The Leaders in Ancient Israel

Text: Numbers 16
18 April 2016

THE LEADERS IN ANCIENT ISRAEL

1. Moses   (Exodus 3)

2. The High Priest   (Numbers 8)

3. The Priests   (Numbers 9)

4. The Levites   (Numbers 3)

5. The 70 Elders   (Exodus 24:1)

6. The Rulers appointed

a) Over thousands
b) Over hundreds
c) Over fifties
d) Over tens   (Exodus 18:25-26)

TROUBLE AMONG THE LEADERS

1. The Levites versus the Priests

2. The Sons of Korah   (Numbers 16:1)

3. Non-religious leaders

a) Dathan
b) Abiram
c) On (sons of Reuben)   (Numbers 16:1)

4. Two hundred and fifty opponents   (Numbers 16:2)

a) Leaders of the congregation
b) Representatives of the congregation
c) Men of reknown

5. Challenge of the 250 leaders

a) “You take too much upon yourselves”   (Numbers 16:3)
b) “All the congregation is holy everyone of them”   (Numbers 16:3)
c) “The LORD is among them”   (Numbers 16:3)
d) “Why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD”   (Numbers 16:3)

6. How do respond when there is trouble among the leaders?

7. An examination the charges against Moses and Aaron

a) Are the charges true?
b) Did Moses and Aaron abuse the authority given to them?
c) Did they exalt themselves?

8. Hidden agenda to be noted

a) These are vying for greater leadership-roles
b) They are full of themselves
i) They see themselves as people of reknown
ii) They had leadership roles
c) They envied the roles of Moses and Aaron
d) They wanted to have similar authority

7. What they failed to understand

a) The LORD’s sovereignty in appointing leaders
b) Holiness was what God desired of His servants
c) Closeness with the LORD was valued

None of the 250 leaders had any of the above