The Singing Sons of Korah

Numbers 16:1–3 “Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?”

When God spoke to Moses about how the children of Israel would be set up he established that the Levites would have no other inheritance but to be the ministry of the Lord’s house.

They were to have no lands for there tribe but each tribe was to give a portion for them to dwell in and certain cities within each tribe would be theirs.

The Levites were specifically chosen to perform the duties of the tabernacle.

Levi had three children Gershon, Merari, and Kohath.

God chose the Levites to be close to His Tabernacle and to care for the things God.

They would see things that others did not.

They would experience the Glory of God is a different way than everyone else did.

With this elevated calling came an elevated responsibility as well.

Numbers 18:20 “And the Lord spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.”

Being close to the Glory of God has a price tag on it.

He promised everyone else a portion of ground in the promise land, but the tribe of Levi had no portion of ground to call their own.

If you are going to be close to the glory of God then your inheritance is not going to be in this world.

If you are going to be close to the glory of God then you are going to have to change what it is you desire to have.

If you are going to be close to the glory of God then you are going to have to give up on being like everyone else.

There are places you cannot go, and things you cannot do.

The weight of God’s glory is too heavy to carry both it and the the things of this world.

If you are going to handle the holiness of God then you will have to cast down the love for this world and the things of the world.

You will have to cast down the imaginations of this flesh.

You will have to lay down the desires of your heart and pick up the desires of the Will of God.

Each family lineage had specific duties that God told Moses to instruct them in.

The Gershonites were to care for all of the fabrics, skins, coverings, and curtains for the Tabernacle.

They were to take the tent down and set it back up every time the Spirit of the Lord moved.

They took their job very seriously and understood that they were needed for the purpose of God.

They had to carry all the fabrics, skins, and ropes each time God said it’s time to move.

They had to be meticulous in their duty, being sure not to tear or rip any part of the fabrics needed for the tabernacle.

God designed each part of the temple for His Holy purpose and it had to be taken down and set back up in the exact way He designed it to be done.

Their job was extremely important to the finished work of the tabernacle.

They were allowed to use wagons to pull and carry the skins and fabrics from the tabernacle.

Just like back then the ministry of God is spelled W.O.R.K.

The Merarites were responsible for carrying, setting up, and tearing down all of the framework of the Tabernacle.

This included all of the post, timbers, pillars, crossbars, boards, ands sockets that were needed to hold up the tents.

They had to carefully handle each part of the framework.

The framework was needed to bear the weight of the fabrics and skins needed to cover it for the work of the ministry.

Without the framework there would be no tabernacle and without the tabernacle there would be no sacrifice.

Without the sacrifice there would be no atonement of sins.

They were allowed to use wagons to pull and carry the heavy weight of the framework.

The Kohathites were responsible for caring for the Ark of the covenant and the items inside the Holy Place.

They were the closest to the Glory pf God of all the sons of Levi.

It was through their lineage that the High Priest would come from. Moses and Aaron were Kohathites.

There was great honor in the position of the Kohathite family.

Each item they were responsible for had to be carried on their shoulders.

They were given specific instructions on how to pack and handle each Holy item in order to never touch them with their bare hands, otherwise they would die.

They were never to use a wagon or an ox to carry any of the Holy items from the tabernacle.

When the Spirit of God began to move they would take the veil onto their shoulders and walk backward into the Most Holy Place and cover the Ark with the veil.

Then they were to bear the weight of the Ark on their shoulders no matter how far the Spirit would lead them.

The Holy things of God were not to be put with the common things.

They Holy things of God were to be upheld in high regard.

To be a part of the Levites was a great responsibility and had great rewards.

In our reading we see the rebellion of Korah and how he along with Dathan, Abiram, and On convinced the congregation to turn on Moses and Aaron.

Their grievance was that Moses and Aaron had set themselves up to be rulers over everyone else.

They made statements that they too were Holy.

They too were anointed.

They too had experienced the Glory of God.

The gathered 250 of the most renowned men of Israel and made a public proclamation against Moses and Aaron.

What they failed to say to the people was Moses and Aaron were God’s choice for leadership.

It was God who had established Moses and Aaron as the leadership of the Israelites.

Korah and his crew felt like they should have more control and authority than what God had given them.

They weren’t satisfied with what God had given them. But it wasn’t Moses that gave them their jobs in the temple. It was God.

They thought they were telling Moses like it was.

Yeah, they really told him.

These are the kind of people who eat the pastor and preachers for dinner after every service. Then come in the next service lifting up unholy hands full of wrath and doubting.

These are the kinds of people who never see they are destroying themselves and those around them because of their lack of submission to God’s authority in their life.

They will question everything but their own actions.

There will always be people who feel like they are God’s gift to mankind.

They will pick you apart and never see any fault of their own.

Don’t let these people get you down

Just like Moses and Aaron were not put into authority by Korah these people did not give you God’s authority and they can’t take it form you.

Because of Korah’s rebellion about 15,000 people died that day.

Korah caused the whole congregation to turn on Moses and Aaron.

After the earth swallowed up Korah, Dathan, and Abiram the people said to Moses “You have killed the people of the Lord.”

