Korah’s Rebellion

Korah’s Rebellion

“Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men;

and they rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty 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.” Num. 16:1-4.

Korah’s children are still active in churches today. If God has chosen for Himself one or more people to care for the things that He wants cared for, usually some of the children of Korah arise and ask, “Why do you exalt yourself above the assembly of the Lord? Isn’t everything just fine the way it is? Aren’t we all holy children of God? Aren’t we just the way God wants us to be?”

Every man of God who has done any work for the kingdom of God knows about these people and has been threatened by them. Paul knew them very well. He preached the gospel free of charge among the Corinthians, receiving wages from other churches to minister to them. He did that for one reason—to overcome this brood of Korah who claimed to be apostles of Christ when, in fact, they were false apostles and deceitful workers. 2 Cor. 11. Paul preached for the Corinthians free of charge to expose these men for what they really were. He said, “What I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast.” Verse 12.

Jude did not write so much, but in the few words he wrote, he felt compelled to pour out his holy wrath over the men of Korah, with whom he no doubt had had to deal extensively. Verse 11. They participated in love feasts without restraint, indulging themselves, but they were spots in those feasts, Jude writes.

It is not surprising that Paul was willing to abstain from everything in order to put people like this on the outside. They probably chose to leave rather than to be like Paul in this matter, since their goal actually was to feed themselves and to seek honor. Paul used his wisdom here; he starved himself so that, at the same time, he could starve out and put out these men of Korah who seemingly had such great care for the church. The cure worked and it still works today. Give these children of Korah this starvation cure, and they will abandon the church completely. They say farewell and take to their heels to find a better market. Since Paul said “Imitate me as I follow Christ,” let us also follow him in this matter.

It is such a strong human tendency to want to be considered holy and to be regarded as a tool whom God uses. People strive to be considered men of renown in the meetings, and they try to be eloquent and have a good reputation—especially among those who, like Lot’s wife, always have their heart and their eyes fixed on the Sodom from which they fled. That is why these children of Korah become leaders for such a flock. Even though it can be this bad, God leads things in such a way that people like this, with their perverted hearts, are exposed and then forced out of the assembly of God to perish in their rebellion.

As surely as there are weeds in the garden, Korah is present when a church of God begins to develop. But usually the church is at such a low state of spiritual development that no one dares to take up the battle against him. The light is too weak. People think they are being loving, patient and tolerant when they allow Satan to wreak havoc, stir up trouble and disrupt everything. What a strange understanding of love! Moses and Paul were saved from this spirit of cowardliness and discouragement. They were filled with the Spirit of God—the spirit of power and of a sound mind, coupled with the knowledge of God. That’s why they relentlessly took up the battle without wavering and overcame these enemies of God.

Korah wanted to do away with Moses completely so that he could have Moses’ position of leadership. But what happened?

“The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods.” Num. 16:32. “And a fire came out from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty men . . .” (those who were the leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown).

If this mind of Korah tried to destroy such a mighty leader for the Lord as Moses, how much more will that same attitude of mind try to destroy men with less strength?

We are living in a time when virtually everyone says that they are rich, have abundance, and are lacking nothing. Don’t you think Korah is reveling in all this “abundance”? The Spirit says, “You . . . do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.”