Falling Into Hell

FALLING INTO HELL

Numb. 16:28-34

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. An optimist and a pessimist spent a week together on a tropical island. “Isn’t this ocean just amazing?” the optimist said. “The endless horizon, the crashing waves, the soft sand...it makes you appreciate the beauty of our planet.”

2. The pessimist said, “I don’t think that rescue plane saw us.” [R.D. July-Aug., 2022: Caleb York; Queens N.Y.]

B. TEXT

28 Then Moses said, “This is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea: 29 If these men die a natural death and suffer the fate of all mankind, then the Lord has not sent me. 30 But if the Lord brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the realm of the dead, then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt.” 31 As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions. 33 They went down alive into the realm of the dead, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. 34 At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, “The earth is going to swallow us too!” Numb. 16:28-34

C. THESIS

1. In Numbers 16, we have the rebellions of Dathan and Abiram, who challenged Moses’ leadership, and the rebellion of Korah and his company, who wanted to usurp Aaron’s ministry.

2. We’re looking at a group who went straight down into Hell. For those who say, “That’s Old Testament; we’re New Testament,” let me remind you that Jesus said more about hell than about any other topic. Amazingly, 13 percent of his sayings are about hell and judgment. [Mark Driscoll, “6 Questions on Hell”] So this is a N.T. subject!

3. The title of this message is “Falling Into Hell.”

I. THE DANGER OF WICKED ASSOCIATIONS

A. WHEN DOES SIN CONTAMINATE?

1. God had Moses give public warning to the congregation to get away from the tents of the rebels. Moses had interceded to God not to destroy the whole congregation, many of whom were sympathetic to the insurrection. God said He wouldn’t if the Israelites separated themselves from the wicked people.

2. Often people think that it’s okay to develop close friendships with wicked people as long as they aren’t participating in their sins. Paul refuted this idea, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?” 2 Cor. 6:14-15.

3. Yes, God hates the sin and loves the sinner, but at some point, the sin contaminates the person and makes even the sinner an abomintion to God. God says, “Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. Regard it as vile and utterly detest it, for it is set apart for destruction” Deut. 7:26. (Ps. 55:15)

B. GOD DISAPPROVES OF EVIL ASSOCIATIONS

1. 1 Cor. 15:33, “Bad company corrupts good character.” 1 Th. 5:22, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” Prov. 13:20, “He that walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm” NIV 1984.

2. As good of a king as Jehoshaphat was, he incurred the wrath of God by associating with the wicked King Ahab. “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, the wrath of the Lord is on you” 2 Chron. 19:2.

3. In Num. 16:23, the Lord told Moses to tell the Israelites to move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. “Do not touch anything belonging to them, or you will be swept away because of all their sins.” (Num. 16:24-26).

4. Beware thinking you won’t be contaminated. Jude warns, “Save others, snatching them out of the fire; and to yet others, show mercy, but with fear, hating even the clothes stained by their vices” (1:23, CJB). “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you” 2 Cor. 6:17.

II. GOD’S MERCY EVEN IN JUDGMENT

A. JUDGMENT LIMITED TO 3 FAMILIES

1. Moses had summoned Dathan & Abiram to come discuss their grievances, but they accused him of intending to gouge out their eyes or make them his slaves -- which they used as their excuse to refuse to come (Num. 16:12-14). They said Moses had no right to rule over them or Israel!