Stories from Jude: Korah

Bottom line

We need to guard our hearts against rebellion

Opening Line

Take a moment at your tables and share with everyone your favorite rebellious character, either from movies or a book. Why are they your favorite rebel? If you’re not sure what I’m looking for, one example would be Han Solo. He’s a smuggler, plays by his own rules, and everyone loves him. Who would be your favorite rebel? Online, go ahead and share in the comment section who your favorite rebel is.

Introduction

I’m glad to see there is some great discussion happening around the tables, a little bit of discussion. Have you ever noticed how film and novels have a tendency to condition us to cheer for the rebel? Part of it is the individuality that a rebel represents, which feeds into the narrative of society. We are so individualistic in the west that we’ve lost the value of community. Part of it is sticking it to the man, especially when we don’t agree with how the government leaders conduct themselves, rebels inspire something within us. There are a lot of reasons you may be drawn to like a rebel, but if you are really honest with yourself, none of them are overly good. I might take it a step further and say that many of them are not all that biblical. I realize that being a Christian at times can feel really counter cultural, but there is a right and a wrong way to express that counter culture mindset, and rebel typically doesn’t inspire any of the right ways.

Main Point

The reason I start here is because the story we are going to look at centers around a couple of rebels. It is the reason that Jude highlights the story. It unpacks what rebellion can look like, how it starts, and how God views rebels. The hope this morning is that the story of Korah will cause you to do some self-examination, ensuring that rebellion is not taking root in your heart. The immediate answer when I say that may be, “No, it’s not,” but rebellion takes many forms, and you may be surprised by what you learn this morning. I know I had to pause and repent of a few things as I was preparing.

Why it matters

The reason we need to do this self-reflection is that rebellion can result in pride, in envy, and in division. We as a church are called to be unified, and all it takes is a little rebellion to threaten the unity that Paul tells us to fight for. It is actually a way bigger problem than you might think, and you can’t take it lightly anymore.

So let’s dive in. For those who want to follow along, we will be in Numbers 16 this morning. As you turn there, I want to bring us back to Jude 11 as a refresher of how Jude introduces this story.

Scripture

Jude 11 NLT

What sorrow awaits them! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they deceive people for money. And like Korah, they perish in their rebellion.

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Just a reminder, who is Jude referring to here when he says, ‘they’? Jude is talking about false teachers who are rising up within the church he is writing to. He is writing to the church the warn them about attitudes that might try to slip into the congregation and cause harm. Like Korah, they perish in their rebellion. So who is Korah, and what happened.

Numbers 16:1–3 NLT

One day Korah son of Izhar, a descendant of Kohath son of Levi, conspired with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, from the tribe of Reuben. They incited a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 other leaders of the community, all prominent members of the assembly. They united against Moses and Aaron and said, “You have gone too far! The whole community of Israel has been set apart by the Lord, and he is with all of us. What right do you have to act as though you are greater than the rest of the Lord’s people?”

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So we have Korah the Levite, and Dathan, Abiram, and On the Reubenites. Interestingly, this is the only time that On will be mentioned in the story, but it is significant that he is included in this list. Now I want to point out that Korah is definitely the right leader of this little group, but it is not limited to the four of them. They have incited 250 leaders within the community to join their cause against Moses.

As you can see, Korah has really thought this through. He is presenting the idea that the whole nation of Israel is set apart as holy before the LORD, which is true. Israel is the chosen nation, God’s treasured possession. But Moses hasn’t established himself as greater then anyone; Moses is revered for how humble he is. It is not that Korah thinks Israel doesn’t need a leader, he just doesn’t want Moses and Aaron to be the leaders anymore.

So watch how Moses responds.

Numbers 16:4–7 NLT

When Moses heard what they were saying, he fell face down on the ground. Then he said to Korah and his followers, “Tomorrow morning the Lord will show us who belongs to him and who is holy. The Lord will allow only those whom he selects to enter his own presence. Korah, you and all your followers must prepare your incense burners. Light fires in them tomorrow, and burn incense before the Lord. Then we will see whom the Lord chooses as his holy one. You Levites are the ones who have gone too far!”

