Bible Study - Rebellion at the Border

The City of Refuge

December 31, 2023 – January 6, 2024

Key Text

“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.” 1 Samuel 15:23

Study Help: Patriarchs and Prophets, 395–399

Introduction

“As we approach the close of time, as the people of God stand upon the borders of the heavenly Canaan, Satan will, as of old, redouble his efforts to prevent them from entering the goodly land.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 457

Sunday

1 TWO ITEMS MISSING!

1.a. What three items were inside the ark of the covenant? Hebrews 9:3, 4

1.b. What articles were in the ark when the temple was built in Jerusalem? 2 Chronicles 5:10

Note: “God promised Solomon, if he would remain faithful, and his people would obey all His commandments, that that glorious temple should stand forever in all its splendor, as an evidence of the prosperity and exalted blessings resting upon Israel for their obedience.

“Because of Israel’s transgression of the commandments of God and their wicked acts, God suffered them to go into captivity, to humble and punish them. Before the temple was destroyed, God made known to a few of His faithful servants the fate of the temple, which was the pride of Israel, and which they regarded with idolatry, while they were sinning against God. He also revealed to them the captivity of Israel. These righteous men, just before the destruction of the temple, removed the sacred ark containing the tables of stone, and with mourning and sadness secreted it in a cave where it was to be hid from the people of Israel because of their sins, and was to be no more restored to them. That sacred ark is yet hid. It has never been disturbed since it was secreted.” The Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 1, 414

Monday

2 THE HEAVENLY ARK COMPLETE

2.a. What was revealed to God’s people about the heavenly sanctuary in 1844? Revelation 11:19

Note: “God’s people are now to have their eyes fixed on the heavenly sanctuary, where the final ministration of our great High Priest in the work of the judgment is going forward—where He is interceding for His people.” Evangelism, 223

“In the holiest I saw an ark; on the top and sides of it was purest gold. On each end of the ark was a lovely cherub, with its wings spread out over it. Their faces were turned toward each other, and they looked downward. Between the angels was a golden censer. Above the ark, where the angels stood, was an exceeding bright glory, that appeared like a throne where God dwelt. Jesus stood by the ark, and as the saints’ prayers came up to Him, the incense in the censer would smoke, and He would offer up their prayers with the smoke of the incense to His Father. In the ark was the golden pot of manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of stone which folded together like a book.” Early Writings, 32

2.b. How are God’s people to give the trumpet a certain sound? 1 Corinthians 14:7, 8

Note: “Satan has laid every measure possible that nothing shall come among us as a people to reprove and rebuke us, and exhort us to put away our errors. But there is a people who will bear the ark of God. Some will go out from among us who will bear the ark no longer. But these cannot make walls to obstruct the truth; for it will go onward and upward to the end. In the past God has raised up men, and He still has men of opportunity waiting, prepared to do His bidding—men who will go through restrictions which are only as walls daubed with untempered mortar. When God puts His Spirit upon men, they will work. They will proclaim the word of the Lord; they will lift up their voice like a trumpet. The truth will not be diminished or lose its power in their hands. They will show the people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 411

Tuesday

3 RESPONSIBILITIES IN LEADERSHIP

3.a. Who appointed Moses and Aaron to their responsibilities? Exodus 3:7–10; 4:14–17

Note: “Moses heard the call from heaven to exchange his shepherd’s crook for the rod of authority; to leave his flock of sheep and take the leadership of Israel. The divine command found him self-distrustful, slow of speech, and timid. … But he accepted the work, putting his whole trust in the Lord.” The Ministry of Healing, 475

“God appointed Moses to lead out His people from their bondage in the land of Egypt. … Moses was their visible Leader, while Christ stood at the head of the armies of Israel, their invisible leader. If they could have always realized this they would not have rebelled and provoked God in the wilderness by their unreasonable murmurings.” The Review and Herald, March 3, 1874

3.b. What example shows our responsibility toward those whom God has called to be leaders? Against whom are we rebelling if we reject them—particularly when principle is not involved? 1 Samuel 24:5, 6, 10; 26:9; 1 Timothy 5:17

Note: “The conduct of David toward Saul has a lesson. By command of God, Saul had been anointed as king over Israel. Because of his disobedience the Lord declared that the kingdom should be taken from him; and yet how tender and courteous and forbearing was the conduct of David toward him!” The Ministry of Healing, 484

