Once again, the main outline is from the Open Bible, slightly edited.
Rebellion of Korah
Korah’s gang rebelled against Moses and Aaron (16:1-14).
The members of Korah’s gang included Dathan, Abiram, and On. Korah was of the tribe of Levi, but his buddies were of the tribe of Reuben.
They rose up and got in the face of Moses, with 250 well-known princes of the congregation (16:2). They gathered together against Moses and Aaron (16:3) and accused them of overstepping their leadership powers.
What was Moses’ immediate response (16:4)? He fell on his face, evidently fearing God’s reaction. Perhaps, he stayed on his face praying until God showed him what to say and do. See 16:5-6. Moses pinned the primary fault on Korah, but evidently other Levites who were among the 250 (16:8-11).
Moses then called for Dathan and Abiram, the Rubenite rebels, but they responded with refusal and a harsh note against Moses (16:12-14).
God judged the rebellion (16:15-40).
Moses asked the Lord not to respect the offerings of the rebels (16:15). He then ordered Korah and his gang of 250 rebels to bring 250 censers containing incense before the LORD.
God wanted to strike all the rebels dead in a moment, but Moses and Aaron, again, fell on their faces and begged God for mercy (16:20-22). God did have mercy, but He told Moses to have the congregation separate from Korah, Dathan and Abiram “lest they be consumed in all their sins”. Read what God told Moses to say to them (16:28-30).
There was a great earthquake that opened up and swallowed up these rebels, their houses, their supporters, and all that they possessed (16:31-33). All Israel fled at the cry of them. God then sent fire from heaven to burn up the 250 rebels that offered incense (16:35). You would think that feeling the quake, hearing the screams, and seeing the fire come down from heaven would have made a huge impact on all who survived, but it didn’t.
God commanded that they then take the 250 brass censers and beat them into flat plates to cover the altar as a memorial of the Korah rebellion (16:36-40). The word “broad” means to beat, to stamp or to stretch out.
Rebellion of the Congregation
The people rebelled against Moses and Aaron (16:41).
This verse amazes me. After seeing the earthquake and the fire come down from heaven, how could these people be foolish enough to murmur and grumble against Moses and Aaron?
Are we that foolish? Perhaps, at times!
God judged the congregation (16:42-50)
God’s cloud came down upon the tabernacle and the Lord appeared (16:42-43).
God’s righteous judgment was about to fall. Note the action of Moses and Aaron. Again, they fell on their faces. These men walked with God and feared Him greatly.
God sent a plague to kill the rebels. At Moses’ command, Aaron quickly made an atonement for the sins of the people. By doing so, he stood between the dead and the living and stopped the plague. However, 14,700 had already died (16:49).
Principles for Us Today
It is a very serious error to rebel in jealousy against spiritual leadership. Sometimes, spiritual leaders are wrong and must be confronted biblically, but to rebel against their leadership out of jealousy is very foolish.
One thing that we must get from this chapter is the importance of falling on our face before the Lord when things go wrong. We must also do this when we see others sinning against the Lord, that we might intercede for them.
We need a greater fear of God like that of Moses and Aaron.
What are some other ways in which we ought to apply the truths and principles found in this chapter? _________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
