What does it say?
Korah a Levite, Dathan and Abiram who were Reubenites, with two hundred and fifty others rose up against the leadership of Moses and Aaron. Moses questioned why Korah was dissatisfied with the honor that the Lord had given to him and all the sons of Levi. The glory of the Lord appeared to the men who had assembled at the doorway of the tent of meeting. Moses pleaded with the Lord to not destroy the whole congregation because of the sins of these men. Moses prophesied to the congregation, that the ground would open up and swallow the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. When Moses finished speaking this happened just as Moses had said and fire came forth from the Lord to consume the two hundred and fifty men. The bronze censors of the two hundred and fifty were made into a plate for the altar, as a reminder that no layman should come near to burn incense before the Lord. The congregation blamed Moses and Aaron for the death of these men, so the Lord sent a plague into the congregation, but Aaron made atonement for them, and the plague was checked, but fourteen thousand and seven hundred died from the plague.
What does it mean?
All sin is against the Lord. The Lord’s commandments were give to Moses and he spoke to the people on behalf of the Lord. The Lord commanded that only Aaron and his sons should burn incense before the Lord. When Korah, Dathan and Abiram, with the two hundred and fifty questioned Moses’ leadership and Aaron being the only one who could go before the Lord, they were actually rebelling against the Lord. When the people blamed Moses and Aaron, they were actually blaming the Lord.
What shall I do?
I shall not question the word of the Lord. Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (Jn 14:15) The reader should understand that there has been a change in covenant. Through the righteous life, sacrificial death and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ all believers may come before the Lord. For this reason, the apostle Peter called believers a royal priesthood. (1 Pe 2:9) And Revelation 5:9 says that the Lamb (Jesus) made us to be priests to our God; and we will reign upon the earth. When men rise up and attempt to Lord it over the people of the church, they are actually doing what Korah and the others did. They are rebelling against the command of the Lord. The Lord made all believers into a royal priesthood. No one has the right to give or take authority, it is the Lord who gives and the Lord who takes away. (Job 1:20)
