Korah's Rebellion (Numbers 16)

All right, well, I guess it's about 630 so time to get started if you would turn to numbers chapter 16. Numbers chapter 16 and for the sake of time, we're only going to play verses 1 through 13 on the video, but let's open in prayer heavenly father.

We are thankful for All that you've done in our lives and conforming us to the image of Christ. And father I pray that you would keep us safe from temptation. Keep this church safe from influences from the world things that would hinder us things that would Affect our walk things that would lead us astray.

And and father we're thankful that the things that we've read about in numbers with the rebellions and the the fighting between one faction versus another that we haven't seen this at Morse Corner Church, at least Not as far as anyone can remember.

So Lord we're just thankful for all that you do and Add a blessing to your word this evening as we as we study it. We pray it all in Jesus name.

Amen.

The Rebellion of Korah in Numbers 16

All right numbers. Chapter.

16.

Now Korah the son of Isha the son of Kohath the son of Levi With Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliad and on the son of Peleth Sons of Reuben took men and they rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel 250 leaders of the congregation representatives of the congregation men of renown.

They gathered together against Moses and Aaron and said to them you take too much upon yourselves. For all the congregation is holy Every one of them and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?

So when Moses heard it he fell on his face and he spoke to Kota and all his company.

Tomorrow morning the Lord will show who is his and who is holy will cause him To come near to him that one whom he chooses. He will cause to come near to him. Do this. Take censers Korah and all your company put fire in them and Put incense in them before the Lord tomorrow.

And it shall be That the man whom the Lord chooses is the Holy One. Too much upon yourselves. You sons of Levi. And Moses said to Kota here now you sons of Levi Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel have separated you from the congregation of Israel?

To bring you near to himself To do the work of the tabernacle of the Lord and To stand before the congregation to serve them and that he has brought you nearer to himself. You and all your brethren. The sons of Levi with you.

Are you seeking the priesthood also?

Therefore.

You and all your company are gathered together against the Lord.

And what is Aaron that you complain against him. And Moses sent to call Dathan and a Byron the sons of Eliab.

But they said we will not come up. Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of the land flowing with milk and honey? To kill us in the wilderness that you should keep acting like a prince over us.

Okay, so we're gonna stop here. And I don't know about you I guess I can't prove this but just the way they're talking to each other is very calm and and Polite and I just don't think that's the way this went.

I don't know I think I think it was a little different, but we'll see. All right, so numbers chapter 16 Records a significant event in the wilderness wanderings of the children of Israel. This is the rebellion of Korah.

We've already seen several rebellions up until this point. But I think this one at least to me is the most memorable if for no other reason because of how the Lord Deals with it. So Korah gathers 250 men important men.

Representatives leaders look at verse 3 again. They gathered together against Moses and Aaron and said to them you take too much upon yourselves. For all the congregation is holy. Every one of them in the Lord is among them.

Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord? So that's the accusation against Moses and Aaron that they have exalted themselves. Okay. So first of all, who are these men. Korah is a Levite.

And based on his lineage and based on what's written about him in numbers chapter He would have been a very important man in the nation. He would have played a significant role in the ministry of the tabernacle.

So to put it in modern terms, you could say that Korah is a high-ranking official and you know How it is some people they get a little taste of power or influence and they're not satisfied. They want to be numero uno and I think that's Partly what's happening here and really there's no shortage of people that are upset with Moses.

So he probably figures this is the perfect time. There is just that Defeat the children of Israel. This is the perfect time to stir up a rebellion. So he takes these men from the tribe of Reuben Dathan and a Byron.

So these are the three ringleaders Korah Nate Dathan and a Byron and then 250 men. Total so Moses they say has exalted himself. Is that true? Has Moses exalted himself? Now who exalted Moses. Well the Lord.

The Lord did the Lord selected Moses all the way back in Exodus chapter 3 right? We've talked about this many times. He didn't even want this position. But the Lord chose him. So Moses without question is God's man.

And Aaron is like the number two and his sons Aaron and his sons held the priesthood but as far as Korah is concerned Korah thinks he should be a priest too and He probably figures he should be the leader of the nation as well.

So he is usurping or trying to usurp the authority of Moses.

And.

Aaron so this is we're gonna call this an attempted coup this is what he's trying to do because this is a nation remember and the government is Moses and there's a mixture of the religion and the government so if he can overthrow Moses and Aaron He's gonna be the one in Charge, so his angle is like many revolutionaries throughout history.

