Korah
Numbers 16:1-18:32
We see the enemy at work causing jealousy and envy among God’s people. Korah is a Levite (in the Priestly line) and he and his two sons have decided that they are not going to follow Moses the way God wants. These guys decide to rise up and rebel against Moses and ultimately God. The men sway upwards of 250 people in the community to rise up against leadership as well.
Moses quickly sees what is going on and falls on his face exclaiming, that God will show them who is Holy. Moses understands that these men have taken their leadership role way out of line. These are men that God has entrusted to take care of His dwelling place by setting them apart to do so. Moses sends for the sons of Korah, but they would not come. The sons thought it was unfair that Moses is forcing them to die out in the wilderness. Moses asks them all to bring a sacrifice to the Lord at the entrance of the tabernacle. They all gather and the presence of the Lord appears and He tells Moses and Aaron to back away from these people, that He is going to destroy them. Moses tells all the followers, that if they don’t want to be killed, they need to move away from Korah and his sons and anything that belongs to them. Moses reiterates, that if the people move away, they will be saved from death. Moses begins to tell the people that what is to come is not his actions, but the actions of God and He will open the ground and allow all those that opposed Moses to be swallowed up. The ground suddenly opens and swallows the followers of Korah, their homes and all that they had.
Word began to quickly spread and the people began to place the blame on Moses for what happened. The people were saying that Moses himself had annihilated God’s people. God who hears and sees all, immediately tells Moses, to back away, that He will destroy them all. God sends a plague and the people fall on their faces, Moses tells Aaron to perform a ritual for atonement. Over 14,000 people vanished because of the jealousy and envy that took over Korah.
Now, God tells Moses to gather the leaders of teach of the 12-tribes. He tells them to inscribe on a staff each of the names. God tells them that the staff of the one He chose would sprout. Aaron’s staff sprouted almond blossoms.
God then tells Moses to leave Aaron’s rod in front of the people as a sign for the rebellious. “Those who complain of Me must stop complaining or they die.”
Suddenly, the Israelites were scared and worried, that they all were doomed to die.
The Lord said to Aaron, “You and your sons shall be the priesthood. You shall take charge of the altar and partake of all the sacred offerings. All that the people bring to God shall be yours, including the best oils and the first fruits, but the first-born male and all the unclean animals must be redeemed according to value. You shall have all these sacred gifts set aside for the Lord, but you shall have no share of the land among the people. I am your portion and your share among the Israelites.”
God continued to Aaron, “The sons of Levi shall have the tithe, and donation, as their inheritance for the work that they do in the Sanctuary. Thus the Children of Israel shall not approach the Tent of Appointed Meeting and die. You shall take one-tenth of all the tithes as a gift to the Lord. This shall be your contribution. You shall take the best portions for the Lord. Do not profane the sacred donations of the Israelites lest you die.”
This is a serious time for the people. We see the enemy at work causing jealousy and envy. I see this in our world today. God appoints someone in a leadership role and those that don’t like what is happening places blame and causes destruction. We are no different, many think they are an entitled society just like Korah and his followers.
Blessings & Shalom ~ Deena
