The children of Israel have come to the borders of Canaan. They sent twelve spies out to spy the land. Ten brought back an evil report and only two come back full of faith and courage to conquer the land. The children of Israel have chosen to listen to the ten and the evil report, so the Lord gave them their desire and pronounced judgment on them saying that all those from twenty years old and upward would perish and not see the land of Canaan for themselves. They would just wander around in the wilderness for forty years until that whole rebellious generation would pass away.
No sooner had they turned around to go into the wilderness that there arose a new trouble.
- Numbers 16:1-2
1 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: 2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: - Korah, Dathan and Abiram confronted Moses along with 250 princes.
- Korah was of the tribe Levi which was the tribe that had been selected to lead out in the sanctuary.
- Dathan and Abiram, brothers, were from the tribe of Reuben which was the oldest brother of the 12 sons of Jacob.
- But not only that, they came with 250 princes that were men that were famous and who seemingly had good character and authority.
- This was a large group! What was the accusation that they raised against him?
- Numbers 16:3
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? - So what was the accusation? They were saying that Moses and Aaron were taking too much to themselves. They made it sound like they themselves had chosen and exalted their own selves above everyone else.
Moses had been the leader of the Israelites before they had even left Egypt.
- His call from God was a private one, out in the desert before the burning bush which no one but he himself witnessed.
- However, He had fearlessly stood before Pharoah and called plagues down on the wicked king and nation.
- He had held up the rod to open the Red Sea.
- He had healed bitter water.
- He had struck a rock and water came gushing out.
- He had communed with God for forty days two times in the presence of everyone.
- So it was clear that Moses had not exalted himself and that God was working through him.
However, this accusation was not simply against Moses, but it was also against Aaron. And it might be that they were attacking Aaron saying that Moses had chosen his brother. It was a family affair.
- Remember, which tribe was Korah from? He was from the tribe of Levi, just like Moses and Aaron. So maybe, just maybe, he was jealous of Aaron’s position as priest.
- And Dathan and Abiram were from which tribe? They were from the tribe of Reuben. They must have felt that being the eldest son of Jacob, they must have had the right to civil leadership.
Why would they be complaining about their leadership at this time though? What had just happened on the preceding chapters?
- The children of Israel were not allowed into Canaan because of listening to the evil report of the ten spies.
- But the next day they had tried to conquer Canaan by themselves without Moses and Aaron, or even the Ark of the Covenant going with them.
- So maybe they were upset at Moses for not going with them. Surely the judgment must have come from Moses and not from God.
On hearing this accusation though, what does Moses do?
- Numbers 16:4-7
4 And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face: 5 And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow 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. 6 This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company; 7 And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the LORD to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the LORD doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi. - So the principle one that was highlighted was Korah. He was the leader of this rebellion.
- Numbers 16:8-11
8 And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi: 9 Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them? 10 And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also? 11 For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him? - So yes, it is clear that they were jealous of Aaron. He wanted to be a priest.
- Even though the tribe was chosen to serve in the sanctuary, only Aaron and his sons could be of the priesthood. They were the only ones that were allowed into the sanctuary and perform all the services.
- The other Levites would help with other parts of the sanctuary to maintain it. The furniture, the fence, and all the materials. They would carry all the parts of the sanctuary when they moved, but they were never involved with the service of the sanctuary itself.
- Korah was jealous. Jealous for position. Jealous that Aaron had been chosen and not him or his tribe or family.
But it wasn’t only Korah in this rebellion. Dathan and Abiram also. What problem did they have with Moses and Aaron?
- Numbers 16:12-14
12 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up: 13 Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us? 14 Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up. - They accused Moses of not letting them have the land of Canaan when it was the Israelites themselves that had chosen not to believe Joshua and Caleb. And now their own actions of rebellion against God they turned it around saying that it was all Moses’ fault!
- But they didn’t stop there. They accused Moses saying that he wanted to kill them in the wilderness when it was God’s judgment. They were the ones that had asked for that originally!
Let’s keep reading. How does Moses react?
- Numbers 16:15-17
15 And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them. 16 And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the LORD, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow: 17 And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the LORD every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer.- Moses justifies himself before God but then asks them all to come and appear before God the next day.
- And when the next day comes, what does God want to do?
- Numbers 16:20-22
20 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. 22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation? - God wants to destroy them but Moses intercedes for them. Even though the accusation is against him, he still has such love for everyone.
But God is about to bring judgment on these accusers. First he asks everyone to separate themselves from Korah, Dathan and Abiram. And then this is what Moses says:
- Numbers 16:28-30
28 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. 29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me. 30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD. - God isn’t just going to punish them but He is going to vindicate the fact that He chose Moses and not anyone else.
- What is the sign that He has chosen Moses?
- If Korah, Dathan and Abiram all die a common death, then God hasn’t sent him. But if the earth opens up and swallows them, then they were to understand that they had provoked the Lord and spoken against Him and not against Moses.
