Commentary on "Power Struggle"

PHIL HARRIS

 

Day 1: Sabbath Afternoon, November 7, 2009

 

Overview

The material for this week centers on what has come to be known as; 'The Rebellion of Korah'. He was one of the Levitical officials who weren’t satisfied with their limited but important role under the direction of God's chosen leaders, Moses and Aaron. His self-appointed importance led to tragic consequences for himself, his family and all those who joined in with him in this rebellion.

This account illustrates the truth of this week's memory text:

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18 ESV)

 

Observations

By making the statement; "…as if somehow these two men, and not God, were the ones responsible for this situation", the lesson author appears to be making God responsible for inciting this conflict.

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. (James 1:13,14 ESV)

During the week we will center our attention on learning the root cause of this rebellion. To do so we will be making frequent reference to the biblical commentary on this topic found in the book of Hebrews:

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, 'They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.'”(Heb. 3:7-10 ESV)

 

Summary

1. When any of us, including Korah, sins and rebels against God, the responsibility and consequences do not fall upon God.
2. To unravel and understand any situation, including Korah's rebellion, it is important to determine the real cause and not get sidetrack by secondary issues. By the end of the week we should have a clear understanding of the root cause of their ‘forty years’ of rebellion, not just “Korah’s Rebellion”.
3. Understanding the cause of this rebellion will give us practical insight into the source of rebellion in our own lives.

 

GO TO DAY 2

 

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Official Adventist Resources

Standard Edition Study Guide Week 7

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