Rev. Don Campbell

Numbers 16-17

THOUGHT FOR TODAY, March 2, 2019

SINS OF THE FATHERS

Korah, the great-grandson of Levi rallied 250 chiefs of the congregation to assemble themselves against Moses and Aaron: “You have gone too far!” they said. “For all the congregation are holy. The rebellion was not really against Moses and Aaron, but against God (Numbers 16:11). To quell the rebellion, God would create something new to destroy them. The ground would open up and swallow all 250 of them then it would close around them. Looking ahead to the census of the new generation in Numbers 26, we read, “But the sons of Korah did not die” (Numbers 26:11). Not only did they not die, they became a very important part of the tabernacle worship. In book two of the Psalms, twelve of them were written by the sons of Korah (42-49 and 84-88).

The first lesson to learn is that rebellion against God’s chosen leaders is to rebel against God. But the focus of our thought today is on the surviving sons of Korah. God said, “Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin” (Deuteronomy 24:16). At the same time, God warns, “I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments” (Deuteronomy 5:9-10).

Some see the law of God evolving, but that is not really the answer. As always, the solution is found in the context. The passage in Deuteronomy 24 is dealing with justice that was to be carried out by the judges. The passage in Deuteronomy 5:9-10 is about God righteous judgment against idolatry. An example is the Babylonian captivity in which the righteous were carried away with the unrighteous. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are examples.

Although there may be natural consequences of the sins of the fathers falling on the children, the consequences have nothing to do with the children’s acceptance or rejection by God. God addresses this through Ezekiel. He says that the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father and the father shall not bear the iniquity of the son. Apparently, some believed otherwise: “‘Yet you say, ‘Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?’ When the son has done what is just and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live. The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself” (Ezekiel 18:19-20).

CONNECTIONS

1. In your opinion, what are some of the natural consequences that all Americans are suffering today because of the sins of our fathers?

2. One person commits adultery against a mate, refuses to repent, and destroys the marriage. The innocent mate and any children will undoubtedly suffer some painful consequences, but who is the one who is guilty?

“Link to YouTube Video – As the Deer”