God was going to destroy the whole lot of the Children of Israel but Moses stood in the way and interceded for them.

Moses fell on his face and pleaded with God to not destroy the whole congregation.

Don’t underestimate the power of a praying leader in your life.

There are times when your pastor will be able to hold off the judgement of God by praying “God give him another chance.” “God give them some more time.”

This is one reason it is so important that we keep ourselves right with God and with man.

You can’t be right with God if you are not right with those around you. You can’t be right with God if you are not right with your pastor.

If your pastor cannot speak to you and give correction and encouragement without you becoming offended and obstinate. Then you are not right.

It was because of the prayer of Moses that God stopped killing the children of Israel.

It was because of Moses sending Aaron to go and stop the plague that more did not die that day.

What Korah did had drastic effects on the whole congregation of Israel.

We should never think that we act alone and that our actions do not affect others.

I’m not bothering anybody with my deceit. Ultimately you are destroying yourself by deceit.

I’m not causing any problems with my sinful life. Ultimately you are planting seeds of sin that will reap the fruits of wrath.

I’m not hurting the church by not being faithful in my giving. Ultimately you are revealing the iniquity of your heart by refusing God provision.

I’m not hurting the church by not agreeing with what the Pastor is preaching. Ultimately you are sitting in the seat of the scornful and will reap the reward of a fool.

What we do matters.

How we live matters.

If you are living in sin and attending church like nothing is going on you are a hypocrite and are on the verge of being a reprobate.

You need to repent.

You need to change.

You cannot treat people like trash outside of the church and treat Jesus like treasure inside the church. If you them like trash you are treating Jesus like trash.

If you cuss at them it is the same as cussing at Jesus.

If you lie to them it is the same as lying to Jesus.

If you will steal from them you will steal from Jesus.

Jesus said in Matthew 25:44–45 “Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.”

However we treat the least of people is how we will treat Jesus.

Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

Don’t let your heart be far from the things of God.

God is looking searching for the ones who will turn from these ways and give themselves to repentance.

Though Korah caused a lot of pain and suffering it is an interesting thing that the Bible tells us in Numbers 26:11 “Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.”

It would seem that Moses was able to stand in the gap a little more than what we can see here.

Because we know the scripture says about the iniquity of a father being visited upon the children and the children’s children. even to the third and fourth generation.

We know that God was angry enough to kill 15,000 people on that day but somehow the children of Korah were able to escape the wrath of God.

They found mercy in the sight of God.

I want to encourage someone here today.

You do not have to be the product of your enviroment.

You do not have to cave to the whims of your generation.

You do not have to become what you daddy was or who you daddy is.

If your daddy is a lier you don’t have to be.

If your daddy is a cheat you don’t have to be.

If your daddy is an addict you don’t have to be.

If your daddy is a sinner you don’t have to be.

You can repent, you can be saved, you can be changed.

You’ve got a pastor praying for you.

You’ve got a church who loves you.

You’ve got a God who died and rose from the grave for you.

You do not have to bear the weight of your fathers sin.

You do not have to die with Korah. You can choose to live in the testimonies of God.

Not only do you not have to take on what your father has done or been you can have a ministry with God and with men.

You don’t have to live with less than.

You don’t have to settle with a lesser anointing because of the sins of your father.

You can have everything God is promising today.

You can have a walk with God.

You can have an anointing.

You can have a calling.

You can have a walk with God.

I find it even more interesting that the Sons Korah kept on working in the tabernacle.

Moses didn’t keep them away from the things of God because of what their daddy did.

Moses put them right back into action.

He said we still need someone to carry the Ark.

We still need someone to carry the table of shewbread.

We still need laborers.

We still need workers.

God is not trying to force the sons of rebellion to remain in rebellion.

He gives everyone the choice of whether or not they will choose to follow submission or rebellion.

I do not believe in generational curses.

I do believe in generational choices.

The children of Korah could have become angry with God for killing their daddy.

But instead they got out their songbooks and began to sing.

There are eleven Psalms attributed to the Sons of Korah.

Someone had to choose I’m not going to follow in the footsteps of my father but I’m going to go back to carrying the glory of God.

They sang songs like:

Psalm 42:1–2 “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, So panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: When shall I come and appear before God?”

Psalm 44:18–19 “Our heart is not turned back, Neither have our steps declined from thy way; Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, And covered us with the shadow of death.”

Psalm 44:22 “Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; We are counted as sheep for the slaughter.”

Psalm 45:17 “I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: Therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.”

Psalm 46:1–3 “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.”

Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 47:1 “O clap your hands, all ye people; Shout unto God with the voice of triumph.”

Psalm 48:12–14 “Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; That ye may tell it to the generation following. For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death.”

Psalm 84:10 “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, Than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.”

Psalm 85:1–2 “Lord, thou hast been Favourable unto thy land: Thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, Thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.”

Psalm 85:10–11 “Mercy and truth are met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; And righteousness shall look down from heaven.”

You can choose to either be singing or be sorrowful.

You can praise or you can have a pity party.

I choose to sing.

I choose to praise.

I choose to carry the glory of God in the face of my sinful heritage.