There was an earlier rebellion: only 4 chapters before in Numbers 12:1-16. Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because he married an Ethiopian wife.  And they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” The LORD heard their words of disrespect and sent a leprosy upon Miriam. And Aaron pleaded with Moses to pray for God’s mercy. The LORD heard Moses’ request and lightened her punishment to seven days outside the camp before she was healed and restored.

Here we read about a much bigger rebellion. A group of 250 ungodly leaders of the congregation of Israel led by four leaders, Korah, Dathan, Abiram and On rose up against Moses and Aaron’s leadership! These people must have some “valid reasons” for having such an audacity to rise up against Moses and Aaron.

Here are two Questions as I meditated on this passage:

1. Why did they rebel against Moses?

The rebel’s accusation against Moses and Aaron was that they had “gone too far” and exalted themselves above the assembly of the Lord. (v. 3) These people either felt they were treated as “second-class citizens” or that Moses and Aaron refused to share their leadership with them. They wanted to be regarded as equal with Moses and Aaron.

Moses’ reply was not one of pride or a “could-not-care-less” attitude. Rather, first he “fell on his face,” as a sign of humility and surprise. And he did not deal with the matter single-handedly since it directly concerned him and made him a “party of interest.” Rather, he let God be the judge. But he was not silent; he did say some things, including the following:

1. He gave them a method in which the LORD would verify His choice of “leadership” and this would happen very soon, the next morning. 

2. He put their words back to them, “You have gone too far.” (v. 7)

3. He chided Korah of his ungratefulness, that it was the LORD who had given him the privilege of serving Him as a Levite in God’s tabernacle, and now he also wanted to take over the priesthood of Israel. (vv. 9-10) He was not challenging Aaron, but God Himself. 

Besides addressing Korah directly, the leader, Moses also sought to persuade the other two leaders, Dathan and Abiram, to have a discussion with him, but they refused. (vv. 12, 14) Apparently, they were initially very hopeful of Moses’ leadership, but were disappointed later, and they accused Moses of leading them from the land flowing with milk and honey (alluding to Egypt) and bringing the people out into the desert to kill them. 

Moses was angry and asked the rebelling party to prepare for the spiritual contest the next day, to come with censers before the LORD. As the two sides invoked the LORD, His glory appeared among them, and the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron that He would punish the rebels.

We can see Moses’ pastoral heart when he pleaded with God, saying that the whole congregation should not be punished just because of one man who had rebelled against God’s leadership, even though they blindly followed the wrong leader. (v. 22) God gave the people a way out. He specifically instructed everyone to stay away from the rebellious leaders. (vv. 24-27) 

Through Moses, God meted out judgment upon the rebel leaders and their families, and all the 250 men who followed them. And it was through a supernatural earthquake. The earth opened up and swallowed them. And fire came from the throne of God and consumed all the 250 who were offering incense. What a judgment from the LORD! 

1. What could the church today learn from this passage?

This is definitely a lesson for us, New Testament believers and not just for the Old Testament people of Israel. We are not to despise or be disrespectful to the leaders God had chosen to lead His church. 

May we learn from the attitude of David before he became king of Israel. When there was an opportunity to kill King Saul at the cave, he said to his men, 

“The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD’s anointed.” (1 Samuel 24:6, 10)

God’s servants are chosen by Him, and if we lay a hand upon them, to despise or disregard them, then we are disrespecting God Himself.

Prayer: Dear Sovereign Lord, thank you that you are the King of kings and Lord of lords. You reign over all, and by your own hand and wisdom, you choose those whom you desire to serve your kingdom and your church. May we learn to honour your servants as we honour you, and in this way bring blessings, favour, love and peace upon ourselves. Help us love one another as you have loved us, thus fulfil your commands and the world may know that we are your disciples. In Christ’s name, Amen!