He claims to be a man of the people his pitch is that Moses and Aaron have kind of taken too much for themselves and All the congregation is holy. So really we should just let the people rule. Now this statement that Moses and Aaron have taken too much upon themselves. This sort of sounds familiar doesn't it because That's what?

Jethro had said that Moses was doing too much and this thing that you're doing is not good. So Moses needs to learn how to delegate and we've talked about the 70 elders that were appointed. But that's not really what Cora is saying.

That would be reasonable. But what Cora is saying Basically is that you know, you had your chance leading the nation you failed and now it's our turn. So Moses the Moses administration has to go and the Cora administration Will come in any questions so far.

No. Yeah, Larry. Where?

Where was. I know I just read it recently about Aaron's two oldest sons. That were right.

Profane fire.

Nadab in a bayou. Yeah, we looked at that a ways back, right? Yeah, I mean there's gonna be a tie-in there. That's not too much too long ago, yeah. Cora's obviously forgotten all about that.

Like what about the guy that Marcus alluded to. That was what we went over last week, right?

The man who broke the Sabbath and was stoned. Yeah. Yeah. Well Cora figures he has a lot of popular support and you know what he does. He does it if the Lord did not intervene. Who knows? What would have happened, right?

So we we know better we it's easy for us because we've. Most of us have heard this before we've read this story before we can kind of step back and look at this. Objectively, we know what the scripture says.

We know Moses is God's appointed leader. We know that this kind of thing isn't going to work and why don't the people just learn already? Haven't they seen this happen before they but think of it if you were there.

We're looking at it, you know in hindsight. If you were there in the wilderness hungry dissatisfied maybe you would have Bought into Cora's argument. So it's kind of easy for us To say that this is foolish and it is.

But if you were there, that's another story. So this is his. Yeah, right.

That generation is gonna die in the wilderness.

Yeah.

Right, that's what they were told. Yeah, and they what they want to go back to Egypt they don't want to die in the wilderness. They want to go back to Egypt that that's better in their mind. So this is his pitch that all of God's people are.

Holy.

In other words, you know power to the people right. And as Americans. Maybe this sounds good to us, you know, we the people right. Only that Never ends up being the case. Leaders may be called public servants, but usually they end up serving themselves.

But if there was ever a man who is a true Servant leader it was Moses. Of course. G who is the ultimate servant leader? Jesus. He came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.

Mary.

Yeah, yeah.

Moses had that desire that all God's people would be prophets.

Right.

So Moses is not just power hungry and looking to hold on to his position. He is doing God's will. God gave him this authority and Moses is just carrying out God's orders. That's obviously not how they're looking at it, though.

But yeah, if there is ever a true servant leader other than Jesus Moses is that servant leader? You consider what Moses gave up. He gave up a life of luxury as a prince of Egypt to defend his people. He didn't want the job.

We already said that he's constantly interceding on behalf of this people that are not grateful and The Bible calls him God considers Moses to be the most humble man on the earth. That cannot be said for Korah.

Korah is not Humble so he uses this popular sentiment to kind of stir everybody up and he says for all the Congregation is holy every one of them in the Lord is among them. Now is that true just that statement that all the congregation is holy?

Okay, does anyone say yes, that is true. All right. Well, it's an interesting argument because if you've been following along in the book of Numbers they certainly haven't been acting very holy. That's for sure.

And I think you can almost look at this as an early case of ear tickling. Right. Korah is flattering the people. He's telling them what they want to hear. You know, this Moses guy is always preaching about sin and with Moses.

There's these plagues and judgments. You know Moses is like a Baptist preacher preaching about God's wrath and sin and Forget all that. I'm here to tell you that you're actually good people. You're you're actually holy, you know, God's favor is among you so in some ways Korah is like a prototype of a false prophet and In the book of Jude when Jude speaks about apostates and false Prophets he mentions the game saying of Korah.

So Korah is probably a lot more popular among the people at this point than Moses. But again, who's the Moses has the truth on his side. He has the Lord on his side.

Yes, Marcus. Don't you think the guy gathering sticks? It was stone was also a prototype. That was the word I was kind of looking for. Yeah a.

Prototype for All. Right. Well if you come up with they'll let me know. Yeah, he's a prototype for something I'm sure. So, you know, but at the same time you say all the congregation is holy. They haven't been acting like it, but you know, there's a little truth to every lie, isn't there?

God has set the children of Israel apart. So there is a sense where it could be said of them that they are Set apart unto God that they are a holy Congregation.

But.

