheets to overlay the altar, for they were presented before the Lord and have become holy. Let them be a sign to the Israelites.”

39 So Eleazar the priest collected the bronze censers brought by those who had been burned to death, and he had them hammered out to overlay the altar, 40 as the Lord directed him through Moses. This was to remind the Israelites that no one except a descendant of Aaron should come to burn incense before the Lord, or he would become like Korah and his followers.

41 The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. “You have killed the Lord’s people,” they said.

42 But when the assembly gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron and turned toward the tent of meeting, suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord appeared. 43 Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the tent of meeting, 44 and the Lord said to Moses, 45 “Get away from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.” And they fell facedown.

46 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer and put incense in it, along with burning coals from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord; the plague has started.” 47 So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people, but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them. 48 He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped. 49 But 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah. 50 Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance to the tent of meeting, for the plague had stopped.[c]

c. Numbers 16:50 In Hebrew texts 16:36-50 is numbered 17:1-15.

1. 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.

 

2. 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 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 Jesus is our great high priest forever