Ribband of blue. Numbers 15:39. “And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring.”
The third subject focused on the symbolic blue cord, on which the fringe and blue tassels marked the Israelites as distinct from other peoples. Not only were they to be separate from other tribes, but the blue also served as a reminder that they were spiritually different. The Lord their God had delivered them from Egypt, and the laws He provided, with their demands to obey, were based on God’s gracious and merciful act of redemption.
Our relationship with God is much closer than just a ruler and his subjects; it's more like that of a father and his children or a husband and wife. Our unity with God encompasses our awakened spirit, redeemed soul, and physical body, even though the body is still susceptible to sin. In contrast to the arrogance of the lawbreaker was the reminder that the blue tassel on the fringes of their garments signified they were the people of God. They represented the God of heaven. Although they were wanderers in the wilderness, this wilderness scene was temporary for them. They belonged to the kingdom of heaven. They were to obey God and act according to His revealed will through His word in every situation they faced. Even such reminders can be misused. During the time the Lord Jesus Christ was on earth, the religious Jews made large bands of blue on their garments to appear more holy than the common people.
We can extend the teaching of God's word until it appeals to the religious vanity of self-righteous people. However, we must not add to or take away from what God has said and written. It is also possible for humans to act presumptuously through man-made religious actions. The tassels on garments served as a simple reminder of who God's people are and what it means to be connected to a heavenly God.
Look beyond the color, look beyond the band, and seek the meaning behind the fringe. What did God want to bring to your mind this morning as you read His word? The clothes you wear in the morning mark you and what you intend to do during the day ahead. A God-given reminder is in front of you as you look in the mirror. You are not your own. You have been brought out of the bondage of sin and self-will. Remember who you are and to whom you now belong. The blue ribbon of the fringe reminds you of the commandments of God, which govern our lives and public testimony.
Others may wear their tattoos, rings, and badges to identify themselves. That band of blue across the heart of God’s redeemed ones testifies to their faith and allegiance to our Lord. Others may wish for a long life, prosperity, good luck, and success in battle from their gods. The blue ribbon reminds us that when we worship God, we are to worship Him in spirit and truth—and worship God only.
The “tzilzith” – those tassels that look like ornaments – resemble flowers that remind us not to pursue everything our sinful hearts desire. Spiritual memory redirects our thoughts to the Lord, so we seek Him and enjoy the fellowship with Him that makes our lives meaningful and fruitful. Do not compromise by chasing after what the natural eye and heart lust for. Idol worship is self-centered and self-seeking, but what can I gain from serving the idols of the world that attract? The spiritual worship of God is the opposite. It is selfless rather than self-serving. We serve Him expecting nothing because we serve Him for who He is and out of love for Him. Let the ribbon of blue and the tassels we wear, unseen on our hearts, remind us of His commands.
"GAINSAYING". Numbers 16 There are times in life when things happen that are very hard to understand. The motives behind divisive acts are usually hidden from human insight at first, but God knows. When Korah's discontent, a first cousin of Moses and Aaron, became clear, it had already spread to many others. One person's discontent or jealousy can influence all of God's people if left unchecked. The "gainsaying of Core" was an act of apostasy from which there was no return. That discontent, unsanctified influence, and deception ultimately caused thousands to lose their lives. We must be very careful when we criticize others. The outcome of such actions can be far more serious than we might imagine.
God calls His servants and, by His sovereign will, equips and fits them for service under His guidance and control. Gifts and appointments from God given to His people are like members of a body. Each physical member of a body has a role to fulfill, and when the Head coordinates the body, it can do exactly what God wants. Assemblies of God's people work in that same way. Each person has their work to do for God. The divine appointment of each part working together brings blessing to those outside the body and to the assembly itself. When there is discontent and division, the work of God is hindered. We should never abandon the work that God has revealed to us to do for His glory.
