"Death of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram", engraving 1865, by Gustave Dore, from the "La Sainte Bible".
Numbers 16 - Korah's Rebellion - from my year-long journey through the ESV Study Bible.
The Israelites, now forbidden to enter into the promised land, are now parked in Kadesh-barnea, which is about 50 miles southwest of Beersheba. (Click the map for a larger view)
As typical with our human natures, waiting is not one of our best qualities. And this particular waiting has been 40 years in the making!
Korah, the son of Levi, decides that Aaron has too much privilege. Korah figures that all of Israel is holy, therefore, all should be allowed into the Holy of Holies, and leads a rebellion against Moses, and Aaron.
Well, as you might guess, God, who dwells in their midst, is not impressed, and causes the earth to swallow up the rebel leaders, and brings a death plague to 14,700 others.
So what are we to learn from this recounting?
- Just as in Eden, we see demonstrated again that rebellion against God = death.
- God has layed out certain ways for us to live. We do well to understand them, and follow.
- A great many times, our would be attackers come from within the fold.
- A large congregation is going to mumble. Here we see them living in God's presence, and yet they still mumble. Incredible!
- Not everyone, in a large congregation, is on God's team. There are sheep, goats, and wolves.
- God's justice is certain. God swallowed up the 250 rebels.
- Post-modern minds will look at this scene with contempt towards a God who would do such a thing. And this is presuming that the story is even literally true.
- God is holy. We must read the entire record of God's word to have a true picture of who he is. Once we begin to grasp his holiness, we can begin to view these accounts through different eyes.
- For those with true hearts, God will always protect, preserve, and use for his purposes.
- A proper fear of God is required for his children.
- Creation obeys the very will of God. Over, and over God uses creation to exact his will.
If I were a multi-billionaire, I would take many of these accounts, hire the best actors, and bring these stories to the big screen for people to see. This story is packed with drama, and worthy of such a telling.
Thankfully, however, God has wired us with visual imaginations, and we can't read these accounts without playing them in our minds eyes. What a story!
What do you make of this story? What insights do you have to share?
