Korah…and his sons.
Numbers 16:1-3 “Now Korah,….the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram…the sons of Reuben, took men:
And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly…men of renown:
And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, 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?”
Now we all know the story of Korah (he is spoken of in 2 Peter and in Jude concerning rebellion and apostasy):
He and his friends decided that Moses and Aaron were setting themselves above the people. They said, “Hadn’t God said they were all holy?”
(Actually, He had said to be holy….Leviticus 19:2)
“So why was only Moses’ word to be followed,…..and Aaron chosen for the priesthood? We, too, should be able to come before God…like them!”
(“And do what we think is right, instead of listening to Moses”….is really what they wanted)
It was sad, because Korah…the leader….was a Levite. He had a particular ministry with the Tabernacle….for they were to bear the holy things in the travels of the children of Israel (Numbers 4:3-4,15)…
….but as is so often….he was not satisfied with the work or place the Lord had given him.
(Our innate rebellion is against God’s Creative Authority….
Romans 9:20 “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to HIm that formed it, Why hast Thou made me thus?”
How much is said in this! If we will but bow to the Creator and HIs Will for us….peace instead of conflict within….a settled rest instead of contentious dissatisfaction!)
So the rebellion spread…and among some of the great princes of the congregation. (And how easy it is, when anger and jealousy are around, to feel the same…and get involved in those things!)
Numbers 16:5 “And he (Moses) spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even tomorrow the Lord will shew who are His, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto Him: even him whom He hath chosen will He cause to come near unto Him.”
Moses spake unto Korah, and those gathered with him….and he sent unto Dathan and Abiram to come and hear what the Lord says, to them as well….
Numbers 16:12 “And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram,….which said, We will not come up:”
So the next day…
Numbers 16:19 “And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the Tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the congregation.”
The rebellion has gained hearers….the whole congregation comes….
The Lord appears…and suggests that He will consume the whole congregation, if Moses and Aaron will get away from them!
But Moses and Aaron fall on their faces and cry for mercy for the congregation!
(How different an attitude than those gathered against them!)
God will speak to spare the congregation…..but will not spare the ones who have started this rebellion….for you see, it was never really about Moses and Aaron…..it was always really against the Lord and His Ways.
Numbers 16:25-27 “And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.
And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.
So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood in the door of the their tents,…”
Now I want to explain….repentance has been suggested by Moses all the way along.
First, he chides Korah for seeking a position that God did not intend for him.
Then, he calls Dathan and Abiram up to the Tabernacle to stand with the others of their rebellion….(this might have saved their families)
Finally, he warns all who are standing about….undecided about who to follow….to get away from these “wicked men”. “Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.”
God’s mercy often speaks again and again….but then when warnings are unheeded….(and in this case, even mocked)….then chastening and judgment for those who continue in flagrant wickedness will come.
Moses then announces that…
….”If these men die a normal death….God hath not sent him. But if the Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up….and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men….have provoked the Lord.”
Numbers 16:31-33 “And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:
And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.
They,…went down alive into the pit,…and they perished from among the congregation.”
(Shortly after this all the rods of the princes of the tribes…and Aaron’s rod was brought before the Ark, overnight….each with their name written upon them.
Only Aaron’s rod budded,…and blossoms….and yielded almonds! (Numbers 17:7-9)
God chose to not judge those still troubled with the contamination of Korah’s jealousy…..but to use a sign of blessing…to encourage them to receive His Word, and submit to HIs Will.
Aaron was not chosen because he was a superior man….or more holy than the others.
Aaron was chosen…..by God, for HIs own purpose…
[as we all are…2 Timothy 1:9 “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”]
…and He does not rule by popular demand….but by His Will and Word.)
But this message was….Korah, and his sons….
….so let us consider his sons.
It is true, that some of Korah’s sons perished in the sin of their father…..sad but true that where we lead, even in sin….our children often follow.
But it is equally true that some “gat away” from these wicked men….and perished not.
Numbers 26:11 “Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.”
1 Chronicles 6:31-37 “And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of the Lord, after that the Ark had rest…..they ministered before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing….
….Heman a singer,…the son of Korah,”
These sons of Korah, the rebel….took Moses words and heard aright. They ran from the sin of their father….and went into the land of promise (1 Chronicles 6:33-37)
Many generations later …. they became the “sons of Korah” you read of in the Psalms 42, 44, 45-49, 84-85,87…singers of God’s praise in the Tabernacle and Temple!
How much we,…. like the sons of Korah,….who have been delivered from going down into the pit…by the Word of warning to us….
…..should become singers….praising God before others.
Korah rebelled and refused the extended mercy for repentance…..
….but his sons…ran from his sin, when warned….and became a legacy of praise to God.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 