Korah’s sin was more than jealousy. He opposed God and encouraged others to do the same. This danger exists in any group of people with different personalities and roles. Assemblies of God’s people, organizations, and even families and marriages can be impacted by those who complain and express discontent against those God has appointed to lead. There is great blessing and joy in the soul, and one can expect divine guidance when obeying God and submitting to His appointed leaders. It is a common human issue that, by nature, people want to control their own lives and sometimes the lives of others rather than submit to authority.
Korah, a Levite who served in the Tabernacle, was not satisfied with his role. He desired the priesthood, leadership, and control. Moses and Aaron carried out their service for God and led His people because God entrusted them with that task and responsibility under His guidance. The conflict between Korah and Aaron’s priesthood shows us that believers have been assigned specific work and are gifted by God to carry it out. It is only by God’s grace that we can accomplish what He has called us to do, relying on His strength rather than our own abilities. When we overstep our God-given roles and responsibilities, conflicts surface, and failure often results.
Some contrasts that influence a person's life and work are: do we want to control others or serve God? Is our motivation to be a servant or to claim the power of "the priesthood"? When someone exaggerates the problems, they usually look in the wrong place for answers. In Korah's case, he found a similar attitude in Dathan, Abiram, and On, who were from the tribe of Reuben. They were probably discontent because they thought, as descendants of the firstborn son of Jacob, they should be in leadership roles. From that group, another two hundred fifty men joined in the rebellion against Moses and Aaron's leadership. The influence of one person can lead to the ruin of many.
One man’s discontent influenced two hundred fifty others, prompting them to say some lofty words: “For all the congregation is holy.” Words may be true, but they can also be spoken incorrectly or in the wrong context to conceal underhanded and darker motives. It is much more beneficial for everyone to express gratitude for the blessings we receive from God through His servants than to feel jealous of their divinely appointed roles.
Once the blame game begins, it’s hard to stop. Dathan and Abiram accused Moses of their own sin and refusal to accept the role given by God. Their comments suggested that Moses wanted to punish them by enforcing justice to bolster his own position. They completely ignored God.
Life's struggles do not give us direction. It is common for those who feel promises are unfulfilled in their desired way to blame others for their own faults. Complaining quickly erodes faith. A lack of faith leads to dissatisfaction. Dissatisfaction fosters skepticism. Skepticism results in grumbling. Grumbling breeds bitterness and resentment. Rebellion follows, leading to hostility, separation, and ultimately, death. God is not the one who causes division and disobedience.
Blessing comes from God, not from discouragement or doubt. When people become disillusioned with how things are or what God has done, it is useless to try to argue or persuade them to change. Some things only God can accomplish. Moses understood this. He recognized that such issues are things only God can handle Himself. His response was to entrust the matter entirely to God. This principle still holds true today, especially in cases like rebellion against divine authority or a designated and established work. Korah wanted the priesthood, not just to serve God in the Tabernacle, but to take control.
We should never abandon what God has revealed to us as His will. Offering incense was a priestly duty. Today, that has been distorted into a perversion of the divine purpose by those who claim a man-made priesthood and offer incense from a man-created religion. The appointment of Moses and Aaron came from God, along with the gift to do what God commanded. When Moses responded from his humbled position on the ground, he handed the entire matter over to the Lord. "The Lord will show... He hath chosen... before the Lord... the man the Lord doth choose."
Korah gathered the support of the entire congregation before confronting Moses at the Tabernacle. The people were ready to rebel against God's chosen leadership, even though it was through Moses’ intercession that God connected with them. The intercession of Moses and Aaron once again saved them from being fully consumed by God's righteous anger.
Even though such a challenge was made against them, Moses and Aaron interceded on behalf of the people. The sarcastic charge that Moses had “gone too far” was met with Moses' own response, who told the rebellious men, “You Levites have gone too far!” The test by fire was set up as a clear and unmistakable sign. Moses understood that the rebellion was against the Lord, and it would be the Lord who would resolve the issue.
The divine presence is the only way to reach the correct conclusion on such a matter. Being content with God's sovereign choice is a principle of Christian service. He appoints both the ministry and those who carry it out. In the case of Korah, desiring the position of high priest is the same as challenging the authority of our High Priest. We have our Great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, and to elevate a man to that position is considered apostasy.
