Daily Devotions
Psalms
Psalm 106:17a "The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan..."
Day 155 – Psalm 106
“The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan…” Psalm 106:17a
CONSEQUENCES OF GRAVE SIN
Grave sins can lead to terrible consequences! The sin of envying Moses and Aaron became so grave that God had to take divine action against the wicked. The following text recalled that terrifying event.
“The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan,
And covered the faction of Abiram.
A fire was kindled in their company;
The flame burned up the wicked.”
Psalm 106:17-18
1. Dathan and Abiram
a) These men were named as the rebel leaders (Numbers 16:1b).
b) Other rebels included Korah, the son of Kohath, and On the son of Peleth (Numbers 16:1).
c) There were two hundred fifty leaders of the children of Israel among the rebels (Numbers 16:2).
2. What was their sin problem?
a) They led a rebellion against the leadership of Moses.
b) They charged Moses and Aaron with exalting themselves as leaders in Israel (Numbers 16:3).
3. Moses had to speak to the rebels firmly
a) He knew that Korah did not like their role as assistants to the priests.
b) He charged them with desiring the priesthood that God had not given to them
(Numbers 16:4-11).
c) He also appealed to Dathan and Abiram but they refused to heed the admonition, but charged Moses with failure to bring them into the Promised Land and for acting like a prince (Numbers 16:12-14).
4. Divine Actions
a) An earthquake swallowed up the rebels (Numbers 16:23-34).
b) A fire was sent by the Lord and consumed the Levites who offered incense (Numbers 16:35).
This terrifying judgment from the Lord was recorded so that the children of Israel of future generations would never take the problem of sin lightly. God reserves the right to take divine action against anyone who chooses the path of wicked rebellion.