The Gainsaying of Korah

Minister:
Date: PM
Text: Numbers 16:1-3,28-35
Psalters: 45, 92, 300, 13
  1. The rebellion.
    1. There were three distinct factions who participated in this rebellion.
      1. Korah, a Levite, who was especially jealous that Aaron was the religious leader.
      2. Dathan and Abiram were brothers of the tribe of Reuben, who were jealous of Moses’ political leadership.
      3. The 250 princes were men of preeminence in the nation, especially of Levi (7,8).
    2. Their actions are contrary, i.e., contradictory, opposing, anti-logic, rebelling.
      1. They were did not want to go back into the desert, so accused the leaders.
      2. Korah and the 250 wanted to be active in the spiritual activity of worship (burn incense).
      3. The Reubenites (Jacob’s firstborn) accuse Moses of setting himself up as Israel’s leader.
  2. God responded in judgment.
    1. God’s judgment began with their mediator being grieved (4) and later being filled with righteous anger (15).
    2. Moses’ immediate response was to call Korah and the 250 to a test (5-7, 18,19).
    3. God responded by appearing in His glory (19b).
      1. God commands: separate from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram (24).
      2. The earth opened at the location of their tens, swallowed them and theirs alive (31-33).
      3. At the same time God sent fire to consume the 250 as they offered incense (35).
    4. The next day all the congregation charged Moses and Aaron with killing “people of the Lord” (41).
      1. They presented two lies evidencing great wickedness.
      2. Without announcement God sent a plague among the nation which quickly spread, killing 14,700 (46b-48).
      3. Aaron took his censer stood between the dead and the living, stopping the plague.
  3. Lessons to be learned, again and again.