Numbers 16:41-50 - The Priestly Atonement

I. THAT WRATH HAD GONE FORTH AGAINST ALL ISRAEL BECAUSE OF THEIR ACTIVE OR PASSIVE PARTICIPATION IN REBELLION AGAINST THE WILL AND ORDINANCE OF GOD . Even so had wrath gone forth against all mankind, for that all were compromised (albeit not all to the same degree, or by the same deliberate choice) in sin and rebellion ( Romans 5:12 , Romans 5:14 ; Romans 11:32 ; Ephesians 2:3 ).

II. THAT MOSES DID NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO PRAY AT THIS TIME FOR ISRAEL , BECAUSE THE SENTENCE WAS GONE FORTH , AND EVEN HIS PRAYER HAD BEEN UNAVAILING . Even so, however much the intercessions of righteous men may have been heard in other and lesser matters ( James 5:16 b.), yet could not any. human means avail to turn aside from us the sentence of death which follows upon sin ( Genesis 2:17 ; Psalms 49:7 , Psalms 49:8 ; Romans 6:23 ; Romans 7:24 ). And note that as far as we can see even the incarnate Son had not saved us as Lawgiver and Ruler except his intercessions had been based upon his meritorious cross and passion. Moses must give place to Aaron here.

III. THAT THE PLAGUE ADVANCED ALL THE WHILE WITH FRIGHTFUL CELERITY . Even so sin and death made havoc of an evil world ere Christ came forth to stay the plague ( Romans 1:1-32 , Romans 3:1-31 , Romans 5:1-21 ). And still, where it is not stayed, its progress is as rapid and as irresistible as ever. Thousands are daily swept away to destruction.

IV. THAT THE FERVENT , SELF - SACRIFICING LOVE OF MOSES FOR HIS PEOPLE ( WHO HAD OPPOSED AND REJECTED HIM ) DEVISED THIS NEW REMEDY , UNKNOWN BEFORE . Even so it was the infinite, self-abasing love of the eternal Son which devised the means of our salvation, albeit we had rebelled against him and cast off his dominion ( Psalms 2:2 , Psalms 2:3 , Psalms 2:12 ; Luke 19:14 ; John 3:16 ; Acts 3:26 ; Romans 5:8 ; 1 John 4:10 ).

V. THAT THIS REMEDY WAS FOUND IN AN INCENSE OFFERING

Even so the one Divine deliverance from eternal death is

VI. THAT THE INCENSE WAS TO BE LIGHTED WITH FIRE FROM OFF THE ALTAR OF BURNT OFFERING , otherwise it had been as ineffectual for good as the offering of Nadab and Abihu (Le Numbers 10:1 ). Even so the intercessions of Christ whereby we live are not only offered as of his infinite merits, but as based upon his one perfect and sufficient sacrifice. It is fire from the altar of the cross which kindles and makes to ascend in fragrance his "much incense" before the throne. From another point of view it is the burning love which prompted and inspired his death which inspires and kindles his unceasing intercession for us.

VII. THAT AARON RAN INTO THE CAMP TO MAKE AN ATONEMENT FOR THE PEOPLE , REGARDLESS OF ANY DANGER TO HIMSELF . Even so our Lord hasted in his great zeal to expose himself to all danger in our midst in order to work out our salvation.

VIII. THAT AARON STOOD BETWEEN THE DEAD AND THE LIVING —all on one side of him (as it should seem) dead, all on the other side alive, through his intervention. Even so our High Priest stands, and stands alone, between us and death. Nothing separates us from the eternally lost but the saving efficacy of his intercession; had he not appeared upon the scene we too had perished. Moreover, he stands between the living and the dead in this sense, that all souls are divided by him and his cross into two lots, the living who accept, the dead who reject him. Thus he hung between the penitent and impenitent robbers, and thus he will place the goats and the sheep on the one side of him and on the other.

IX. THAT THE PLAGUE WAS STAYED BY AARON 'S INTERPOSITION OF HIMSELF BETWEEN IT AND ITS VICTIMS . Even so Christ has averted death from us, and taken away its sting, by placing himself between it and us, by interposing between the wrath of Heaven and our souls ( Romans 7:25 ; Romans 8:1 ). And so long as we are sheltered behind his atonement and intercession we are absolutely safe.

X. THAT AARON , AFTER MAKING AN ATONEMENT , RETURNED TO THE MOST HOLY PLACE WITH HIS CENSER (cf. Hebrews 9:4 ). Even so our Lord, after making atonement for us upon the cross, and breaking the empire of sin and death, returned to that heaven from which he came, leaving us free from the power of death.

XI. THAT THIS WAS THE GLORIOUS VINDICATION OF AARON 'S PRIESTLY OFFICE , IN THAT IT BROUGHT LIFE AND DELIVERANCE TO THE VERY MEN WHO HAD DESPISED AND SLANDERED IT . How much better and more effectual than if a thousand Korahs had been slain by reason of it! Even so the true vindication of the priesthood of Christ, in whatsoever sense or by whomsoever assailed, is its marvelous and ever-living efficacy for the healing of sinners, and for their salvation from spiritual death. Those that are ready to strive against it to the uttermost today will know themselves beholden to it for life and liberty tomorrow. Whatever belongs to the priesthood of Christ must here, and here only, find its defense and confirmation, not in smiting down them that oppose themselves (which is of the law only), but in saving them from the fatal consequences of their own sin and blindness (which is of the gospel alone). Cf. Luke 9:55 , Luke 9:56 ; John 12:47 ; 2 Corinthians 10:8 ; 2 Corinthians 13:10 ; Galatians 1:23 ; 1 Timothy 2:4 .