Sunday
September 28
1. TWO ITEMS MISSING!
a. What three items were inside the ark of the covenant? Hebrews 9:3, 4.
b. By the time the Temple was built in Solomon’s day, what two items were missing? 2 Chronicles 5:10. What happened later to the entire ark?
“God promised Solomon, if he would remain faithful, and his people would obey all His commandments, that that glorious temple should stand forever in all its splendor, as an evidence of the prosperity and exalted blessings resting upon Israel for their obedience.
“Because of Israel’s transgression of the commandments of God and their wicked acts, God suffered them to go into captivity, to humble and punish them. Before the temple was destroyed, God made known to a few of His faithful servants the fate of the temple, which was the pride of Israel, and which they regarded with idolatry, while they were sinning against God. He also revealed to them the captivity of Israel. These righteous men, just before the destruction of the temple, removed the sacred ark containing the tables of stone, and with mourning and sadness secreted it in a cave where it was to be hid from the people of Israel because of their sins, and was to be no more restored to them. That sacred ark is yet hid. It has never been disturbed since it was secreted.”–The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, p. 414.
Monday
September 29
2. THE HEAVENLY ARK COMPLETE
a. Has the sacred ark of the covenant ever been restored to God’s true and faithful people now looking to the heavenly sanctuary? Revelation 11:19. What about the items that were missing on earth?
“God’s people are now to have their eyes fixed on the heavenly sanctuary, where the final ministration of our great High Priest in the work of the judgment is going forward–where He is interceding for His people.”–Evangelism, p. 223.
“In the holiest I saw an ark; on the top and sides of it was purest gold. On each end of the ark was a lovely cherub, with its wings spread out over it. Their faces were turned toward each other, and they looked downward. Between the angels was a golden censer. Above the ark, where the angels stood, was an exceeding bright glory, that appeared like a throne where God dwelt. Jesus stood by the ark, and as the saints’ prayers came up to Him, the incense in the censer would smoke, and He would offer up their prayers with the smoke of the incense to His Father. In the ark was the golden pot of manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of stone which folded together like a book.”–Early Writings, p. 32.
b. Seeing that the missing items have been restored, what hopeful aim should come to our heart? Psalm 94:14–16.
“Satan has laid every measure possible that nothing shall come among us as a people to reprove and rebuke us, and exhort us to put away our errors. But there is a people who will bear the ark of God. Some will go out from among us who will bear the ark no longer. But these cannot make walls to obstruct the truth; for it will go onward and upward to the end. In the past God has raised up men, and He still has men of opportunity waiting, prepared to do His bidding–men who will go through restrictions which are only as walls daubed with untempered mortar. When God puts His Spirit upon men, they will work. They will proclaim the word of the Lord; they will lift up their voice like a trumpet. The truth will not be diminished or lose its power in their hands. They will show the people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins.”–Testimonies to Ministers, p. 411.
Tuesday
September 30
3. RESPONSIBILITIES IN LEADERSHIP
a. In ancient Israel, who had appointed Moses and Aaron to their responsibilities? Exodus 3:7–10; 4:14–17.
“Moses heard the call from heaven to exchange his shepherd’s crook for the rod of authority; to leave his flock of sheep and take the leadership of Israel. The divine command found him self-distrustful, slow of speech, and timid. . . . But he accepted the work, putting his whole trust in the Lord.”–The Ministry of Healing, p. 475.
“God appointed Moses to lead out His people from their bondage in the land of Egypt. . . . Moses was their visible Leader, while Christ stood at the head of the armies of Israel, their invisible leader. If they could have always realized this they would not have rebelled and provoked God in the wilderness by their unreasonable murmurings.”–The Review and Herald, March 3, 1874.
b. What example shows our responsibility toward those whom God has called to be leaders? Against whom are we rebelling if we reject them–particularly when principle is not involved? 1 Samuel 24:5, 6, 10; 26:9; 1 Timothy 5:17.
“The conduct of David toward Saul has a lesson. By command of God, Saul had been anointed as king over Israel. Because of his disobedience the Lord declared that the kingdom should be taken from him; and yet how tender and courteous and forbearing was the conduct of David toward him!”–The Ministry of Healing, p. 484.
“To neglect or despise those whom God has appointed to bear the responsibilities of leadership in connection with the advancement of the truth, is to reject the means that He has ordained for the help, encouragement, and strength of His people.”–The Acts of the Apostles, p. 164.
c. Since God selects these individuals to their specific tasks, when are they free to let go of such responsibilities? 1 Corinthians 9:16.
“The humble shepherd’s life of Moses had been far more peaceful and happy than his present position as leader of that vast assembly of turbulent spirits. Yet Moses dared not choose. In place of a shepherd’s crook a rod of power had been given him, which he could not lay down until God should release him.”–Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 396.
Wednesday
October 1
4. WANTING CONTROL
a. Who was Korah? Numbers 16:1; Exodus 6:18, 20.
