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Korah's Rebellion - Numbers 16
Korah's Rebellion - Numbers 16
Moses was chosen of God. In fact, Moses had tried to make himself 'unchosen', wanting NOT to be the one who would lead God's people. God overruled him. God 'confirmed' him as the chosen leader with signs and wonders done in connection with him. God had put his 'stamp of approval' upon the leadership of Moses.
God had also chosen the Levites for special service unto Him. Thus, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram were granted their own place before God among the rest of Israel. Such apparently was 'not enough', at least not for them (cp. vs. 9). They gathered 250 others with them and assembled against Moses and Aaron. They were 'chosen in the assembly', that is, they had the support of the people as 'men of renown' (cp. N. 16:2). With such a mindset, they rose up against Moses. Their rebellion was based upon two concepts: 1) ALL of Israel are HOLY (and thus can approach God), and 2) Moses had assumed such position for himself apart from God's choosing.
Again, rather than answering for himself and making it his word against theirs, Moses allows God to speak: "Tomorrow morning the LORD will show who is His, and who is holy, and will bring him near to Himself; even the one whom He will choose, He will bring near to Himself" (16:5). God DOES show; by opening the earth and having these rebels 'swallowed up'.
Korah does get mentioned in the New Testament! In warning of false teachers who 'reject authority' and 'revile things which they do not understand", Jude tells us to recall those who "perished in the rebellion of Korah" (Jude 11). As God chose Moses in the Old Testament, so He has chosen the apostles and prophets of the New Testament. As Moses gave the people God's word than, SO the chosen apostles and prophets have given us God's word today. As Korah presumed to speak for God even though he was NOT chosen of God for that, SO men today who are not chosen to speak for God often presume to 'speak for God'.
Are you like Korah? How often do we think more highly of ourselves than we should? How often the blessings of God are deemed to be 'not enough' for us?
Hugh DeLong
