Chapter 38: God Reaffirms His Leaders
Q1 - After witnessing these catastrophes, how did the people respond? (See Numbers 16:34 and Numbers 17:12–13.) For children of God, what would have been a better response? What can we learn from these people?
A1 - After witnessing the earth swallow up the insurrectionists and their possessions in Korah’s rebellion, the people fled the scene, crying out that the earth was going to swallow them, too. Then, after Aaron’s rod had budded, the people knew without a doubt that God had chosen Aaron as high priest. They also knew they had been wrong to challenge Moses and Aaron, and again they cried out, fearful that they would all be punished and die.
What seems to be missing in the people’s response to these incidents is repentance. They were fearful, and rightly so, because they had challenged God and the leadership He had established. Yet, they failed to show a true change of heart by admitting their error and telling God they were sorry for their actions.
If we had lived during the time of these Israelites, it’s doubtful we would have done any better than they did. Fortunately for us, we live on the other side of the cross and have ready access to God’s Word. We can study both the Old Law and the New Covenant. We can come to know God today in ways that the Israelites of long ago could not. Our vantage point offers us the opportunity to observe the mistakes and shortcomings of those who came before us and to learn from them.
We will all make errors as we live our lives, and we will sin, sometimes grievously. When we do, rather than panic and scream and run, may we respond with humility as Moses so frequently did. May we repent, turn from our errors, and beg God for His mercy.
Q2 - What was the purpose of the incense offering? What is incense sometimes symbolic of in the scriptures? (See Psalm 141:2, Revelation 5:8, and Revelation 8:3–4.) This article talks about the symbolism of incense: Signs & Symbols of the Bible (Incense).
A2 - The incense that was burned upon the altar of incense was to be made according to a special recipe and could only be used to worship the Lord (Exodus 30:34–38). Aaron (or the priest at the time) was to burn this incense every morning and then again at twilight each evening during the times when he tended the lamps (Exodus 30:7–8). Because it was slow burning, the incense smoldered almost continually on the altar, creating a pleasing aroma before the Lord.
The altar of incense was a small altar overlaid with gold that was used only for incense; no other type of offering was to be made upon that altar. It stood inside the tabernacle, before the opening to the holy of holies where the ark of the covenant was kept. The fire used on that altar to ignite the incense could only come from the altar of burnt offerings which stood outside the tabernacle in the courtyard (Exodus 30:1–10, Leviticus 16:12).
Not only did the altar of incense create a pleasing aroma, but its smoke also partially shrouded the interior of the tabernacle. A curtain shielded the holy of holies from the view of the priests who entered the tabernacle. Only on one day a year, the Day of Atonement, did the high priest enter the holy of holies. Before he could do so, he had to offer a sin offering for himself and his household. Then he was to burn incense on the altar of incense so that when he pulled back the curtain to the holy of holies, the cloud of the incense would shroud his view of the mercy seat which covered the top of the ark of the covenant (Leviticus 16:13). It was there that the presence of the Lord dwelled. The smoke from the incense kept the priest from seeing God’s presence so that he would not die as he sprinkled the blood for atonement inside the holy of holies. (See Leviticus 16 for an account of what all was to be done on the Day of Atonement.)
Scriptures sometimes symbolically link the offering of incense with prayers going up before God. David pleaded with God in Psalm 141:2 (ESV): “Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!” In Revelation 5:8 (NKJV), those who fell down to worship the Lamb had “golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” Again, in Revelation 8:3–4 (NKJV): “Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.”
[It is to be noted here that the Bible refers to all Christians or believers as saints and not a select group of those who have passed away. The word, “saint,” means one separated from the world and consecrated to God; a believer in Christ (see Easton’s Bible Dictionary). Search the New Testament for the word “saint” at BibleGateway.com to see how it’s used in scriptures and to whom the word applies. This article addresses the topic of saints: "What does the Bible say about Christian saints? What are saints?"]
What a powerful, yet humbling, image these scriptures present: the prayers of believers being likened to an offering of incense ascending before God. Unlike the priests who lived under the Old Law, we do not have to perform all the rituals they needed to do before approaching God’s presence in the holy of holies. Simply with our heartfelt prayers, Christians are able to present a beautiful offering to God and approach His throne.
Q3 - Why are Christians no longer required to offer sacrifices on altars? Rather, what is your sacrifice or offering to be?
A3 - The sacrifices offered under the Law were not able to take away sins. They were made in obedience to what God had instructed His people to do, but they had to be repeated over and over. The writer of Hebrews explains that the sacrifices were an annual reminder of sins, because it was impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins (Hebrews 10:1–4).
When Jesus came to earth and lived a life without sin, He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins when He died on the cross. He did this once, and for all time. His blood takes away the sins of believers, of all those who will avail themselves of His precious blood. Therefore, no other sacrifice for sin will ever be needed (Hebrews 10:8–18).
A sacrifice is something that has been consecrated, set apart for God and offered to Him. Because Christians are no longer required to offer physical sacrifices, we instead offer ourselves as spiritual sacrifices. Paul urges us in Romans 12:1 (NIV) to: “offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Peter states in 1 Peter 2:9–10 (NIV) that believers are: “…a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
The writer of Hebrews also tells us to continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15) and to not neglect doing good and sharing with others (Hebrews 13:16). God is pleased with these sacrifices. In fact, we are told that everything we do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17) and to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). When we live for God, we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, dedicated to Him.