False prophets have a way of taking something that's true and putting a spin on it and twisting it into a lie and the lie. That he's putting out there is that Moses shouldn't be in charge. So he's using something that's sort of true to say something.

That's. That's false and Aaron and his son should not be the only ones allowed to serve as priest. I should be a priest too. All right, so that's what's happening. Look at verse 4. When Moses heard this he fell on his face and he spoke to Korah and all his company saying tomorrow morning.

The Lord will show who is his and who is holy and will cause him to come near to him. That one whom he chooses he will cause to come near to him do this. He says take sensors Korah and all your company and he goes on now.

What's the purpose of the sensor? What is the sensor? Yeah, it's one of the pans. Right, you have the fire and the incense. So the sensor you would offer up incense to God. This is the main function of the priest to offer incense to God.

So Moses falls on his face. What's what is he doing. He's turning to the Lord Lord you. You handle this you deal with this. So we'll let the Lord settle this. Okay, Korah. You think that you can be a priest?

Okay, go ahead and offer up some incense and let's see how how this shakes out. Moses is allowing this experiment to play out because he knows God is going to vindicate him. He has no doubt about this the people.

They should know they should know better but you know how it is. There's people in churches today who they know what the Bible says. They know what's true. Doesn't mean they do it, right? So the Lord this is what Larry was talking about the Lord struck down they should have remembered this the Lord.

Well, he consumed a dab in a bayou the two elder sons of Aaron when they offered strange fire unto the Lord. What happened the fire of the Lord consumed them so Korah should have thought about that but.

But he didn't so in verse 7 Moses says to Korah. You take too much upon yourselves you son of Levi and this is where I can just imagine them. You know kind of yelling at each other. That's the accusation against Moses.

You take too much upon yourself. He says no you take too much upon Yourself. In other words you accuse me or us of this wrongdoing. You're the ones who are guilty and this time you've gone too far. So Korah is the one Ironically trying to exalt himself and this is Another thing that always happens.

Evil people they will accuse others of what they're doing, right?

So.

Korah is not just turning against Moses because Moses is God's man. Who is this rebellion really against? Well, it's against God. In Philippians 2 3 the Apostle Paul says let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit.

But in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than.

Himself.

If Korah just put that principle into practice he could have lived out his life and served the tabernacle and served the Lord and Been blessed by God him and his family, but he got to thinking that hey, I can do just as good a job as Moses I can do just as good a job as as Aaron and sometimes.

You know if someone's in leadership and well, I want to be in leadership. So the so the tendency is to kind of knock them down to exalt Yourself, but you should ask the question. Well, if I'm the one who should be in leadership How come I'm not in?

Leadership.

So Korah is obviously in it for himself. What's Korah's main issue. What's the root of all this. It might be the root cause of every sin. Yeah, what's the sin itself. Pride. Right, this is what Lucifer wanted.

He wanted to be like God. And he should have known better. But he fell because of his pride. Same thing with Korah. Moses is God's man his representative. No Korah. Korah wants to be number one. So the Israelites all had a role to play.

And actually Korah and the Levites they had a very important job to do. You could say that Korah had a very exalted Position just like Lucifer had a an exalted position. Well Korah had that too in the service of the tabernacle.

And Moses goes on to explain this look at verse 9. He says to Korah is it a small thing to you that The god of israel has separated you from the congregation of israel to bring you near to himself To do the work of the tabernacle of the lord.

And to stand before the congregation to serve him. And that he has brought you near to himself you and all your brethren the sons of levi with you. And you are seeking the priesthood also.

So.

It just wasn't enough for him. So they were supposed to work together. Uh, the levites because remember korah is a levite. So there's the levites and the priests. What's the difference between levites and aren't.

Aren't they the same? Or what's the difference. You tell me who wants to explain to everybody?

All the all the priests are levites, but not all the levites are priests.

Good.

So everybody caught that. Yeah, all the priests are levites, but not all levites were priests. To be a priest you had to. You had to be a levite, but you had to be more specifically you had to be a son of aaron.

Okay.

So the priests and the levites. The levites were to assist. The priests. And we talked about this I think back in chapter 28 of exodus the comparison of the priests and levites. Trying to because i'm always trying to make a application to the new testament church.

Kind of want to bring this into the present and make applications. So we did this a while back that just as the levites were to assist the priests. In the new testament church, what's the analogy? Deacons.

Assist.

The bishops or deacons assist.

The pastors.

And this is played out in countless churches where just like korah and the levites rebelling against moses aaron and the priest this has played out in many churches where. Deacons or a deacon board and you know, I love that our deacon board.