“To neglect or despise those whom God has appointed to bear the responsibilities of leadership in connection with the advancement of the truth, is to reject the means that He has ordained for the help, encouragement, and strength of His people.” The Acts of the Apostles, 164

3.c. How long are we responsible for carrying out specific tasks that God has appointed to us? Acts 20:24; 1 Corinthians 9:16

Note: “The humble shepherd’s life of Moses had been far more peaceful and happy than his present position as leader of that vast assembly of turbulent spirits. Yet Moses dared not choose. In place of a shepherd’s crook a rod of power had been given him, which he could not lay down until God should release him.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 396

Wednesday

4 WANTING CONTROL

4.a. Who was Korah? Numbers 16:1; Exodus 6:18, 20

Note: “Korah, the leading spirit in this movement, was a Levite, of the family of Kohath, and a cousin of Moses; he was a man of ability and influence.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 395

4.b. While holding a high position in the government of Israel, what additional position did Korah want? Numbers 16:8–10

Note: “Though appointed to the service of the tabernacle, he had become dissatisfied with his position and aspired to the dignity of the priesthood.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 395

“The Lord knew that Korah was rebellious at heart, and was secretly at work against Moses in the congregation of Israel, although his rebellion had not yet developed itself. … Korah was not satisfied with his position. He was connected with the service of the tabernacle, yet he desired to be exalted to the priesthood. God had established Moses as chief governor, and the priesthood was given to Aaron and his sons. Korah determined to compel Moses to change the order of things, whereby he should be raised to the dignity of the priesthood. To be more sure of accomplishing his purpose, he drew Dathan and Abiram, the descendants of Reuben, into his rebellion.” The Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 1, 296

4.c. How does one arrive at such a position of rebellion? Proverbs 16:18; 27:4; 1 Timothy 6:4

Note: “Korah and his fellow conspirators were men who had been favored with special manifestations of God’s power and greatness. They were of the number who went up with Moses into the mount and beheld the divine glory. But since that time a change had come. A temptation, slight at first, had been harbored, and had strengthened as it was encouraged, until their minds were controlled by Satan, and they ventured upon their work of disaffection. Professing great interest in the prosperity of the people, they first whispered their discontent to one another and then to leading men of Israel. Their insinuations were so readily received that they ventured still further, and at last they really believed themselves to be actuated by zeal for God.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 396, 397

Thursday

5 GREATER FOLLY WHEN FOREWARNED

5.a. How did Korah approach Moses regarding leadership? Numbers 16:1–3

Note: “A deep-laid conspiracy was formed, the result of a determined purpose to overthrow the authority of the leaders appointed by God Himself.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 395

“Jealousy had given rise to envy, and envy to rebellion. They [Korah, Dathan, and Abiram] had discussed the question of the right of Moses to so great authority and honor, until they had come to regard him as occupying a very enviable position, which any of them could fill as well as he. And they deceived themselves and one another into thinking that Moses and Aaron had themselves assumed the positions they held.” Ibid., 397

5.b. How does God refer to rebellion? 1 Samuel 15:22, 23. What should our attitude be toward those in responsibility? Hebrews 13:5, 17

Note: “It is hardly possible for men to offer greater insult to God than to despise and reject the instrumentalities He would use for their salvation. The Israelites had not only done this, but had purposed to put both Moses and Aaron to death.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 402

5.c. How does God prepare us to face temptation? 1 Corinthians 10:11–13. What event did God allow to warn Israel? Numbers 12:1–16

Note: “He who reads the secrets of all hearts had marked the purposes of Korah and his companions and had given His people such warning and instruction as might have enabled them to escape the deception of these designing men. They had seen the judgment of God fall upon Miriam because of her jealousy and complaints against Moses.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 396

5.d. Had Moses incited a rebellious attitude in the people by an overbearing type of leadership or rule? Numbers 12:3

Friday

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 Has the ark, taken away at the time of the Babylonian captivity, ever been restored to God’s people?

2 When God places individuals in a leadership role in His church, when are they free to leave such responsibilities?

3 As relatives of Moses and Aaron, for what offices did Korah, Dathan, and Abiram yearn?

4 What kind of leader was Moses?

“The discontented ones said that these leaders [Moses and Aaron] had exalted themselves above the congregation of the Lord, in taking upon them the priesthood and government, but their house was not entitled to distinction above others in Israel; they were no more holy than the people, and it should be enough for them to be on a level with their brethren.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 397