Who Is On The Lord’s Side?

Key Verse: 16:28    6-27-16

^“Then Moses said, ‘This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea:’”

Part 1: The Time For Judgment Had Come (15-27).

     Verses 15-27 read, “Then Moses became very angry and said to the LORD, “Do not accept their offering. I have not taken so much as a donkey from them, nor have I wronged any of them.”  ¹⁶ Moses said to Korah, “You and all your followers are to appear before the LORD tomorrow—you and they and Aaron. ¹⁷ Each man is to take his censer and put incense in it—250 censers in all—and present it before the LORD. You and Aaron are to present your censers also.” ¹⁸ So each of them took his censer, put burning coals and incense in it, and stood with Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the tent of meeting. ¹⁹ When Korah had gathered all his followers in opposition to them at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the glory of the LORD appeared to the entire assembly. ²⁰ The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ²¹ “Separate yourselves from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.”  ²² But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and cried out, “O God, the God who gives breath to all living things, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?”  ²³ Then the LORD said to Moses, ²⁴ “Say to the assembly, ‘Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.’”  ²⁵ Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. ²⁶ He warned the assembly, “Move back from the tents of these wicked men! Do not touch anything belonging to them, or you will be swept away because of all their sins.” ²⁷ So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing with their wives, children and little ones at the entrances to their tents.”

Moses was very spiritually mature.  In his anger he came to the Lord. Look at verse 15, ““Then Moses became very angry and said to the LORD, “Do not accept their offering. I have not taken so much as a donkey from them, nor have I wronged any of them.”  He did not lash out at the people, that we know of. He came to God. He did not try to solve it in a human way.

Now, Moses did vent his frustration to God. This does show that the rebellion of these Levites was beginning to get to him. But that is what prayer is for. It is coming to God and pouring out your hearts, even frustrations. Moses was finding strength, comfort and direction from God in prayer. God listens to the prayers of his people and he shepherds our hearts.

The Israelites were told to not even touch the belongings of those who rebelled. Doing so would have shown sympathy with their cause and agreement with their principles. They could not have any part of it, because these people were directly challenging Moses and God.

Moses shared God’s sentiments. God was angry too. He wanted to bring judgment on those who rebelled. Look at verse 20-21, “²⁰ The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ²¹ “Separate yourselves from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.”  

The next morning they all set up the meeting between Korah and his followers. They came with censers in their hands, just as the Lord had instructed. Korah and his followers were to stand at the door of the tabernacle. This probably referred to the opening or the gate, which led into the court. At this location they could be seen by all the people. God was intent on his people learning an important lesson from this rebellion.  Moses and Aaron were going to leave things in the Lord’s hands, to reveal who was right and who was wrong.

Moses and Aaron sensed that God was going to destroy all of those involved. They did not want this to happen. If there was any other way, they hoped that God would choose it. Being the true shepherds that they were, they plead in prayer for the people.  “²² But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and cried out, “O God, the God who gives breath to all living things, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?”  They felt that though all of the 250 men deserved to be punished, they might be spared the harshest judgment. The only ones who should be receiving the harshest judgment were the ones who instigated the rebellion.  Moses’ prayer was somewhat like that of Abraham for his nephew Lot (Ge 18:23-32). God heard their prayer and wanted Korah, Dathan and Abrim and their households separated. (23)

Like Moses and Aaron, we need to pray about all things and leave all judgment to God. God will deal with people in his own way and in his own time.

. Part 2: Choose Who You Will Follow (28-35)

The time of waiting was over. The time had come for God’s judgment to be unleashed. Verses 28-35 read, “ ²⁸ Then Moses said, “This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea: ²⁹ If these men die a natural death and suffer the fate of all mankind, then the LORD has not sent me. ³⁰ But if the LORD brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the realm of the dead, then you will know that these men have treated the LORD with contempt.”  ³¹ As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart ³² and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions. ³³ They went down alive into the realm of the dead, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. ³⁴ At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, “The earth is going to swallow us too!”  ³⁵ And fire came out from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.”

In verses 28-35, judgment came upon the households. Korah and some of the leaders of the rebellion were allowed to go back to their tents. God held their entire families accountable. Even their wives and their children were subject to judgment. (27) The families of Dathan and Abrim were swallowed up by a huge sinkhole The sons of Korah were not wiped out however. (Look at Numbers 26:11) The other 250 men involved in the rebellion were burned up by fire that came from their censors. This also happened to Nadaab and Abihu in Leviticus 10:1-2. There is no indication that the families of these 250 were subject to judgment.

Moses stated clearly in verse 28-30, what God intended to do. Look at these verses, “²⁸ Then Moses said, “This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea: ²⁹ If these men die a natural death and suffer the fate of all mankind, then the LORD has not sent me. ³⁰ But if the LORD brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the realm of the dead, then you will know that these men have treated the LORD with contempt.”  

Moses proposed this test to proved that the Lord God had established Moses as leader of his people.  Moses did this so that everyone would have to choose between following Korah and following Moses, who was God’s chosen leader. This is an important question. Who were they going to side with, those whose hearts are going astray or with those whom God was leading his people through. The very public outcome of this test would give the rest of the Israelites an opportunity to make a decision to follow the Lord. Like the Israelites from ancient times, we need to be ready to stand on the Lord’s side.

As for us, each one has to make a deep, personal, prayerful decision on whom they should follow. I have seen people who opposed the work of God. I have not seen them become swallowed up by the earth or burned up by fire. But I have seen some people appear to become fruitless. We should be thinking about Jesus and his Gospel and follow the Lord instead.

The secret is to have spiritual discernment to know which way to go, is to pray to see what God is doing and through whom he is working. Talk to someone who has some spiritual maturity and whom you can trust. Keep the dialogue going. God will surely open up our eyes if we are honest with ourselves. Then humbly return to God, following the leading of the Holy Spirit. Do not stand in opposition to the very last moment. Could it be our pride that is keeping us from submitting and co-working with other Christians with a thankful heart? Could it be our pride that makes us want to criticize our leaders instead of making their burden lighter, helping them to accomplish all that God has called them to do?

One question that comes to my heart is, “Could Korah and his followers have repented at the last moment and be restored by God?” I am not sure. Any speculation would be conjecture on my part. I know that God’s heart is big enough to hear and accept sincere repentance at any time in a person’s life. It is possible. But these peoples’ hearts were so hardened that it appears none of them repented of their sins, even when the truth was revealed publically. In verse 19 they continued their opposition.

The story of Korah gives us many warnings. 1. Don’t be discontented with what God has given you, so much so, that you are willing to go to great lengths to get what others have. 2. Do not attack others reputation in order to elevate your own self esteem 3. Don’t use part of God’s word to support your cause and rally people to your cause 4. Don’t seek satisfaction in power and position. 5. Always remember, God wants to work through you in the position that you are now in. 6. Make a distinction between goals and greed 7. Of we are discontent with what God has given we may loose it all in our quest for more. – Life Application Bible

Prayer: Lord, how often my heart goes astray. Open my eyes to see your glory, the movement of your Spirit. Grant me the insight and the wisdom and the strength to stand on your side and the crucial moment.”

One Word: Open your eyes to see what God is doing and follow the Lord.