- Immediately, look what happens next.
- Numbers 16:31-35
31 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: 32 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. 33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. 34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also. 35 And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.
- Numbers 16:31-35
- God’s name and His appointment of Moses has been vindicated. These three men have been punished and slain. And even fire would come out from God and consume the 250 princes that were right there with them in this rebellion.
We must be so careful not to speak against the Lord’s anointed. The children of Israel are slow to learn. They keep murmuring against Moses not realizing that they keep fighting against God and not the human element.
- God had already given clear evidence of His choosing when Aaron and Miriam and stood up to speak against Moses and Miriam was struck with leprosy. This was not a private murmuring as she was kept out of the camp for seven days and the whole nation waited for her to come back before moving on.
- It has gotten so bad that people are now standing up to fight openly against Moses and rebel against him. So, God has had to resort to more extreme measures in His punishment to vindicate His choice of leadership.
However, the evil work had been sown in the hearts of the people already even after Korah and his group were swallowed by the earth.
- Numbers 16:41-43
41 But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD. 42 And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared. 43 And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation. - The people would come out and still accuse and rebel against Moses. They are saying that he was the one that killed the people. And they didn’t just call them people, but the people of the Lord!
- They regarded Korah, Dathan and Abiram and the 250 princes more righteous than Moses and Aaron!
- It was by a direct miracle that the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them whole and fire coming from the Lord. How could Moses do such a thing? It was impossible that it was by any human effort there, yet the people are still blaming Moses.
- The rebellion and discontent had taken deep hold on the people to such an extent that even when the leaders had been removed, the rebellion remained in the hearts of others.
Numbers 16:44-45
44 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 45 Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.
- God is ready to destroy this whole nation again! We can wear out God’s patience. We ought to be careful!
- Numbers 16:46-50
46 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun. 47 And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. 48 And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed. 49 Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah. 50 And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague was stayed. - 14,700 people would perish that day. It would have been more if it were not for the quick-thinking and quick-acting intercessory work of Moses and Aaron – the people that they were murmuring and fighting against.
Even though the plague had been stayed, God knew that there was still feelings and thoughts that were brooding below the surface that God had to deal with.
- The authority and position and choosing of Moses, God had already dealt with when the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the rebellious leader’s whole.
- Now God would have to show to everyone that it was He who chose Aaron, and not Moses his brother. It wasn’t a family affair. It wasn’t any sort of favoritism where Moses preferred his brother above anyone else.
Numbers 17:1-5
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man’s name upon his rod. 3 And thou shalt write Aaron’s name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers. 4 And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you. 5 And it shall come to pass, that the man’s rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.
- Every tribe would bring a rod. Aaron would represent the tribe of Levi.
- God didn’t have to deal with Korah anymore. It was clear that within the Levites, Aaron was the representative.
- And all the rods would be placed in the sanctuary.
- And the rod that budded, that was the rod that God has chosen.
Numbers 17:6-9
6 And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers’ houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. 7 And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness. 8 And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds. 9 And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.
- Aaron’s rod would be the one that would bud. And not only that, but it would bring forth fruit as well.
- It was clear that God had chosen Moses and now it was clear that God was the One who had chosen Aaron. God was not being partial to a certain family. There was no self-exaltation on the part of Moses or Aaron. It was only by God’s appointment that they stood where they stood.
- Numbers 17:10
And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron’s rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not. - From this point forward, the clearest evidence had been given from God. There was to be no more murmuring against the leadership of Moses and Aaron.
- Not that there wasn’t enough evidence already in the past. But God had now drawn a line in the sand to which there would be left no more doubt.
We really must be careful in how we speak against leadership. Overwhelming evidence had been given to the children of Israel from God in His choice of who would lead. When Korah spoke out against Moses, he did not realise that he was speaking against God and especially against the Holy Spirit. And then the next day the people would speak unreasonably accusing Moses that they had “killed the people of the Lord” when it was clear that they were in the wrong and they were in rebellion.
When we do such things, what actually is happening is the hardening of our hearts.
Hebrews 3:12-15
13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
Our hearts get hardened and calloused over when we keep repeating the same sin, and in this case the same murmuring spirit. They got to this point that Satan had blinded them and they began to call that which was good evil, and evil good. And when we do that, what is taking place?
Matthew 12:32
And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
Yes, it is through our words that we can commit the unpardonable sin, not just through actions. It was through the agency of the Holy Spirit that God was working through Moses and for the Israelites. But they got to the point that they committed that unpardonable act. Their hearts were hardened against the influence of divine grace.
Let us be careful not to go down that same path. Careful with our words. Careful to see clearly whom God has anointed to stand in leadership positions. Careful with the people that God has put in our path to guide our lives and help us.
May God help us to see clearly with a clean heart, filled with His Spirit, that we may discern His movements in our lives today.