Moses had already endured several instances of opposition from the nation of Israel as well as specific individuals who were supposed to be following his leadership. God had specifically chosen Moses (Exodus 3) as the one to lead the nation of Israel out of Egyptian bondage to the land He had promised to give Israel as an inheritance. At times the pressure was almost too much for Moses to handle, but God provided strength for him to endure in every instance. Another situation arose when Korah (a descendant of Levi) as well as Dathan and Abiram (descendants of Reuben) “…took men; and they rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown” (16:1-2). This opposition to Moses and Aaron stemmed from Korah feeling that all the people were capable of being leaders and therefore did not need Moses and Aaron telling them what to do (16:3). When Moses heard of this rebellion against his leadership, he fell on his face and said, “Tomorrow morning the Lord will show who is His and who is holy, and will cause him to come near to Him. That one whom He chooses He will cause to come near to Him” (16:4-5). Instead of taking matters upon himself, Moses allowed God to determine the true leader of Israel. God’s chosen leader would be discerned by seeing which one of them, Moses or Korah, would be permitted to approach the presence of the Lord (16:6-7). Moses then turned his attention to Korah and exposed that he and those rebelling were not satisfied with their God-given duties in the tabernacle, but desired the office of priest (16:8-11), which means that the real issue motivating the rebellion was envy and jealousy.
After speaking with Korah, Moses called for Dathan and Abiram but they refused to come to him saying, “Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you should keep acting like a prince over us? Moreover you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up!” (16:12-14). They were essentially blaming Moses for removing them from Egypt and failing to lead them into the land of Canaan. When Moses heard these words he was very angry and pleaded for the Lord to reject their approach to His presence (16:15). Moses again spoke to Korah and commanded that each of his people bring incense before the Lord and stand before the tabernacle (16:16-19). The glory of the Lord appeared to the entire congregation and commanded that Moses and Aaron remove themselves from the tabernacle so that they would not be consumed in His coming judgment against Israel (16:20-21). Upon hearing God’s anger against Israel, Moses and Aaron prayed that God would not consume all of the people for the sin of one man (16:22), so God demanded that the people separate themselves from the ones who had rebelled (16:23-24). The people immediately responded and departed from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram (16:27). Without warning the earth opened up and swallowed the three men who led the rebellion (16:28-33). Following the sudden judgment, God sent fire from heaven which consumed the 250 men who had been loyal to the rebels (16:34-35). After the rebels had been consumed by fire, Moses told Eleazar to collect the 250 censers holding the incense and make them into a covering for the altar, which would be a reminder for that no one except for the priests were to approach the presence of God (16:36-40). The very next day the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron for killing the people of the Lord (16:41) but when the glory of the Lord appeared, Moses and Aaron begged the Lord not to consume the people (16:42-45). Moses told Aaron to quickly offer atonement on the altar for the complaints of the people, but the plague sent by the Lord had already begun to spread throughout the congregation (16:46). After acting as fast as possible, Aaron made atonement for the people and the plague was stopped but not before 14,700 people had died (16:47-50). Israel’s continued rebellion against God was inviting His judgment upon the nation. They would need to learn to obey Moses as the one appointed by God to lead the nation. Any rebellion against Moses’ leadership was ultimately an attack on the ways of God. The Lord has given us leaders and authorities to guide us in His ways and anyone who rebels is in danger of experiencing the judgment of God.
Dear God, may I respect, obey, and honor those leaders You have given to provide guidance in my life.
