Korah’s
Rebellion — Its Real Lesson for Today Study No. 203
I |
f you have been around the Church of God for a
while, you have certainly heard of Korah.
Numerous sermons have been given, citing Korah’s Rebellion against Moses
as an example for us today. The
brethren, some claim, take too much upon themselves, and wrongly strive to
usurp the authority God gives to His ministers. Is this the lesson of Korah’s Rebellion for us today? Let us look at what the Bible says. The answer will be surprising to many!
At
the outset, we should remember that the Bible does warn about the dangers of
false brethren, II Corinthians 11:26; Galatians 2:4. However, the vast majority of scriptures
dealing with false teachers describe leaders who stray from the
Almighty’s Truth, and infect others in their rebellion against Him. See our Bible Study #158, “False
Ministers, False Brethren.”
Korah,
along with the Reubenites Dathan, Abiram and On, along with 250 “princes of the
assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown,” gathered themselves together
against Moses and Aaron, and said, “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?” Numbers
16:1-3. Here was a serious threat
to the leadership of Moses over Israel.
Korah wanted to push aside Moses, and take control of the congregation
(church) of Israel.
Now,
who was Korah? He was a cousin of
Moses! They both descended from Kohath,
one of the sons of Levi, Exodus 6:16-24. The Kohathites had a special responsibility in the sacrificial
system: “Their charge shall be the ark,
and the table [of shewbread], and the candlestick, and the altars, and the
vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the hanging [curtain],
and all the service thereof,” Numbers 3:27-32. The other two sons of Levi, Gershon and Merari, had lesser
responsibilities, Numbers 3:14-37.
Korah had a leading responsibility in the tabernacle service!
Korah’s
two chief henchmen were Reubenites, Dathan and Abiram. Were they ordinary laypersons in the
congregation of Israel? No! They were both “famous in the congregation,”
Numbers 26:9. They, along with
the 250 princes who joined the rebellion, were “renowned in the congregation,” Numbers
1:16.
So,
we see that the Truth is exactly the opposite of what is commonly taught by the
leadership of many Churches of God. It
is not the ordinary rank and file membership that is the problem in Korah-type
rebellions. The problem is the struggle
for power among the leadership. Korah
and his followers were already great renowned leaders in the congregation of
Israel. That wasn’t enough for them;
they wanted more power, Numbers 16:9.
An earthquake swallowed up Korah and his following, and a fire from God
devoured those who were offering censers to the Eternal, Numbers 16:16-35.
This
problem of a struggle for power has long been a sign among the Church of
God. Numbers 26:10 says “And the
earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that
company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and
they became a SIGN.” The
censers of these sinners were taken up afterwards and made into broad plates
for a covering of the altar, as a perpetual sign unto the children of Israel, Numbers
16:38, 17:10. Surely, the gainsaying
of Core (Korah) is a sign unto God’s people throughout all ages, Jude
11.
Today,
the real lesson of Korah appears to be lost on many in the Church of God. The main problem in the Church is its
leadership. Corrupt leadership blames
the brethren for being rebellious like Korah, not realizing that the finger
points back to them! Korah’s rebellion
is very similar to that of Lucifer. Not
content to serve God in the way God ordained him, Lucifer wanted to ascend
above the heavens, and take over the throne of God.
Korah’s Rebellion against Moses is a sign, a
lesson, for us today. Serve the Eternal
with all your heart and mind, being content with the gifts (opportunities) that
God has given you to serve His people.
Shun those men of renown who struggle for political power, get away from
their tents, Numbers 16:26, because God’s judgment is coming on
them. That is the real lesson of Korah
for today.
— written by Richard C. Nickels W