Dathan and Abiram had their own plans, refused to follow Moses' instructions, and rejected his leadership when they declined to come to the Tabernacle. They complained about his leadership by sarcastically questioning him for wanting to be a "prince" over them, just as he had been a prince previously in Egypt. Their view of Egypt was not what they had experienced as slaves. But in their dissent, they challenged Moses' authority.
How quickly the land of slavery and bondage had become to Dathan and Abiram “A land flowing with milk and honey!” Egypt has changed from a prison to a perfect place. When a person who claims to be a child of God fondly longs for the sins of the world, it is evidence that they have either never been born again, do not read the Bible and pray, or “set their affection on things above.”
It is always wise to avoid dissenters whenever possible. Defying God and His appointed servants has serious repercussions. Pride and destruction are closely linked. Divine judgment was shown through the trial by fire and the earth opening beneath those who opposed God's anointed ones. Man, by nature, is an enemy of God and cannot be cured. Ultimately, man will always lose when he challenges God.
When the Lord chooses to act against sin, there is no time to ask questions about why, when, where, or how. His timing for executing divine justice and judgment is based on His sovereign purposes. The only necessary action is to distance oneself as far as possible from the source of the problem. Korah and his family might have left the Tabernacle to go to where Dathan and Abiram, the Reubenites, were, but whether the ground opened up in one place or two is not the main point. They were all removed from the camp and taken into the earth alive.
The two hundred fifty men who were standing in front of the Tabernacle with their censers also died there by fire. From the charred remains of those people, the priests took their censers and made them into bronze sheets for the altar, which would remind everyone who came to the altar afterward of the importance of respecting the God-ordained priesthood.
The next day, judgment fell on the congregation, which sympathized with those who rebelled against God. The residual effect of that rebellious apostate group was felt by everyone in the congregation. Fire from the Lord had consumed two hundred fifty leaders the day before, who had been influenced by Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and On. But the people had not learned anything from that. In sentimental attachment to the apostasy committed right before their eyes, they identified with the evil sinners and opposed those chosen by God. If it hadn't been for Moses knowing his God, they all would have died that day. Moses understood that the role of the priest was to stand between God and the people, so he quickly told Aaron what to do to stop the plague God had sent as judgment upon the ungrateful people.
By standing between the living and the dead with incense that spoke of the fragrance of Christ, Aaron was used by God to prevent the death of the nation. Justice could have destroyed them all. Yet, grace was shown again even though 14,700 more died because of their resistance against God and His servants. We should never think, for a moment, that sin does not have serious consequences. The role God has given me to fulfill should be done wholeheartedly and consistently. When we, as brothers and sisters in Christ, each do what God has assigned us, we will live in harmonious fellowship.
If you believe in Christ, you have been called by God—chosen to serve in a special way in His holy house, regardless of who you are. When the Lord assigns you tasks, set everything else aside and give this work your best effort. Do not covet or claim another person’s responsibilities. When we look at others and think, "They have it better and are more highly thought of than me,” we make a serious mistake. The consequences could be severe, and I would never want to face them, because it is important to God that I serve Him, not just men. Given the role He has designed for me, I have been called to be a true servant of His.
Challenging another person and their work is like claiming they are not God’s chosen individual. Turn away from such thoughts; don’t entertain them. Flee to the Lord in your mind while you still can, and with sincere and heartfelt confession, turn to God in repentance and faith. He will forgive the sin of covetousness or malice if it has occurred. People in the past who lived through such trials lost everything: family, influence, life, possessions—everything they hoped to gain—and ultimately, they lost their own lives.
It really is no different for us today if we covet another man’s role in life. If we desire his influence, prestige, or pay and let darkness enter our souls, we risk losing all God has done for us in His sovereign way, and sin is quick to take its terrible toll. What God truly wanted when He called us to serve was our love and a longing to be near Him. Out of a desire to be what God wants and to love Him supremely, and to serve Him by helping others, I need to keep in mind and daily demonstrate that it is the Master I want to please, not myself.