The issue of divisions in the Corinthians church was pervasive, and so Paul addresses it again:
“But in the following instructions, I cannot praise you. For it sounds as if more harm than good is done when you meet together. 18 First, I hear that there are divisions among you when you meet as a church, and to some extent, I believe it. 19 But, of course, there must be divisions among you so that you who have God’s approval will be recognized!”
1 Corinthians 11:17-19 NLT
Question 1. Why did Paul say that there must be divisions (1 Corinthians 11:19)?
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Paul says that divisions must come to reveal who has God’s approval. We can see this truth illustrated in the Old Testament Scriptures and in the gospel.
There was a particular story in the Old Testament where divisions came into the Israelite camp (Numbers 16), and God used the division to show who had His hand of approval.
Here is how the division came about: “They (Korah, Dathan, and Abiram) incited a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 other leaders of the community, all prominent members of the assembly. 3 They united against Moses and Aaron and said, “You have gone too far! The whole community of Israel has been set apart by the LORD, and he is with all of us. What right do you have to act as though you are greater than the rest of the LORD’s people?” (Numbers 16:2-3).
In this account, we see God’s judgment of those who were creating division was swift and miraculous, as the earth opened up and swallowed all those who were sowing discord (Numbers 16:31-33).
Sadly, these wicked men had sown the seeds of division throughout the camp, and even after watching God put to death its leaders, many people still carried on in rebellion against God’s chosen leaders - Moses and Aaron the High Priest. So God showed who His hand of approval was on in a unique but irrefutable way.
God had the men bring twelve wooden staffs, one for each tribe, and put them in the Tabernacle overnight (Numbers 17:1-4) so that God could show who His chosen leader was. The next day, when they came to check on the staffs, they “found that Aaron’s staff, representing the tribe of Levi, had sprouted, budded, blossomed, and produced ripe almonds!” (Numbers 17:8).
Here were all these dead sticks, twelve of them, placed in the Tabernacle overnight, but in the morning, one was miraculously alive and producing fruit! The staff of the one who had God’s approval, Aaron, the High Priest, was no longer dead but alive, beautiful, and fruitful.
Question 2. How does this story in Numbers 17 reveal the gospel?
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This story reveals the gospel of Jesus Christ because Jesus died for our sins and, like Aaron's staff, He was put in the appointed place. But early Sunday morning, as the women made their way to the grave to pay their respects, Jesus was miraculously alive! And now He would be producing fruit through this gospel (Colossians 1:6). God vindicated Christ through His resurrection (1 Timothy 3:16), showing His hand of approval was on Jesus, our great High Priest, and not the Pharisees who had killed Him.
Divisions will arise in the church, and opposition will continue to come against God's anointed servants. Some will say, "Hey, we all have God's Word; who does this pastor think he is to assume leadership? We can run this church by ourselves!" Such instances are severe trials for God's servants, and yet God has ways to vindicate those who are called to preach the gospel and, in due course, will demonstrate publicly the one on whom His hand of approval rests.
We learn from 1 Corinthians 11:19 that divisions sometimes arise as opportunities for God to indicate the leader He has chosen. Numbers 16 and 17 illustrate this truth, but the cross and resurrection of Jesus bring this truth home to our hearts in the most powerful way.
Question 3. Considering 1 Corinthians 11:19, what are your thoughts about divisions that arise in the body of Christ? Please share.
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