Korah’s Rebellion

2024-03-01

Korah, with other men including Dathan, Abiram, On, together with 250 princes, said to Moses and Aaron, “Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?” (Numbers 16:3).

These men wanted to have power they perceived Moses and Aaron had. They believed that the authority of Moses and Aaron was self-ordained and not designated by God. Recall that we read in a previous chapter, “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3). He did not give himself power, but he rather was very reluctant to take the position he had at the burning bush. We see this humility in his response to Korah, “And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face” (Numbers 16:4).

Now Korah, a Levite, held his tabernacle responsibility with disdain, as Moses indicated, “Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?” (Numbers 16:9). Korah wanted more than what he was entrusted with.

Dathan and Abiram would not even listen to Moses’ reasoning and would not talk with him. Moses prayed imprecatory prayer against them. “And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them” (Numbers 16:15).

The 250 princes were told to each take a censer and bring it before the LORD. They were all destroyed. The congregation was told to give space, and Korah and the others were swallowed by the earth, which broke open under their feet. “But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD” (Numbers 16:30).

All Israel first fled in fear. Then, they returned in anger and gathered against Moses and Aaron. Though a plague went out against them, Aaron made atonement for them. There died 14,700 of them other than in the initial rebellion.

The budding of Aaron’s rod made the whole matter clear, that God ordained Aaron and his sons as priests. Leadership comes from God.

Understand what this all means. Rebelling against the leadership God has established has grave consequences. Also, when the Lord extends grace, as He did through Moses His prophet to Dathan and Abiram, and that grace is rejected, there is nothing but destruction left for them. If Jesus Christ is rejected, how much worse is it for such a one?

In the New Testament, Korah was made an example of a false prophet: “Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core” (Jude 1:11). Prophets that are in Christian ministry to have power and authority are false prophets.