The Bad Example of Korah

Korah's rebellion was to insist on half the truth--that all in the congregation of Israel were holy, set apart to God, because the Lord was among them--but to reject the other half--that only the Lord had the right to assign each their functions. They denied this half of the truth to rebelliously assert their own authority, as false teachers today also do.

The story of Korah’s rebellion is told in Numbers 16:1-35.  Korah, who was a Levite but not a priest, led a group of men objecting to Moses’ assertion of authority as one speaking the words of God, and to Aaron’s exclusive priesthood.  Korah’s argument was not entirely false—it contained a half truth, as do most arguments that are used to create a division.  The half of Korah’s argument that was true was that all in the congregation of Israel were holy, set apart to God, because the Lord was among them (v. 3b).

From this true premise, Korah drew the false conclusion that God had not made any distinctions of function between the members of his congregation, so that all of them could receive God’s word with authority equal to Moses, and all of them could approach the holy place to present sacrifices.  Note that, as explained in a previous chapter, God also makes distinctions of function between members of Christ’s Body—the eye is not the hand.  Such distinctions of function, within a single body, are made throughout God’s dealings with his people. 

But, because Korah denied God the right to make such distinctions of function, he spoke against the authority of Moses and Aaron, accusing them of pride, of exalting themselves above the congregation of the Lord (v. 3c).  His purpose was to be recognized as a more important leader than he already was, as head of a Levite family, and he did, in fact, manage to lead a following after him in his rebellion—Dathan and Abiram, leaders of Reubenite families, and 250 men with them.  However, it was Korah and his followers who were controlled by pride, not Moses and Aaron.  And, as Moses makes clear in reproving them, in gathering together to challenge the authority of Moses and Aaron, Korah and his followers had gathered together against God (v. 11).

God’s response to the challenge of Korah and his followers appears harsh, to modern eyes.  Moses told Korah and all of his followers to bring censers to the door of the tent of meeting the next day, to burn incense before the Lord.  At that time, they were told, God would demonstrate his choice of those who were to appear before him as priests.  Korah and his followers—except for Dathan and Abiram—accepted Moses words concerning this test and appeared before the tent of meeting the next day, censers in hand.  Dathan and Abiram arrogantly refused to even come for the test.  The end result was that the ground opened up to “swallow” Korah, Dathan, Abiram and their families alive.  As for the other 250 men who followed him, fire from the Lord killed them where they stood.  God did this to demonstrate that, in rejecting the role God had given to Moses and Aaron, these men were actually despising God (v.30).  They had rejected God’s authority because they wanted to assert their own authority.

Next (incomplete series, at present): Angels and the Angels that Sinned: The Nature of Angels–Messengers and Ministering Spirits

Next (for now): On the Other Extreme–1 Timothy 4 and Colossians 2.

And: The Problem with Sodom.