So, you know, i'm not speaking against them. But this has happened. Where a deacon board will oppose the pastor instead of working together, which is the whole point. There's supposed to be this division of labor and helping each other out.

Now there's been many times where the deacon board wants to usurp The authority or the role of the pastor and they want to be the ones running the show. Who's been In a church or you at least know of a church where the deacons were trying to knock the pastor down so they could take charge.

Yeah, I mean most. Most people have at least heard of that. So korah Is certainly doing that. Now thankfully we've never had that. Long as i've been here. I've never seen anything like that at this church.

Our deacons love the church and we want to work towards unity. But what's the problem? I think the root cause again is pride and and selfish ambition. So just like korah wanted to run the show. Sometimes there can be a power struggle in local churches.

So going back to what i've said many times first corinthians chapter 10. The apostle paul said that israel in the wilderness these things were written for. What is it our? Our instruction or our admonition.

Right. So this is an example for new testament christians of what not to do. So this is what we need to avoid. And one of the reasons why I would make this illustration or Reinforce this idea if it's ingrained in us that it's like preventative maintenance that that kind of thing Wouldn't happen here because we we preach on this This subject so as long as we know the word we're in the word learning from the word.

Uh, it should. It should make sure that this doesn't happen.

In our church.

Because this is how division usually starts. You have one guy. You have a korah. Or maybe him and his two or three friends. You have a dathan and a byron. And they get together. They have an axe to grind.

And they build a little coalition. And then before you know it the church has real problems. I know one denomination. Where right now a coalition has been built and now they're voting. Really they are voting on whether or not we're going to obey god.

Of course, they don't put it that way. But what they're voting on is is not really a debatable thing. So a coalition has been built. They're going to vote and I kind of see that here. A korah is you know power to the people.

Uh, all the people are holy. He has popular support. And we're going to overthrow god because I have The political support. I have the numbers. I think that's what he's. What he's thinking. So the church.

Really is not. I know we're americans and you this might chafe a little bit, but the church is not a democracy. Why. Because jesus is the king? And anyone who's in leadership, it's their job to make sure the the lord of the church that his wishes are carried out.

Yes historically democracies Don't do well. And what will do well and is doing well is a theocracy. But that verse you mentioned in philippians 2 verse 3 it's really the It's really the focal point of a successful church if each Esteems others as more important than themselves, right?

There just won't be There won't be problems that way. Amen.

Amen.

Yeah, so moses is god's man. Aaron is The lord's priest and you know, that's it. It doesn't doesn't matter if the people like it or not. It doesn't matter. Now before we move on I want to be fair because i've been talking about you know churches that have had problems because of deacons.

I want to be fair because there's a lot of churches that have had problems because the pastor Or the bishop or whatever you call him has gone bad where the the pastor becomes abusive. And in his leadership style and instead of acting like a servant as he is supposed to He starts acting like a dictator.

Instead of being gentle with the sheep. He's he's harsh with the sheep. And if he ever gets up and says something like hey touch not the lord's anointed. I mean this was a common thing Decades ago and I think it's still common in the charismatic movement where a pastor just is very abusive.

It's his way or the highway and if anyone says anything To question him that's the card that he pulls touch not god's anointed and he's talking about himself. Well, who's got in the church who's god's anointed.

Well in that yeah, well, that's the same thing like we're every believer is anointed. That's a good point. Of course christ is god's anointed uh in This story aaron is the one if you read numbers the one who's anointed is actually aaron.

He's the priest. And korra wants the priesthood for him.

Himself.

Yes, but that's that's what the word messiah or christ Hamashiak means is the anointed one. So it really right really is christ.

Yeah, so this this kind of power struggle can go on it could be the deacon's fault could be the pastor's fault. Um can happen both directions and. One last point on this there are churches out there where the pastor has no accountability.

There's no deacon board. There's no elders. There's nobody to hold him accountable. And what do you call? Those groups. Call them a cult. If there's no accountability. That's a cult. Now bear with me for one moment back to uh numbers because you might say well who's moses accountable to.

We've already talked about this moses is not like the pastor figure. Uh moses is unique. He's the mediator of the covenant. You can't really compare him to a pastor. There's there's churches that have the moses model.

Well, I don't know about that. But who who is moses accountable to? God yeah, he's not accountable to the people really. He's yeah, you're right. He's accountable to god. Now cult leaders will say that won't they.

