Numbers 16; Psalm 52-54; Isaiah 6; Hebrews 13
Daily Catechism
QUESTION 93: WHAT IS FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST?
Answer: Faith in Jesus Christ is saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, trusting him to forgive our sins, and guide us to eternal joy, on the basis of his divine power and atoning death.
Scripture: Hebrews 10:39; John 1:12; 6:35; Philippians 3:9; Gala- tians 2:15-16, 20; Matthew 14:31.
Numbers 16 and Isaiah 6 hit us with a double dose of the holiness of God. Our God is a consuming fire and to fear him is not optional. His children fear him differently than his enemies but fear is a natural response to being confronted with the holiness of God in our sinful flesh. It has been said that the more one grows in their Christian walk the more they fear God, not the less! See how Isaiah reacts to seeing God and also see how God reacts to the lack of fear on the part of Korah and his fellow rebels…
“1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”” (Isaiah 6:1–5, ESV)
Here Isaiah fears the LORD due to his knowledge of his own sin and that of his people. So too, our only boldness should be by the blood of the lamb (Eph 3:11-12) and not in ourselves. The LORD looks to dwell in the humble and contrite person who trembles at his Word (Is 66:1-2). Isaiah fit this picture as he was prostrate before Almighty God. Do we ever imagine what it would be like to stand before Almighty God? How would it feel to be known so thoroughly and piercingly in his presence? How would it feel to have his knowledge go through me like an x-ray and to be completely inside out before him? What kind of terrifying exhilaration would it be to be in the presence of the one who holds all things in existence by the Word of his power? Surely it is only be cause our brother has gone ahead and stands at the throne that we can approach while his smile is upon us!
Contrast Isaiah’s hallowing of God with Korah’s rebellion against God’s chosen mouthpiece…
“3 They [Korah and 250 chiefs of the people] assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?”” (Numbers 16:3, ESV)The LORD indicates that he will destroy them all outright but Moses intercedes and God will only destroy the individuals (and their families) who are guilty…
“24 “Say to the congregation, Get away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.” 25 Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 And he spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be swept away with all their sins.”” (Numbers 16:24–26, ESV)In order that there would be no mistake in who caused the death of these men, God does it immediately and in precisely the fashion Moses declared. There is no doubt that God takes seriously his means of revelation and the priesthood. Judgement is swift and righteous.
“31 And as soon as he had finished speaking all these words, the ground under them split apart. 32 And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods. 33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol, and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.” (Numbers 16:31–33, ESV)May we never doubt the righteous judgements of God. May we always keep ourselves under the authority of his Word and may we always recognize our need for mercy and our reliance upon Jesus. God is indeed holy and righteous and it is this very righteousness that would destroy us that has become our salvation in the person of Jesus Christ!
Soli Deo Gloria!