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Moses lays out a test for the people. Only the high priest was permitted to burn incense before the LORD. In Leviticus, strict instruction is given that no one is even permitted to mix the incense of the LORD, or they would be executed. Why? Because incense represented the LORD’s presence, and not just anyone could burn it. So the test is to find out who God’s chosen really are. If Moses and Aaron are still the ones chosen by God to lead and be the priests, then the other men are in big trouble. When Moses says the men, who we discover are Levites, have gone to far, he’s pretty confident he know how this is going to play out.

Moses continues

Numbers 16:8–11 NLT

Then Moses spoke again to Korah: “Now listen, you Levites! Does it seem insignificant to you that the God of Israel has chosen you from among all the community of Israel to be near him so you can serve in the Lord’s Tabernacle and stand before the people to minister to them? Korah, he has already given this special ministry to you and your fellow Levites. Are you now demanding the priesthood as well? The Lord is the one you and your followers are really revolting against! For who is Aaron that you are complaining about him?”

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Moses addresses the leader first, and it is important to understand what Moses is saying here. The Levites were not just another tribe. In Exodus, God set the Levites apart to serve in the tabernacle. The tribe would not receive an inheritance in the promised land because the LORD was to be their inheritance. When it comes to elevated positions, Korah already has it.

Historians believe that Korah may have been quite wealthy, which contributed to his influence over these other leaders. It also contributed to his sense of self-importance. It wasn’t enough to be part of the priesthood of Levites, he wanted to be high priest. Since it was Aaron’s descendants who would serve as high priest, Korah is trying to usurp the lineage for himself.

This is the first example of rebellion. Korah is coming against the leadership of the nation, he is coming against the religious leadership, all because he thinks he could do it better. Think about it. Any time you have complained about our federal government, grumbled about our provincial government, or muttered about your church leadership, it comes from a belief that if you were in charge, you could do it better. Anytime you say, “I wouldn’t have done that,” or, “I wouldn’t have done things that way,” is an act of rebellion. Maybe it isn’t an official position of leadership, but maybe it is questioning your parents and their parenting. Of course, if anyone called you on it, you would deny it, but that’s where it comes from. If I was in charge, I would do it better.

How does Moses respond? He points out to Korah that it isn’t Aaron he is rebelling against, it is God. Why? Because Moses and Aaron didn’t put themselves in this position. The beginning of Exodus shows us that Moses never wanted to be in this position of leadership; he was happy shepherding in the desert. God put him in this position, so Korah’s rebellion is against the God who established the leadership.

Paul says this in Romans, that all authority is established by God the Father. ALL authority, even the authorities you don’t like. So when you criticize, undermine, or crack jokes about authority, it is not just a rebellion against the person, it is a rebellion against the God who put them there.

Moses then turns his attention to Korah’s associates.

Numbers 16:12–14 NLT

Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they replied, “We refuse to come before you! Isn’t it enough that you brought us out of Egypt, a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us here in this wilderness, and that you now treat us like your subjects? What’s more, you haven’t brought us into another land flowing with milk and honey. You haven’t given us a new homeland with fields and vineyards. Are you trying to fool these men? We will not come.”

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Dathan and Abiram introduce two more examples of what rebellion looks like. First, they point back to Egypt, the land flowing with milk and honey. It is amazing how quickly these two have forgotten the slavery, the hardship, and the way the nation cried out to be rescued from the oppression of Egypt. It was a land flowing with milk and honey.

They were looking back at the good old days. Remember when this leader was in charge. Remember when we had this pastor and we had this ministry. It is amazing how you look back at the old days and everything seemed to be covered in gold. Nothing ever seems to go wrong in good old days. Everything was always perfect all the time. Egypt was flowing with milk and honey.

They are also looking ahead. You haven’t brought us to the promised land, a land flowing with milk and honey and everyone has fields and vineyards. We aren’t where we are supposed to be, we’re stuck here and now with you. Why aren’t you doing more? Why haven’t we arrived? Why isn’t the church twice as big as it is now? Why is the nation is debt?

Both are forms of dissension. Back in the old days, we didn’t have the problems we have now. If you were a better leader, we would be here, but we’re stuck here with you. I don’t like where we are, and it is the leader’s fault.

But that’s not true. The reason the nation is wandering is not because of what Moses and Aaron have done, it is because of what the people have done. The people refused to go into the promised land, the people refused to trust God. Moses was ready and willing. Oh, but they seem to have forgotten that detail.

