Scripture
By Deborah Hillman
Scripture Lesson Text: Numbers 16: 1-14
Related Scriptures: Deuteronomy 11: 1-7; Psalm 106: 16-18
Our lesson this week begins with Korah, Dathan, Abiram and On rebelling against Moses and Aaron. We also see God’s chosen leaders, along with 250 men that were famously renowned among the people. This new group of rebellious insurrectionists stated that Moses and Aaron were no better than anyone else and that the IsraelItes were still no closer to the Promised Land than when they left Egypt. These four men were part of twelve, that God specifically chose to transport and care for the tabernacle. This was considered a prestigious position but Korah was not content and wanted to be among the priesthood.
Deuteronomy 11: 1-7 tells us the Israelites continue to dismiss all the Lord God had brought them through, forgetting His greatness and the miraculous signs and wonders of His deity. They forgot how the Lord destroyed the armies of Pharaoh, their horses and chariots drowning them in the Red Sea. They dismissed all the Lord had done for them because they focused on their own ambition and greed for power.
Psalm 106: 16-18, recounts the envy and jealousy the people had for Moses and Aaron. This caused the Lord to open up the earth and swallowed Dathan and buried Abiram along with the other rebels causing fire to fall and consume them.
Synopsis
By Lecha Price
Korah gathered 250 renowned men from among Israel’s leaders to rebel against God’s chosen leadership, Moses and Aaron. He accused God’s appointed vessels of hoarding power for themselves, rather than genuinely representing God. In his unfounded accusation, he asserted that all the people were holy, not just Moses and Aaron. As far as the rebels were concerned, they had just as much right as Moses and Aaron to exercise leadership because they, too, were set apart to God.
Korah and his cohorts were dissatisfied with the position God had given them and desired the leadership role to have authority over all. Envy and jealousy are works of the flesh and will always lead one down a road of destruction. They were misled by their own selfish desires and sought to mislead those around them. These misguided individuals failed to realize to rebel against Moses and Aaron was tantamount to rebelling against God.
In response to the wayward followers’ allegations, Moses fell on his face before the Lord in an expression of true humility. He then instructed his accusers to take a censer with fire for presenting before the Lord the next morning so that once again God would make it undeniably clear and known to all whom He had chosen to lead Israel. It is never our place to rebel against God’s appointed and chosen leadership, because our position must always be a posture of prayer. God reminds us in His word to “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” (Hebrews 13:17)
Practical Application
By Raufu Spagnoletta
In our lesson, we witness yet again an account of rebellion against God’s ordained authority. A prominent Levite, Korah and his conspirators have exalted self-will against God’s revealed-will and find themselves gathered together against God!
Are there consistent patterns of rejection and disobedience in your response to God’s will for your life? Repent and return to that place of first love, where living in the fear of the LORD, loving obedience, prayer and devotion was your lifestyle. Rehearse new songs unto the LORD, praising Him daily with thanksgiving for His mercy, His lovingkindness and His sacrificial love for you.
Moses teaches us how to behave wisely when falsely accused. “And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face.” (Numbers 16:4). We see our Saviour’s humility before His accusers, in Isaiah 53:7. “ He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.” We can remain humbly submitted to God, in the face of false accusations! Jesus has promised us His enabling power, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
“Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi: 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? And He has brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?”
Num. 16:8-10
Do you lightly esteem the ministry the Father has entrusted into your care? I implore you to embody the humble heart of, Jesus, our Suffering- Servant. “And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matt. 20:27-28) Be faithful, walk worthy of the vocation wherein you have been called; and God will exalt you in due time.