“Korah, the leading spirit in this [deep-laid conspiracy] movement, was a Levite, of the family of Kohath, and a cousin of Moses; he was a man of ability and influence.”–Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 395.
b. While holding a high position in the government of Israel, what additional position did Korah want? Numbers 16:8–10.
“Though appointed to the service of the tabernacle, he had become dissatisfied with his position and aspired to the dignity of the priesthood.”–Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 395.
“The Lord knew that Korah was rebellious at heart, and was secretly at work against Moses in the congregation of Israel, although his rebellion had not yet developed itself. . . . Korah was not satisfied with his position. He was connected with the service of the tabernacle, yet he desired to be exalted to the priesthood. God had established Moses as chief governor, and the priesthood was given to Aaron and his sons. Korah determined to compel Moses to change the order of things, whereby he should be raised to the dignity of the priesthood. To be more sure of accomplishing his purpose, he drew Dathan and Abiram, the descendants of Reuben, into his rebellion.”–The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, p. 296.
c. How does one arrive at such a position of rebellion? Proverbs 16:18; 27:4; 1 Timothy 6:4.
“Korah and his fellow conspirators were men who had been favored with special manifestations of God’s power and greatness. They were of the number who went up with Moses into the mount and beheld the divine glory. But since that time a change had come. A temptation, slight at first, had been harbored, and had strengthened as it was encouraged, until their minds were controlled by Satan, and they ventured upon their work of disaffection. Professing great interest in the prosperity of the people, they first whispered their discontent to one another and then to leading men of Israel. Their insinuations were so readily received that they ventured still further, and at last they really believed themselves to be actuated by zeal for God.”–Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 396, 397.
Thursday
October 2
5. GREATER FOLLY WHEN FOREWARNED
a. Explain the uprising of Korah. Numbers 16:1–3.
“A deep-laid conspiracy was formed, the result of a determined purpose to overthrow the authority of the leaders appointed by God Himself.”–Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 395.
“Jealousy had given rise to envy, and envy to rebellion. [Korah, Dathan, and Abiram] had discussed the question of the right of Moses to so great authority and honor, until they had come to regard him as occupying a very enviable position, which any of them could fill as well as he. And they deceived themselves and one another into thinking that Moses and Aaron had themselves assumed the positions they held.”–Ibid., p. 397.
b. How does God refer to rebellion? 1 Samuel 15:22, 23. What should our attitude be toward those in responsibility? Hebrews 13:5, 17 (margin).
“It is hardly possible for men to offer greater insult to God than to despise and reject the instrumentalities He would use for their salvation. The Israelites had not only done this, but had purposed to put both Moses and Aaron to death.”– Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 402.
c. How does God prepare us to face temptation? 1 Corinthians 10:11–13; John 15:22. What event had God allowed to warn Israel? Numbers 12:1–16.
“He who reads the secrets of all hearts had marked the purposes of Korah and his companions and had given His people such warning and instruction as might have enabled them to escape the deception of these designing men. They had seen the judgment of God fall upon Miriam because of her jealousy and complaints against Moses.”–Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 396.
d. Had Moses incited a rebellious attitude in the people by an overbearing type of leadership or rule? Numbers 12:3.
Friday
October 3
REVIEW AND THOUGHT QUESTIONS
1. Has the ark, taken away at the time of the Babylonian captivity, ever been restored to God’s people–and if so, in what sense?
2. When God places individuals in a leadership role in His church, when are they free to leave such responsibilities?
3. As relatives of Moses and Aaron, for what offices did Korah, Dathan, and Abiram yearn?
4. What is the real act or the process of rebellion?
5. What kind of leader was Moses?
“The discontented ones said that [Moses and Aaron] had exalted themselves above the congregation of the Lord, in taking upon them the priesthood and government, but their house was not entitled to distinction above others in Israel; they were no more holy than the people, and it should be enough for them to be on a level with their brethren.”–Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 397.
“In the rebellion of Korah is seen the working out, upon a narrower stage, of the same spirit that led to the rebellion of Satan in heaven. It was pride and ambition that prompted Lucifer to complain of the government of God, and to seek the overthrow of the order which had been established in heaven. Since his fall it has been his object to infuse the same spirit of envy and discontent, the same ambition for position and honor, into the minds of men. He thus worked on the minds of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, to arouse the desire for self-exaltation and excite envy, distrust, and rebellion. Satan caused them to reject God as their leader, by rejecting the men of God’s appointment. Yet while in their murmuring against Moses and Aaron they blasphemed God, they were so deluded as to think themselves righteous, and to regard those who had faithfully reproved their sins as actuated by Satan.”–Ibid., p. 403.
“All rebellion against God is directly due to satanic influence. Those who set themselves against the government of God have entered into an alliance with the archapostate, and he will exercise his power and cunning to captivate the senses and mislead the understanding. He will cause everything to appear in a false light.”–Ibid., p. 635.
“From the very infancy of this world God has been with His obedient children. We must show that we have confidence in God, and make it manifest to the world that we can trust Him because we believe in Him. His word is pledged that there shall no temptation come upon us, but that help shall be provided to sustain us.”–The Review and Herald, April 15, 1890.