Hey, i'm in charge because god Told me so i'm accountable only to god. Here's the difference god In exodus and numbers is working miracles. So this has been proven that moses is chosen by god. The plagues of egypt proved it and if that wasn't enough.

When they walked through the midst of the red sea when moses part of the red sea. The scripture says the people were baptized. Into moses. So at that point moses is unquestionably the leader of the nation of israel.

And god proved that so there's no. Having to wonder did god really? Really do it. All right any questions or comments before we move on.

Yes, the egyptians trying to chase them really got baptized.

Yeah, they got they got immersed that's for sure mary.

I read it backwards. When we first read it. I read it. It is a small thing for you that the god of israel has separated you in. And you get to the bottom and and you want to be a priest, too. You're you're in such a small state as you are.

You don't know what's really going on. Yeah.

Yeah, kora is making a a terrible decision. Uh, you know sin causes people to do foolish things. He really should have known. Better so god is going to justify Moses with the ground opening up and the people see it and they're terrified and you would think okay this settles it once and for all right.

No.

This is going to happen. It's going to happen again. Look at verse 15. Moses tells the lord Lord do not respect their offerings. So they're going to offer the incense. Moses tells the lord don't respect it.

Verse 16. And moses said to kora. Tomorrow you and all your company Be present before the lord you and they as well as aaron. Let each take his censer and put incense in it and each of you. And each of you bring his censer before the lord.

250 censers both you and aaron each with his censer. So every man took his censer put fire in it laid incense on it. And stood at the door of the tabernacle of meeting with moses and aaron and kora gathered all the congregation Against them at the door of the tabernacle of meeting notice that all the congregation the people are with kora.

So it seems.

Then.

The glory of the lord appeared to all the congregation. And the lord spoke to moses and aaron saying separate yourselves from among this congregation That I may consume them In a moment. So it appears that god is ready to do what he threatened to do back in chapter 14 and just wipe the entire nation out.

That seems to be the threat once again and once again. What does moses do? Again as the type of christ he intercedes on behalf of the people he says in verse 22. Shall one man sin. And you be angry with all the congregation.

You could argue that it was more than one man. But moses Is like jesus he loves the people even when They're unlovely. Verse 23. So the lord spoke to moses saying speak To the congregation saying get away from the tents of kora dathan in a byron.

And moses said By this you shall know that the lord has sent me to do all these works for I have not done them On my own will if these men die naturally like all men. Or if they are visited by the common fate of all men, then the lord has not sent me.

So moses his reputation is on the line here. As a prophet his reputation is on the line. Verse 30. But if the lord creates a new thing Is in something you've never seen before something you've never even heard of before if the lord creates a new thing and the earth opens Its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them and they go down alive into the pit.

Then you will understand That these men have rejected.

Me. No.

That these men have rejected the lord now it came to pass as he finished speaking all these words That the ground split apart under them and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up With their households and all the men with kora and all their goods So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit And the earth closed over them and they perished from among.

The assembly.

Then all israel who were around them fled at their cry. I I bet they did. But they said lest the earth swallow us up also. And a fire came out from among the lord or came out from the lord and consumed the 250 men who are offering incense so just like the two sons of Aaron.

Now just to clarify one thing. So it says that kora was brought down him and those with him were brought down alive Into the pit. I think a lot of people have assumed that that means they were taken down into hell.

Alive. Who's thought that or heard that before some people have had that idea, I don't think we should read into into that because the concept of Of hell really isn't here in this passage. I'm not saying it did or didn't happen.

I'm, just saying that. I don't think that's what happened here. They were basically buried alive. So a cavern under the earth opened up and they were buried alive and then those offering incense were burned right the fire of the lord Consumed them.

So I just don't think we should read into this. Too much, although based on what jude says about korra. I think it's pretty safe to say he's not in heaven. Uh, so we'll end here and next week we'll finish up the chapter and also into chapter 17 because the lord isn't done vindicating.

Well, he's vindicated moses. Now. He's going to vindicate aaron in the next chapter. So chapter 17 that covers the budding of aaron's rod. Because aaron as I said was god's anointed priest and korra is trying to usurp his position or moses or both so.

What's the takeaway? Uh, you can't overthrow god. You can't vote to undo What god says to do. You can't build a coalition to overturn god's will. It's not going to work. I'm, just reminded and i'll close with this psalm chapter 2 speaks of this how the rulers Take counsel together against the lord and against his anointed.

Saying let us break their bonds into pieces and cast away their cords from us but he who sits in the heavens Shall laugh.