When you become dissatisfied with where you are, it is really easy to make it someone else’s fault.

But I want you to see how Moses responds here.

Numbers 16:15 NLT

Then Moses became very angry and said to the Lord, “Do not accept their grain offerings! I have not taken so much as a donkey from them, and I have never hurt a single one of them.”

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Moses recognizes that he is getting angry, and he vents it to the LORD before he responds to the people. You need to highlight this is your Bible, because this is a good practice for you to implement into your life. Moses doesn’t get angry and let Korah and his buddies hear it. He gets angry, goes to God in his frustration, and after he has calmed himself, he turns to Korah. Whenever you feel strong emotions starting to rise up, you need to resist the temptation to vent it at people, and release it to God. He can take it. Get it out, clear your head, and then respond to the situation.

For the sake of time, I’m going to give you the abbreviated part here. By the time the next days comes, the 250 has grown to the whole nation. This is the problem with rebellion. What probably started as a frustration in Korah’s heart spread to Dathan and Abiram, who talked to other people. The three became 250, and the 250 became the whole nation. Do not underestimate how a small seed of rebellion can destroy unity in the body.

Korah and the 250 leaders come to the tabernacle with their incense burners. The glory of the LORD falls on the Tabernacle and God tells Moses and Aaron to get out of the way so that He can eradicate the nation and start over with Moses and Aaron. Moses and Aaron intercede for the nation, and God tells the two of them to get the nation away from the tents of the rebels. Then Moses says this:

Numbers 16:28–30 NLT

And Moses said, “This is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things that I have done—for I have not done them on my own. If these men die a natural death, or if nothing unusual happens, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord does something entirely new and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them and all their belongings, and they go down alive into the grave, then you will know that these men have shown contempt for the Lord.”

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It says the words were barely out of Moses’ mouth, and the ground swallowed the men, their households, and their followers. Then fire blazed from the LORD and consumed the 250 men offering incense. The incense burners were hammered into thin sheets and used to cover the altar as a warning to the people of Israel.

Transition to Application

However, the damage was done. The story goes on to say that nation protested against Moses and Aaron the next day. God became so angry that He released a plague on the people, and by the time it was done, 14,700 people had died by the plague.

Even though Korah is the main character of the story, you can’t forget about Aaron. While Korah is opposed and rebelling against Moses, Aaron is standing by Moses’ side, supporting and willing to follow his lead. When the plague is spreading through the people, Aaron grabs his incense burner and runs through the nation to save them.

Main To Do

You need to determine if you are a ‘Korah’ or an ‘Aaron’. Here’s how you tell the difference. A ‘Korah’ does lots of talking. They are full of ideas and are not afraid to share them, but they do very little to make the difference they seem so determined to see. They say they want things to be different and better, but aren’t willing to get into the game to make the changes. If they feel like the established leadership isn’t listening, a Korah will share their concerns with someone in the group, even if they know the person isn’t in a position to do anything about it.

An ‘Aaron’ on the other hand gets involved. They serve, they trust the leadership, and they believe in being part of the solution, not the problem. Aaron was high priest of Israel, yet he humbly sits on the sidelines of this rebellion, waiting for his brother and his leader to give direction. He trusts that Moses is being led by God, and is humbly following.

Why it matters

Jude 16 NLT

These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want.

Korah criticized, and Aaron served. Korah made statements, and Aaron asked questions. Korah drew people away from the established leadership, and Aaron brought the people back. The Korahs will tear down, divide, and destroy the works of God in an attempt to meet some unmet need. The Aarons of the world will build things up, recognizing that they are part of something a whole lot bigger then themselves.

Closing Line

Are you a Korah, or are you an Aaron? If you’re not sure, I’ve got a bunch of lists from the recent ministry expo that will tell me where everyone falls.

Discussion Questions

What stood out from the message?

How can we ensure we are guarding our hearts against rebellion in our daily lives?

In what ways can we recognize if we are being influenced by a rebellious attitude in our peer group?

What actions can you take this week to transition from being a critic to a supporter in your community or church?

How can we identify when our criticisms of authority may be crossing into rebellion against God's established order?